33rd Annual ASTA Festival Planned for February 27, March 1
Washington Township eighth-grade and high school musicians will reap the benefits of a day (8:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.) alongside visiting professional musicians who will serve as clinicians at the District’s 33rd Annual American String Teachers’ Association (ASTA) Solo and Ensemble Festival on Tuesday, February 27th at WTHS. A similar festival for sixth- and seventh-grade students, hosted this year at Orchard Valley Middle School, is planned for Thursday, March 1st, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Festival provides an opportunity for young musicians to perform in chamber groups and as soloists. The ensembles perform for an audience of their peers and also are critiqued by highly qualified clinicians. The festival is organized in an open, master class setting so that performers and the audience can listen to and learn from the clinician’s comments.
Clinicians contributing to this year’s festival include:
Rachel Ellis, cello
Rachel Ellis graduated summa cum laude from Rowan University with a bachelor of music in cello performance, studying with Dr. George Atanasiu. A winner of the 2013 Rowan Soloists Competition, Ellis performed the Schumann Cello Concerto with the Rowan University Orchestra, with whom she served as the principal cellist. She has participated in the Orvieto Festival of Strings in Orvieto, Italy, under the directors George Atanasiu and Lenuta Ciulei and also has performed in masterclasses with Joshua Roman, Nicholae Sarpe, David Kim, and Sungsic Yang.
Joanne Erwin, cello
Joanne Erwin, Professor Emerita of Music Education at Oberlin Conservatory, earned her bachelor’s (magna cum laude) and master’s degrees in music education at University of Illinois. After teaching strings in public schools and Suzuki cello in Illinois and Texas, she went on to earn her Ph.D. in String Pedagogy at University of North Texas. She has performed as a cellist in the Fort Worth Symphony and has been director for youth orchestras in Texas and in Ohio. She has maintained a cello studio with traditional and Suzuki students. Erwin has coached and performed in many chamber music situations. At Oberlin she taught String Methods, String Pedagogy with an outreach project and Conducting. She has presented at MEA and ASTA conferences and conducted festival orchestras both nationally and internationally. She is a co-author for New Directions for Strings, String Premiere, Scales in Time, Prelude to Music Education and written other articles for American String Teacher and Teaching Music.
Rhea Fernandes, viola
Rhea Fernandes is in her third year as Orchestra Director at Eastern Regional High School. Fernandes studied music at Rowan University, graduating in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She has o been the Strings Coordinator for SJBODA that runs All-South Jersey Orchestras since 2016. As a violist, she has performed with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey and teaches private lessons in Collingswood, NJ.
Ian Hoblitzell, violin, viola
Ian Hoblitzell is a violinist and violist from the Philadelphia/South New Jersey area. Chamber musician, experienced section leader, studio musician and music educator, Hoblitzell spends his days both creating and teaching music. An alumnus of Rowan University, he earned his bachelor’s degrees in Instrumental Music Education and Subject Matter Education in 2013, with summa cum laude honors. While attending Rowan, he acted as Concertmaster of the University Orchestra and String Ensemble for the 2012-2013 academic year. His professional performing career includes working with the following organizations: Concertmaster for Bella Canta Productions LLC, studio musician for the group “The Greenfields”, Jubilate Deo Chorale and Orchestra, The Greater South Jersey Chorus, Camerata Philadelphia Orchestra (China tour in 2012), Philadelphia String Quartet, Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey (PSNJ), Bonilla String Quartet, Party of Three, Four Strings Entertainment, Orvieto International Orchestra and The Jersey Shore Pops. In 2009, he was appointed to the position of Principal Second Violinist of the PSNJ where he sits presently. Since 2014, Hoblitzell has held the position of full-time director of elementary strings in Washington Township School District. In addition to frequently performing, he has been consistently teaching private violin and viola lessons since 2009. Many of his middle and high school students have auditioned and been accepted into the All-South Jersey Orchestra annually.
Sara Smith, violin
Sara Smith is a violinist from New Jersey who, after graduating from Rowan University with a Music Education degree, began teaching at DeMasi middle and Elementary schools last year. Aside from teaching, Smith also plays violin frequently in the New Jersey tri-state area, and has even played in Italy, China, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. Throughout her own instruction on violin, Smith has studied with many teachers including Judy Pagon and world renown violinist Lenuta Ciulei.