November 7-8, 2025
Shea Center at William Paterson University
300 Pompton Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470

A Two-Day Educational Event for String Players Grade 6-9
Orchestra conducted by Dr. Sandra Dackow

We invite violinists, violists, cellists, and upright bassists grade 6-9 to register for Pioneer Strings. Our two-day event involves rehearsing classic repertoire with conductor Dr. Sandra Dackow, guidance from professional classical musicians, making music with new friends, and pizza dinner. The event concludes with a concert featuring the Hobart Trio, WPUNJ Faculty, and Pioneer Strings Students.

Limited space available: Register ASAP
Fee per student: $65
Registration closes October 20, 2025
Register here: https://forms.gle/yySXh6y1V95h7H8D7
Note: You will need to log into a Google account in order to view the form.

Saturday, October 25, 2025
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
New Jersey Youth Symphony
570 Central Ave, New Providence, NJ 07974

EVENTS:
~Session: Improvisation in the Classroom with Dr. Eugen Kim, ASTA National Eclectic Styles Division
~Roundtables: Collaborative Conversations in Music Education
~Reading Session: New Music
~Dinner & Raffle of Reading Session Music

REGISTRATION COSTS:
Non-ASTA Members: $50.00
ASTA Members : $25.00
College Students: $10.00
Please reach out to njastachapter@gmail.com with any questions. 

ASTA-NJ June Potluck!
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Edison High School
50 Boulevard of the Eagles, Edison, NJ 08817

End of the year meeting, reading session, and potluck dinner!
Complete this Google Form to RSVP

Bring: 

1. Your instrument
2. Potluck Dinner Contribution (sign up here!)
3. Optional: Bring something you’d like to share with, and hear played by, a live orchestra. It could be a newly purchased piece, a composition/arrangement you are working on, lesson plan idea, etc. You could lead the orchestra, or another colleague could conduct. Share details on the RSVP Google Form.

Schedule:

• 2:00 pm – General ASTA-NJ Meeting
• 2:30 – 5:00 pm – Reading Session
• 5:00 – 6:00 pm – Dinner & Awards

There is no cost to attend. You do not have to be an ASTA Member to attend. 

Award Nominations due by June 1 – Please complete this Google Form to help nominate colleagues for the 2025 ASTA-NJ Awards! Your nominations are greatly appreciated!! 

We look forward to seeing you there!
Please reach out to njastachapter@gmail.com with any questions.

Saturday, February 1, 2025, 1:30-6:30pm
Wilson Hall at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028

Register: Click here

Fees: $50 for non-ASTA members / $25 for ASTA members & students

Features:

• Viola Reading Session
• Viola Masterclass with Sheila Browne, Rowan University Artist in Residence
• Writing and Arranging for Viola with Simone Spagnolo
• Concert featuring Sheila Browne and guests, including a U.S. Premiere of La Luna nel Pozzo for Ten Violas by Simone Spagnolo

Saturday, October 5, 2024
2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
New Jersey Youth Symphony
570 Central Ave, New Providence, NJ 07974

SCHEDULE:
1:30 – 1:50 PM
Registration & Welcome

2:00 – 2:50 PM
Benefits of Irish fiddle in the Classroom, Nathan Bishop; Clinician

3:00 – 3:50 PM
Diversity and Cultural Competence in the Music Classroom; Dr. Adrian Barnes, Clinician

4:00 – 5:30 PM
New Music Reading Session

5:30 – 6:30 PM
Dinner & Raffle of Reading Session Music

REGISTRATION COSTS:
Non-ASTA Members: $50.00
ASTA Members : $25.00
College Students: $10.00
Please reach out to njastachapter@gmail.com with any questions. 

Saturday, September 28, 2024
2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Wilson Hall, Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd, Glassboro, NJ 08028

SCHEDULE:
1:30 – 1:50 PM
Registration & Welcome  

2:00 – 2:50 PM
Session 1: “Your Next-Gen Private Music Studio – What Does the Future Hold?” – Mimi Butler
Session 2: “Not a String Player? Not a Problem! Navigating String Education as a Non-String Player” – Samantha Sara

3:00 – 3:50 PM
Session 3: “How Do You Do That Wiggly Thing? Tips and Tricks for Teaching Vibrato!” – Dr. Elisabeth Sato & Aimee Nishimura
Session 4: “Orchestra Strategies: Tips for Efficient, Effective and Engaging Rehearsals” – Betsy Maliszewski 

4:00 – 5:30 PM
New Music Reading Session

5:30 – 6:30 PM
Dinner 

REGISTRATION COSTS:
Non-ASTA Members: $50.00
ASTA Members : $25.00
College Students: $10.00
Please reach out to njastachapter@gmail.com with any questions.

Tracy Silverman Live and Up Close: Grooving and Improvising on Strings

Saturday, September 21, 2024
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
NJCU’s Center for the Arts
2039 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City, NJ 07305

This workshop will focus on how to groove on strings, and in the process, how to micro-improvise as a rhythm player. It is possible to then extend rhythmic improvisation into more traditional improvisation. 

In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to:

• Chop
• Play ghost notes
• Find the right bowing for any groove using Strum Bowing
• Improvise on the blues and the blues scale

REGISTRATION COSTS:
General Admission: $25.00
Students: $10.00
Please reach out to njastachapter@gmail.com with any questions. 

Calling All String Teachers! No Need to be an ASTA Member!
Saturday, June 8, 2024, 2:00 PM
Edison High School
50 Boulevard of the Eagles, Edison, NJ 08817

End of the year meeting, reading session, and potluck dinner!
Complete this Google Form to RSVP

Bring: 

1. Your instrument
2. Potluck Dinner Contribution (sign up here!)
3. Optional: Bring something you’d like to share with, and hear played by, a live orchestra. It could be a newly purchased piece, a composition/arrangement you are working on, lesson plan idea, etc. You could lead the orchestra, or another colleague could conduct. Share details on the RSVP Google Form.

Schedule:

• 2:00 pm – General ASTA-NJ Meeting
• 3:00 – 5:00 pm – Reading Session
• 5:00 pm – Potluck Dinner
• 6:00 pm – Awards

There is no cost to attend. You do not have to be an ASTA Member to attend. 

Award Nominations due by May 28 – Please complete this Google Form to help nominate colleagues for the 2024 ASTA-NJ Awards! Your nominations are greatly appreciated!! 

We look forward to seeing you there!
Please reach out to njastachapter@gmail.com with any questions.

Saturday, February 3, 2024
Wilson Hall at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028

Register: Click here

Fees: $50 for non-ASTA members / $25 for ASTA members / $10 for students

Features:

• Violin masterclasses with Marc Rovetti, Assistant Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra
• Solo violin recital with Timothy Schwarz, violin and special guests
• Presentations by Kate Ransom, Jennifer Meckler, and David Michie Violins

 

Sunday, March 17^th
2:00 – 7:00 PM
Montclair State University
John J. Cali School of Music
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ, 07043

REGISTRATION: Click here to sign up

Quartet-Fest is a day dedicated to String Quartets.  Join us and dive into the art of collaboration and rehearsal techniques. Selected High School and Middle School groups will work with faculty listed below and special guest and cellist Nina Lee from the Brentano Quartet.

Faculty

Fee: $40 per student

Each group must have an ASTA member as a sponsor.
Groups are accepted by teacher recommendation.
Contact Kathryn Lockwood at lockwoodka@mail.montclair.edu for more information.

Announcing the 2024 Quartet-Fest Awards!

First Place

• A Composit Bob Bow (carbon fiber core and a pernambuco exterior) retails at $400 for each member of the ensemble donated by Robert Ames Fine Violins and Bows and Clar Fine Violins.  Total value of $1600.00
• Invitation to perform at the ASTA/NJ Spring Symposium on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in New Providence, NJ

Second Place

• A Carbon Bob Bow retails at $200 for each member of the ensemble donated by Robert Ames Fine Violins and Clar Fine Violins.  Total value of $800.00

Bonus Prizes

• Announced on the day.