2023 All-State Middle Level String Orchestra

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Conductor Info
Information
Repertoire
Audition Dates
Audition Materials

 

ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL STRING ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR

Conductor and violinist Alejandro Gómez Guillén is passionate about sharing music in a way that is compelling, uplifting, and educational. Recently named assistant conductor with the Omaha Symphony, he is an artistic leader of the orchestra’s prestigious and multifaceted community and education programs. Having finished a seven seasons as artistic director and conductor of Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, he also completed a successful tenure as associate conductor of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he is also music director of Denver's Sphere Ensemble which explores the intersection of masterpieces of string ensemble music of the past and present with multi-part custom arrangements from piano pieces, pop, rock and world music masters.

Dr. Gómez Guillén has served as assistant professor of music at Colorado Mesa University where he taught violin, viola, courses in symphonic literature, string pedagogy and chamber music, as well as conducting the chamber and symphony orchestras. He served as music director of the Colorado Youth Philharmonia, and led performances with the Spokane Youth Symphony, Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, University of Colorado Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. He has also taught middle school and high school camps at at the University of Texas Permian Basin and at Colorado Mesa University as well as a residency in his native Colombia with Batuta, an El Sistema style program that benefits youth across the country.

He pursued a BM in violin performance from Texas Christian University and MM degrees in conducting and violin performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He holds a DMA in orchestral conducting from the same institution, and his doctoral research includes a critical edition of Colombian composer Jorge Pinzón’s violin concerto, and a guide using selected dances from Bach’s orchestral suites in their original form for developing orchestras through a historically informed approach to playing on modern instruments.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL STRING ORCHESTRA

What is the All-State Middle Level String Orchestra?
Strings students in seventh and eighth grades (whose teachers are NMEA members) are offered a chance to work with acclaimed conductors during the Nebraska Music Education Association Conference/Clinic. The 2023 All-State Middle Level String Orchestra will take place on Thursday, November 16. This is a one-day event with the final performance on the Lied Center for Performing Arts main stage. Auditions will be held in the fall.

This event is in partnership with the Nebraska Chapter of the American String Teacher's Association.

Who can attend?

  • Students attending must be registered and attending the school or home school listed on the registration
  • Students must be under the direction of an NMEA member
  • Students must be in the seventh or eighth grades during the 2023-2024 school year
  • The director MUST be registered and attend the Conference with their student(s).
  • If you wish to become a member of this organization visit: www.nafme.org

2023 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL STRING ORCHESTRA REPERTOIRE

TITLE COMPOSER
Fire Dance Soon Hee Newbold
Adoration Florence Price
Serenade Piotr Tchaikovsky
7th Street Beat Lauren Bernofsky

 

2023 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL STRING ORCHESTRA AUDITION DATES

August 1 - September 11: Audition application for students is open on NMEA website ($10 fee). Teachers can begin uploading audition files using the Google Form link provided in the registration confirmation email.

*DEADLINE EXTENDED* September 11 @ 11:59 p.m. CST: Audition application closed.

September 16 @ 11:59 p.m. CST: Google Form closes for audition uploads.

Early October: All-State Middle Level String Orchestra Selections are announced.

October 13: Registration payment ($50 per student) is due for selected participants.

AUDITION MATERIALS

NMEA will utilize Google Forms to collect student auditions, which will be available when the window for audition submissions opens. Auditions will include:

  • Scales
  • Etudes 

1. All-State Scale Sheets (click each link to download)

Each scale sheet contains both major and minor scales.

2. All-State Etudes (click each link to download)

Please note that etude sheets do not include bowings. 

AUDITION INFORMATION

There will be a $10.00 audition fee for all students who audition for the 2023 All-State Middle Level Orchestra and a $50.00 participation fee for those students that are selected. More information regarding auditions will be available in the fall.