The MA-ASTA board has voted to change the way that we communicate with our membership. In an effort to make our information more timely and convenient we are going to stop publishing our yearly paper newsletter The Bay State Bridge in favor of an updated web site and email bulletins which communicate upcoming events and board news.

-Ken Culver, MA-ASTA Editor

Paula Zeitlin taught us Jazz Improv skills in such a simple and comfortable way, that the following day, we had a ball playing with a professional Jazz Trio. Louis Bergonzi lit up our inspiration and energy to raise up our rehearsal techniques and communication with our players. Pamela Tellejohn Hayes shared basic teaching techniques to solve common technique problems with our young string players.

Congratulations to our ASTA award recipients Christopher Memoli and Andrew Marks.

At our annual meeting, we voted in Ken Culver as next year's President and Margot Reavey as the President-Elect.  Three points were announced that we all should be reminded about:  
1.  Encourage the studio teachers that you know to join ASTA.  (It qualifies them not only for workshops for teachers and students, but makes them eligible for awards)
2.  Ideas for workshops and student enrichment activities are always welcome. Just contact someone on the board.  Our state chapter is also willing to fund master classes, guest conductors or relevant string activities at your school.

Thank you to Johnson Strings for providing wonderful string instruments for us to play at our sessions, and for providing the food and refreshments at our annual meeting. FInally, thank you to Chris Memoli, for putting together wonderful sessions for us.

-Jane E. Ezbicki, MA-ASTA President