250 Words Between You and a Scholarship!
"Dear School Board Member: Why We Need Music Education in Our Schools"
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School Band & Orchestra Magazine is now taking submissions for their 2012 essay contest. At stake is a share of $20,000 in prizes, along with music equipment for your school's music program.
The deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2011.
To enter or for more information, visit www.sbomagazine.com.
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Memphis First Grader Plays Carnegie Hall
November 21, 2011
Six-year-old pianist Marissa Liu traveled to New York City to perform at the famed venue-- a long way from Crosswind Elementary in Memphis. After only two years of piano lessons (more than a year with teacher Judith Fairchild), Marissa was ready to compete in the World Piano Championship in St. Louis, MO. Congratulations to Marissa and Judith!
Valley View Middle Visits Amro
May 17, 2011
Amro was delighted to host 6th and 7th graders from Valley View this spring. They toured our band instrument and piano departments, led by Bradley Frith of our front counter and Sandra Miller of the piano staff. The students also headed upstairs to our recital hall for a demo by trumpeter and brass technician Steve Dolan. Afterwards, the kids went to a Redbirds game downtown. Take a look below!
Surrounded by trombones, trumpets
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Innocent students get Frithed
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Steve Dolan offers a trumpet demo
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Amro's Vernon Drane celebrated
November 9, 2010
Vernon Drane, 86, has been with Amro for over 65 years, working for all three generations of the founding Averwater family. We were delighted to see him celebrated in Memphis' Commercial Appeal for both his tenure here with Amro and his amazing music career. Since the 1950s, Mr. Drane— "Cowboy" around here— has played with many greats, including Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and big bands fronted by Hal McIntyre, Rus
Carlyle, George Doerner, Jimmy Joy, Ted Weems, Don Glasser and Bill
Justis.
Check out the full article about Vernon in the Commercial appeal.
UT Martin Launches All Steinway Campaign, Welcomes New Pianos
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Donors Betty & Charlie Moore
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Steinway signed by students
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Dr. Elaine Harriss plays during delivery
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Martin, Tenn. — The event sparked a brief impromptu performance as Dr. Elaine Harriss, professor of music, and Micheal Singleton, one of her students, showed what piano enthusiasts do when they see a new piano – they play.
Dr. Harriss, University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music interim chair, and Singleton, of Dyersburg, were among the group of donors, administrators, faculty, staff and students who attended a ceremony Friday for the university’s All Steinway Campaign announcement. The focus was the delivery of two grand pianos and six vertical pianos for faculty studio and student practice rooms, part of the campaign to become an All Steinway institution that is being funded primarily by private donations.
Someone asked Harriss prior to the ceremony about the importance of the Steinway distinction. “I looked at him, and I said, ‘What is the finest piano made?’ and he said, ‘Steinway.’” Harriss said she added that “if it’s the finest instrument, that’s what this school wants for its students.”
At the culmination of the campaign, UT Martin will become one of more than 110 conservatories, colleges, and universities worldwide and the third public institution in Tennessee with the distinction as an All Steinway institution. Students in these institutions perform and are taught only on Steinway pianos.
Dr. Jerald Ogg, UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, represented Chancellor Tom Rakes at the ceremony, and noted that the designation will help recruit and retain the best students and faculty. The distinction of All Steinway, he said, “is about changing students’ lives.” In introducing and expressing appreciation to Bill Blankenship, who chairs the All Steinway steering committee, Ogg said, “You don’t just end up as an All Steinway school.” Blankenship and his wife, Roberta, of Sandestin, Fla., along with Dr. and Mrs. Robert Gibson, of Union City, attended the ceremony and signed the Steinway grand pianos they donated as part of the campaign. Other donors, including Ed Williamson, of Pensacola, Fla., and Harriss, along with additional faculty, staff and students, signed the vertical pianos.
