[MASTA] letter from new board member.

[jbower at tc3net.com]

September 25, 2025

Dear MASTA members: 

                I wanted to introduce myself as the newest member to the board of Michigan String Teachers Association. My title, passed on to me by Shawn Boucke, is Studio Liaison for Michigan ASTA. Among my responsibilities will be coordinating the ASTA Certificate Advanced Program referred to as ASTACAP which will be held on February 22, 2026, in Adrian, Michigan. Please stay tuned for more information on this event. 

Although I am currently a member of the Toledo Symphony for the past number of years, I have a private studio and residence in Southern Michigan. I am happy to accept this position and will do my best to fulfill my responsibilities including organizing and running ASTACAP for the state of Michigan and attending as many board meetings as I can.  I know there is more to this job, but I will start with ASTACAP and the board meetings and go from there. 

                Please stay tuned for ASTACAP dates, place of event, and a quick start version for year 2026, so you might get a head start for preparing your students. The event will take place early in the year, Sunday, February 22, 2026. Therefore, it is important to start preparing soon.  Also, one needs to be a member of ASTA for your students to participate. The handbook for ASTACAP is available on the website to all who are members.

                You might ask yourself, why should a student participate in ASTACAP if a student is already doing Solo and Ensemble through their schools?  This is a great question. 

ASTACAP complements Solo and Ensemble because students may use their solos for both events. The chance to play their piece(s) for a second performance and polish it is always recommended and gives the student another opportunity to shine. In addition to their piece, and most importantly, it offers them an opportunity to polish scales and etudes. 😊 For more advanced students, they get to play second and sometimes third piece. 

                I have been involved in ASTACAP for several years formerly taking my students to Indiana for this event.  Fortunately, we now have it in Michigan.  I do hope you will consider doing this event. 

 

Sincerely, 

Jillienne Hazlehurst-Bowers – MASTA Studio Liaison.

 

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