AUSTA WA 2020

In March at the AMEB Awards Presentation ceremony, Caroline Chen, Grade 7 violoncello (teacher Rebecca Meegan-Lowe) was presented with the AUSTA WA Award, William Ji, Licentiate Violincello (teacher Rod McGrath) was presented with the inaugural AUSTA National Centenary Award, and in a trifecta for the cello community, Emma Hadi won the JB Vincent Memorial Award for the Best Licentiate candidate in 2019

We have had warm feedback for the Michael Griffin presentation  “Developing Musical Skill” for students, parents and teachers on March 11. Many thanks to all who supported this event, especially our hard-working committee and the staff at MLC.

A reminder that the 2020 recommended hourly minimum rate for private studio teacher individual lessons by WAMTA is $90  for professionals, and $65 for students who teach.

Due to international and national concerns over coronavirus, the National tour by Barry Green that was to have taken place has now sadly but wisely been postponed until a later date. In the meantime, we will not be opening bookings for the AUSTA String Festival until we are sure that it is safe to do so; however the date will remain as set for the present. In the meantime, we wish members the best of health – time to explore online options for teaching via Skype or other platforms, and if you can teach in your studios, maybe time to have a studio health policy – there are many online “wash your hand” posters around.

Events planned for remainder of the year:

• Our annual AUSTA String Festival will hopefully be held on June 14 at Trinity College East Perth, with a welcome experience for all level of students.
• Later in the year, we very much look forward to the WA inaugural presentation of lectures and master classes by the legendary Robin Wilson from ANAM on September 26 and 27.

All our hard-working committee members may be contacted through the committee page if you would like to offer support or have suggestions. As a not-for-profit, we are able to reinvest any gains made by our events back into the WA string community, and we are pleased to support WAYO, the AMEB, regional and suburban festivals and Eisteddfods and many performing arts organisations with a variety of support. Our events always have special rates and benefits for AUSTA members.

Best wishes,
Helen Tuckey, President AUSTA WA.