All educators need practical, efficient, and artistic rehearsal strategies at the middle and high school levels. This session is based on the 75 combined years of experience of our clinicians and will explore a range of strategies and techniques to invigorate middle and high school rehearsals, create excellence, and build artistry and musicianship in ensembles. Included are ideas which range from the classroom routine and goal-setting to the selection of repertoire and orchestral techniques.
Cathie Hudnall
- Biographical Information
Dr. Cathie Hudnall received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, her Master's degree from Georgia State University, and her Doctoral degree from Mercer University. Currently she is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony of Atlanta. She was the teacher of the year at Norcross High School and received the American String Teachers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Hudnall is a regular conductor and clinician for honor ensembles throughout the country. She has conducted all-state orchestras in South Carolina, Mississippi, California, and Michigan. In 2019, she served as an adjudicator for the ASTA National Orchestra Festival and will adjudicate the ISSMA festival in Indianapolis this Spring. Her students have been invited to perform for the Georgia Music Educators Conference in 1995, 2006, 2009, and 2023. Dr. Hudnall was a guest conductor of the Gwinnett Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004, 2006, and 2007 and she co-directed the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony for six years.
In 2006, the Norcross High Orchestra won the National Championship High School String Orchestra Award at the American String Teachers Association conferenced in Kansas City. Dr. Hudnall is a member of the National Music Educators Association, the Conductors Guild, the Performing Arts Medical Association, and the American String Teachers Association. She served as president of the Georgia ASTA chapter. She is a professional cellist and teaches private cello lessons in her home.
Recipient of The American String Teachers Association Elizabeth A. H. Green Award for
a distinguished career in string teaching, Jim Palmer has been teaching for 35 years, is
the Orchestra Director at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia and has been the
Music Director for YOGC for 20 seasons. He and is an editor, arranger and featured
clinician for Alfred Music. He has published 15 orchestra arrangements and is a co-
author of “Sound Orchestra”, a method book for Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Palmer is also
a contributing author for “Rehearsing The Symphony Orchestra” and “Teaching Music
Through Performance Volume 5”, both published by GIA Publications. He has served as
the Orchestra Director at Manatee High School in Bradenton Florida, Music Department
Chairman and Orchestra Director at Cypress Lake Center For The Arts in Fort Myers,
Florida, and Fine Arts Department Chairman and Orchestra Director at Chattahoochee
High School in John’s Creek, Georgia. In addition to his teaching career, Mr. Palmer has
also served as conductor with the Florida West Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra,
Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and former Music Director for The Tampa Bay
Youth Orchestra and the Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Jim Palmer has received the Teacher of the Year Award in three separate High Schools,
the Georgia ASTA Educator of the Year and has been inducted into the Florida
Collegiate Music Educators Hall of Fame. He has been an All State and Honors
Orchestras guest conductor and frequent clinician in over 20 states.