What’s Next? Do We Ever Really Retire? Navigating Life After the Band and Orchestra Classroom
Clinic Synopsis:
Retirement marks a meaningful transition for band and orchestra teachers—one that opens the door to new opportunities to stay connected to music, leadership, and community impact. This session explores fulfilling post-retirement pathways that build on the skills music educators have developed over a lifetime.
Georgia Ekonomou
- Biographical Information
Georgia Lambros Ekonomou is the former Director of Orchestras at the Paideia School and the Lovett Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the recipient of the Lovett School’s Woodward Award for excellence in teaching and the 2017 Georgia/ASTA Lifetime Achievement Award in honor and recognition of her contribution to musical excellence in the state of Georgia. In 2024, she was awarded the Presidential Service Award by the American String Teachers Association for her contributions at both the national and state level to ASTA.
In 2006, Ekonomou founded the Emory Junior Chamber Orchestra, where she served as Artistic Director and Conductor. She returns to Emory this season as conductor of the Emory Youth Chamber Orchestra. She is active throughout the United States as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.
A violinist, she has performed with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, the Woman’s Jazz Orchestra of Los Angeles, the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, the Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, the Emory Chamber Players, and other ensembles in the Atlanta area.
Cathie Hudnall - Biographical Information
Dr. Catherine
Hudnall holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati, Georgia State
University, and Mercer University. She is an Orchestra Director
at North Gwinnett Middle School and was the Artistic Director and
Conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra for the past nine
years. 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, adjudicator and clinician for honor
ensembles and all-state orchestras throughout the country. She
served as an adjudicator for the National ASTA Orchestra Festival in 2019
and will serve as an adjudicator/clinician for the Victoria Music Festival in
Australia in 2027. She is active in ASTA as a mentor, a member of the
Emeritus committee, and a member of the Editorial Board for
the AST Magazine.
Paula Crider - Biographical Information
Paula A. Crider,
Professor Emerita, The University of Texas, is an internationally recognized
guest
conductor,
lecturer, clinician and adjudicator. She has enjoyed engagements in 49 states
and 9
foreign countries.
A Past President of the National Band Association and The American
Bandmasters
Association she is Senior Educational Consultant for Conn-Selmer,Inc.,
and serves on the
Board of Directors for the Midwest Clinic. Honors include: The Distinguished
Service to Music Award, two “Eyes of Texas” Awards for distinguished teaching,
Phi Beta Mu International Hall of Fame, the Sudler Legion of Merit, Texas
Bandmaster of the Year, WBDI Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Midwest Medal
of Honor.
Nola Jones - Biographical Information
Dr. Nola Jones, a veteran music educator for over 25 years, has served as Director of Educational Programs for Conn-Selmer Inc. as well as Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to providing support for over 400 arts education specialists, Dr. Jones helped structure and implement Music Makes Us, a public/private partnership among Metro Nashville Public Schools, the mayor’s office, and music industry and community leaders in Nashville.
Bill Bitter - Biographical Information
Bill Bitter has served with Gilbert Public Schools in Gilbert, Arizona, where he taught orchestra and band at the elementary through high school levels. Mr. Bitter is an experienced adjudicator and clinician whose ensembles have performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He has held numerous leadership roles with the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association and has served as a conductor with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Mesa, Arizona. In addition, he spent nine years on the staff of the National High School Honors Orchestra, sponsored by ASTA with NSOA, including service as organizing chair in 2005. His professional honors include being named Arizona Music Educator of the Year by the Arizona Music Educators Association in 2014 and receiving the Elizabeth A. H. Green School Educator Award from the American String Teachers Association in 2015.
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