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Time:

Friday
December, 21, 2018
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Location:

Ballroom W190

Category

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA

Conductor

Ralph T. Jackson

Program

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Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Bridle Path/Montgomery Elementary Select String Ensemble is the premier orchestra of three orchestras representing these schools. The members are auditioned from among over 100 members of the Orchestra and Advanced Orchestra. This year’s ensemble is comprised of children ages 9-12 in grades 4-6 and rehearses after school for one hour each week. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City has commended the Select String Ensemble for “demonstrating a level of technical proficiency and musical sophistication that is most impressive” and has featured the ensemble on the “Live from Lincoln Center” website under “Outstanding Student Performances”. The Select String Ensemble was awarded the Gold Medal at the New York International Music Festival at Carnegie Hall, New York, New York, and the Gold Medal at the Washington DC International Music Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC. The Foundation for Music Education has named the Select String Ensemble the State Level Winner (three times) as part of the Mark of Excellence/National Orchestra Honors Project and five members of the ensemble were awarded the Outstanding Soloist Award. The American Prize Celebrating Excellence in the Arts has twice presented the ensemble with a special judges’ citation for Exceptional Accomplishment in String Education and Performance, calling them a “bellwether group, showing what is possible when community, school, and musical leadership are in apparent harmony” and “an ensemble quite skilled at presenting an engaging, spectacular program for all to enjoy.” The ensemble has consistently earned Superior ratings and Best Overall Orchestra awards at music festivals and invitations to perform at prestigious music conferences, including 2 invitations to the Midwest Clinic International Music Conference, 5 performances for the National Association for Music, 6 performances at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Annual Conference, 3 performances at Carnegie Hall, and 2 performances at Kennedy Center. For seventeen consecutive years, the North Penn School District has presented the Select String Ensemble with Proclamations of Excellence for “performing distinguished service to their school, enhancing the reputation and image of the North Penn School District, bringing positive community interest to school programs, and rendering considerable service to school and community”. The ensemble has also been awarded the Certificate of Commendation by the Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors for their outstanding musical achievements.

Bridle Path/Montgomery Elementary Select String Ensemble

Conductor's Bio

Ralph T. Jackson has taught strings to over 200 Kindergarten through 6th grade students at Bridle Path and Montgomery Elementary Schools for the past 19 years. He teaches Suzuki violin classes to children and parents beginning in Kindergarten and traditional string lessons to children in grades three through six. Mr. Jackson also conducts 4 orchestras, including a beginner orchestra, more than 110 members of the Bridle Path/Montgomery Orchestra, over 60 auditioned members of the Advanced Orchestra, and the award winning Bridle Path/Montgomery Select String Ensemble. Mr. Jackson was named a top 10 Finalist in the 2018 Grammy Music Educator Award. He is a recipient of the “Citation of Excellence” award from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) for his work at the elementary level, a finalist in the “Ovation Award” presented by the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra for “inspiration and outstanding leadership in music education”, and the recipient of the “Inspiration Award” from The Arts and Community Network (Arconet) for “outstanding leadership in music education”. He has been featured on CBS News, interviewed by Instrumentalist Magazine and NAfME (National Association for Music Education) and has been featured twice on North Penn’s Finest television program. Mr. Jackson has presented sessions on teaching orchestra at the Midwest Clinic International Band & Orchestra Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) annual conference. He was the founder and director of the award winning former North Penn Youth Orchestra, has served as conductor of the Elite Strings Community Orchestra at the Doylestown Community Conservatory in Doylestown, Pa., has served as orchestra director for the Dali String Quartet Summer Chamber Camp and Festival in Doylestown, Pa., and as guest conductor for string festivals and honors orchestras. He has collaborated with internationally renowned composers in commissioning works for the Bridle Path/Montgomery orchestras which have been enthusiastically received and published worldwide, including: Danza Latina, by Brian Balmages, Ice Sculptures, by Brian Balmages, China, My Heart and Longing, by Steven Melillo, Possibilities, by Brian Balmages, Marching Into Spring, by Nicholas Lewis, Voices in the Shadows, by Brian Balmages, Waltz of the Seven Spades, by Brendan Johnson, Western Portrait, by Eric Sessler, Three Minuets for Strings, by Gianni Caccesse, and a new, not-yet titled piece, currently being written by Brian Balmages for the 2018-2019 school year. Mr. Jackson is a graduate of West Chester University, and completed his graduate work at Gratz College and The University of the Arts. He maintains memberships in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), and has served as an adjudicator of instrumental ensembles with the National Judges Association (NJA).

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