History & Timeline

Founding meeting: May 11, 1968, Muncie, Indiana.

Name assigned: Orff-Schulwerk Association (OSA)

Primary motivator: Norm Goldberg

Structure: Management year scheduled to coincide with the academic year

Primary activity: annual Professional Development Conference

Governance: Board to meet twice yearly plus at the conference

Founding members: Arnold Burkart, Norman Goldberg, Ruth Pollock Hamm, Joachim Matthesius, Elizabeth Nichols, Jacobeth Postl, Wilma McCool Salzman, Jacques Schneider, William Wakeland, Isabel Carley

Other key members: Isabel Carley, Ruth Pollack Hamm, Lillian Yaross (not in attendance but very involved in early organization and governance)

First Executive Headquarters: School of Music, Ball State University

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1968-69

Publication: The Orff Echo (including supplements) – bulletin format; first issue November 1968; Editor: Isabel Carley. Editorial Board also established, with membership to change as needed

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1969-1970

Chapters chartered: Greater Chicago, Greater Cincinnati, Greater Cleveland, Delaware Valley (now Philadelphia Area), Greater Detroit, Greater Rochester, Greater St. Louis

Event of Note: Changed name to American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA)

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1970-1971

Chapters chartered: Long Island, Memphis, Middle Atlantic (VA), Middle Tennessee, Mid-Michigan, Northern Louisiana, South Central Minnesota (now Minnesota)

Activity of Note: Advisory Board of chapter CEOs/Presidents established

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1971-72

Chapters chartered: Berkshire Hudson Valley (NY), Connecticut, Indiana, New England (MA)

Event of Note: AOSA accepted into the National Music Council

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1972-73

Chapter chartered: Los Angeles

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1973-74

Chapters chartered: First Iowa, Greater Milwaukee, Northern California, Portland, Rocky Mountain (CO), Western Michigan

Publication: AOSA: the First Five Years. Echo Supplement #2, Arnold Burkart

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1974-1975

Chapters chartered: Central Texas, Pittsburgh Golden Triangle, New Mexico, Southwest Florida

Event of Note: International Orff Symposium, Orff Institute, Salzburg, June 27-29, 1975 – attended by AOSA president

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1975-1976

Chapter chartered: Arizona

Publication: Guidelines for Orff Teachers: Level I Course Outline (Echo Supplement, Summer 1976)

1976-1977

Chapters chartered: Evergreen (WA), Orange County (CA), Texas Gulf, Western New York

Publication: Orff Re-Echoes (selected articles from the first eight years of the Orff Echo)

Events of Note:

• Gunild Keetman Assistance Fund, – designed to provide financial help for promising students in need and for the completion of special projects
• Liaison Committee established, representing four geographical areas of the USA
• Past President Chapter Workshops – program enables first five chapter applicants with 80% national membership to invite a past president to present an all-day chapter workshop, with fee paid by the national organization

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1977-1978

Chapters chartered: Greater Des Moines, Central New Jersey, Kansas, Northern New Jersey

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1978-1979

Chapters chartered: Atlanta, Central Carolina, North Texas (Dallas Metroplex)

Publication: The Orff Echo (4 issues a year) – changed to magazine format

Event of Note: ISME Conference in London, Ontario, August 12-20 – several AOSA clinicians presented

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1979-1980

Chapters chartered: Heart of America (Greater Kansas City), San Diego, Piedmont North Carolina

Activity of Note: Completion and conference premiere of a 26-minute AOSA film, “Orff-Schulwerk: An American Odyssey.” Available for rental or purchase

Publication: AOSA Guidelines for Orff-Schulwerk Training Courses, Levels I-III. Mary Shamrock, Committee Chair

Event of Note: Orff Institute International Symposium, Salzburg, June 27-July 2. AOSA represented by Donald Slagel, Judith Thomas, and Lillian Yaross

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1980-1981

Chapters chartered: Inland Empire (WA), Kentucky (formerly Kentuckiana), Nevada Desert Valley

Event of Note: Executive Headquarters moved to Chagrin Falls, OH

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1981-1982

Chapter chartered: Idaho

Event of Note: Death of Carl Orff (July 10, 1895-March 29, 1982)

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1982-1983

Chapters chartered: North Florida, Prairie Winds (NDak), Sioux Valley (SDak)

Activities of Note:

• Members-at-Large replaced by Regional Representatives—two from each region, one elected each year. (For the current six regions, see 1] at the end of this document.)
• Introduction to Schulwerk (IS) – added to conference schedule

Publication: AOSA-approved list of Schulwerk teacher education courses (available on request)

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1983-1984

Chapters chartered: Virginia Highlands, Ozark Mountain

Event of Note: Executive Headquarters moved to Department of Music, Cleveland State University

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1984-1985

Chapters chartered: Central Florida, Homa/Okla (now Centra Oklahoma), Mount Lassen

Event of Note: Orff Institute and Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria: International Symposium, June 28-July 2, 1985. “Orff Schulwerk in the World of Tomorrow” Program included a presentation by Judith Thomas and Mary Shamrock, with participation by other AOSA members

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1985-1986

Chapters chartered: Black Hills (SDak), New York City, Rocky Mountain West (CO), Wyoming, Tallahassee Area

Publication: Orff Re-Echoes Book II

Event of Note: Grant established by Liselotte Orff to support an Orff Institute representative as participant in the annual AOSA Conference

Activity of Note: Conference Guest Administrator program – All expenses paid for up to 2 administrators selected from the local chapter area, and 2 additional from within the region hosting the conference

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1986-1987

Chapters chartered: Hawaii, Sierra Nevada, South Florida

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1987-1988

Chapters chartered: Alaska, Maine, Northwest Ohio

Activity of Note: AOSA collection of VHS videotapes made available for rental (Donna Marchetti, Film Librarian; ongoing listing and reviews in the Orff Echo)

Event of Note: 1988 Opening in Munich: Orff-Zentrum Staatsinstitut fur Forschung und Dokumentation (Orff Center: State Institute for Research and Documentation)

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1988-1989

Activity of Note: Ad hoc Research Advisory Review Panel (RARP) initiated to advise the National Board on research matters and assist in reviewing research grant applications and conference presentations

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1989-1990

Chapters chartered: Alabama, Inland Counties (CA)

Distinguished Service Award: Grace Nash

Events of Note:

• Orff Institute, Salzburg: Symposium, June 28-July 1, 1990 “Orff-Schulwerk: a Continuing Heritage.” AOSA representation: Doug Goodkin, Mary Shamrock
• AOSA now affiliated with MENC, currently National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

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1990-1991

Chapters chartered: Coastal Empire (SC), Great Plains (NE), Utah

Distinguished Service Award: Barbara Grenoble

Activities of Note:

• Formation of the AOSA Research Interest Group (RIG), Janet Robbins, Chair. AOSA now affiliated with the Orff Schulwerk Forum Salzburg, an independent institution collaborating with the Orff Institute, Orff Foundation and all Orff Schulwerk societies worldwide
• Shields-Gillespie Scholarship—provides financial aid to teachers of preschool and kindergarten children from minority and limited income populations to develop skills in using music with their students

Event of Note: Death of Gunild Keetman (June 5, 1904-December 14, 1990)

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1991-1992

Chapter chartered: Hawaii, South Carolina Foothills

Distinguished Service Award: Jacobeth Postl and Lillian Yaross

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1992-1993

Distinguished Service Award: Jane Frazee

Activities of Note:

• Teacher Apprenticeship program designed for those preparing to become teachers of Basic Orff pedagogy and ensemble classes at approved Orff Schulwerk teacher training courses.
• Introduction of Audio-Video Library – Donna Marchetti, librarian

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1993-1994 – AOSA 25th Anniversary

Chapter chartered: Treasure State (Montana)

Activities of Note:

• 1993 Conference Presentations by Frau Liselotte Orff of an original Carl Orff manuscript (from Schulwerk, Vol. V) in honor of the 25th anniversary
• On behalf of the Carl Orff Foundation, Frau Liselotte Orff presented the Medal Pro Merito to Joachim Matthesius, recognizing outstanding contributions to the interpretation and adaptation of the artistic and pedagogical legacy of Orff Schulwerk (the first American to receive this honor)
• Ad Hoc Multicultural Committee (predecessor of current Diversity Subcommittee)

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1994-1995

Chapters chartered: American River, Tidewater Area (VA), Mississippi, Twin Tiers (NY)

Distinguished Service Award: Brigitte Warner

Publication: Reverberations (newsletter) now included as an insert in the Orff Echo (Winter ’95)

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1995-1996 – Carl Orff Centenary

Activities of Note:

• AOSA homepage now available on the internet
• TAP Fund (Training and Projects), providing financial aid to AOSA members teaching elementary and junior high students of low-income populations

Publication: Orff Schulwerk: Brief History, Description, and Issues in Global Dispersal (monograph), Mary Shamrock. Available from Exec. Headquarters

Event of Note: Orff Institute, Salzburg: International Symposium, June 29-July 2, 1995 “The Inherent—the Foreign—in Common.” Music and Dance Education as a Contribution to Intercultural Pedagogy. Honoring the 100th birth anniversary of Carl Orff

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1996-1997

Chapter chartered: West Virginia, Wild Horse Desert

Distinguished Service Award: Konnie Saliba

Activity of Note: Guest Educator program: expansion to maximum of eight at each conference

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1997-1998

Distinguished Service Award: Arvida Steen

Activities of Note:

• The Carl Orff Foundation presented the Pro Merito Award to Jane Frazee (presented by Frau Liselotte Orff)
• Ad hoc joint committee with the American Recorder Society (ARS/AOSA)

Publication: Revised Guidelines for Orff Schulwerk Teacher Training Courses, Levels I,II,III. Arvida Steen, revision committee chair

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1998-1999

Chapters chartered: Greater Tampa Bay, Northern Lights

Distinguished Service Award: Isabel Carley

Industry Service Award: Norman Goldberg

Activity of Note: Added “Meeting of the Minds” to the conference schedule

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1999-2000

Distinguished Service Award: Mary Shamrock

Industry Service Awards: Judy Pine, Gerald Burakoff (posthumous)

Activities of Note:

• AOSA National Advocacy Council formed (nationally known performers and personalities willing to endorse AOSA’s mission and to serve as public spokespersons for AOSA and Orff Schulwerk). Charter Member: Gerald McDermott.
• Requirements for AOSA approval of Teacher Training courses (in Spring Reverberations)
• AOSA member, Doug Goodkin, received the Carl Orff Foundation’s Pro Merito Award

Event of Note: Carl Orff Volksschule, Traunwalchen (Bavaria) July 6-9: Orff Symposium 2000: “Changing with the Times.” Attended by AOSA president Linda Alstedt and Doug Goodkin

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2000-2001

Distinguished Service Award: Nancy Ferguson

Industry Service Award: Sylvia Perry

AOSA National Advocacy Council Inductees: Paul Winter, Rafe Martin, Glen Velez.

Event of Note: AOSA’s Isabel Carley Library moved to Eastman School of Music (Sibley Library)

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2001-2002

Chapter chartered: Heart of Florida

Distinguished Service Award: Betty Jane Lahman

Publication: Reverberations now a separate mailing (Fall ’01)

Activities of Note:

• AOSA Endowment Fund established to secure the future and ongoing projects of AOSA (managed by the Cleveland Foundation).
• International Outreach Fund established to assist approved AOSA teacher trainers as instructors for 1-2 weeks in countries demonstrating educational and financial need. The Orff Corp: a group of certified, highly skilled Schulwerk teacher trainers who may apply for travel support for this program

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2002-2003

Distinguished Service Award: Tossi Aaron

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2003-2004

Chapters chartered: Indian Paintbrush, Red Stick (LA)

Distinguished Service Award: Barbara Potter

Publication: Gunild Keetman Centenary (b. June 4, 1904; See Orff Echo, Spring 2005 issue, available for sale)

Activity of Note: Isabel McNeill Carley Library relocated to the Eastman School of Music, Sibley Library (Special Collections, David Peter Coppen, librarian)

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2004-2005

Chapters chartered: Central Arkansas, Green Country Oklahoma

Distinguished Service Award: Judith Thomas-Solomon

Industry Service Award: William S. Johnson

Events of Note:

• Cindi Wobig honored for 25 years of service as Executive Secretary of AOSA. Title changed to Executive Director
• Orff Zentrum, Munich, November 19-20, 2004: Gunild Keetman Centenary. Presentation by Judith Thomas-Solomon and Danai Gagne. Other AOSA attendees: Michael Chandler, Judith Cole, Pamela Stover

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2005-2006

Chapters chartered: Heart of Texas, Mountain Laurel (WVa), Northwest Arkansas, Rio Grande Valley (TX), Central Ohio

Publication: *AOSA Membership Directory and Resource Guide, 2005-2006. (*Replaced several years later by online version for members only)

Events of Note:

• ISME Conference, July 16-21,2006, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Convention Center. Orff Schulwerk strand included: “Carl Orff’s Sentuhan: The Schulwerk in the Lives of the World’s Children” Chairs: Timothy Brophy—USA, and Susie Davies-Splitter—Australia. Other AOSA attendees/presenters included Carlos Abril, Akosua Addo, Judy Bond, Judith Cole, Daniel Johnson, Chet Yeng Loong, Cecilia Wang
• Orff Institute Symposium, July 6-9, 2006: “In Dialogue: Elemental Music and Dance Education in Interdisciplinary Contexts”

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2006-2007

Chapter chartered: Greater Baltimore

Distinguished Service Award: Virginia Ebinger

Publication: Orff Echo Index updated and posted on the website

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2007-2008

Chapters chartered: Heart of Illinois, North Central Wisconsin, Southern Appalachian

Distinguished Service Award: Danai Gagne

Industry Service Award: Jim Avinger

Activity of Note: JaSeSoi ry (Orff Association of Finland) Scholarship established: tuition for an AOSA member to attend the annual Finnish “World Village” Conference. (Reciprocal with Finnish attendee at AOSA conferences)

Event of Note: Katherine Johnson named Executive Director

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2008-2009

Chapter chartered: Southern Utah

Distinguished Service Award: Carolyn Tower

Industry Service Award: Tim Henry

Activity of Note: Initiation of the AOSA Wildflower Legacy Fund

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2009-2010

Chapter chartered: Fox Valley (IL)

Distinguished Service Award: Carol Erion

Industry Service Award: Bob and Laura Bergin

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2010-2011

Distinguished Service Award: Shirley McRae

Publication: Reverberations went to the website (2011) Conference Call and registration process completely online

Event of Note: Carrie Barnette named Executive Director

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2011-2012

Chapter chartered: James River (VA)

Events of Note:

• “50 Years Orff Institute: Elemental Music and Dance Pedagogy”—exhibit at conference (collaboration with the Orff Institute)
• Orff Forum Symposium, July 2012, Salzburg, AOSA President, Karen Benson and Executive Director Carrie Barnette attended

Activities of Note:

• AOSA Certificate of Completion made available for those who have successfully completed an AOSA approved Level III course. Requires application, with appropriate documentation.
• AOSA joined the Music Education Policy Roundtable (January 2012), which includes over 20 music education organizations that work collaboratively, thus enabling and strengthening advocacy
• Advocacy Subcommittee formed to develop materials and programs to promote AOSA and Orff Schulwerk to music educators and the greater education community

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2012-2013

Chapter chartered: Southcentral North Carolina

Distinguished Service Award: Nancy Miller

Event of Note: Danai Gagne and Judith Thomas-Solomon presented at the International Orff Conference in Prague, Czech Republic (April 2013). Funded by the AOSA International Outreach Fund

Activities of Note: Introduction of the new AOSA Teacher Education Curriculum for Levels I, II, and III. Carol Erion, Committee Chair; Diversity Committee formed

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2013-2014

Chapters chartered: Augustana (IL), Four Corners (CO), Capital Area (TX)

Distinguished Service Award: Elizabeth Nichols (posthumous)

Industry Service Award: Michelle Brady

Activities of Note:

• New location for Headquarters: 147 Bell St., Ste. 300, Chagrin Falls OH 44022
• Curriculum Oversight Review Subcommittee (CORS) formed to monitor curriculum issues

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2014-2015

Chapter chartered: Music of the Valley (VA), Central California Music Fusion (re-chartered)

Distinguished Service Awards: Jos Wuytack

Excellence in Research Award: Mary Shamrock

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2015-2016

Chapter chartered: Lowcountry (SC)

Excellence in Research Award: Cecilia Wang

Grassroots Impact Award: Beverley Bullis

Activities of Note:

• Rubrics and Assessment Tools section added to the Member section of the AOSA website
• Digital Mentorship Program established to promote on-going collaboration and support, connecting newer teachers of OS with seasoned OS educators
• Diversity Statement established

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2016-2017

Excellence in Research Award: Janet Robbins

Activity of Note: Launch of on-line, searchable video library

Activity of Note: National Board of Trustees votes to adjust region boundaries to ensure equitable representation of AOSA membership around the country

• Region I: Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa
• Region II: Hawaii, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado
• Region III: Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri
• Region IV: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
• Region V: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia
• Region VI: Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia

Event of Note: Orff Forum Symposium, July 2016, Salzburg, AOSA Communications Director Marjie Van Gunten attended

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2017-2018

Distinguished Service Award: Avon Gillespie (posthumous)

Distinguished Service Award: Arnold Burkart (awarded in 2014, accepted 2017)

Industry Service Award: Kathy Bohstedt (West Music)

Publication: Re-Echo Book III

Activity of Note: New guidelines for apprenticeship in movement and recorder introduced–Teacher Educator Apprentice Panel (TEAP) separated into three review panels for Basic TEAP, Movement TEAP, and Recorder TEAP

2018-2019

Distinguished Service Awards: Steve Calantropio, Doug Goodkin, Peggy McCreary

Event of Note: Professional Learning Network virtual studies were established PLN.

Activity of Note: AOSA 50th Anniversary Celebrated throughout the year publication of lesson plans from past Distinguished Service Award Members, a special edition of The Echo, and celebrations at the national conference.AOSA Confirms Core Values Statement

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2019-2020

Chapter chartered: Southern Appalachian Chapter (122) rechartered July 1, 2019

Distinguished Service Award: René Boyer, Carol King

Grassroots Impact Award: Ruth Ann Chiaraluce

Activities of Note: AOSA Creates Song Selection Statement; Renamed Diversity Sub-Committee to Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee

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2020-2021

Chapter chartered: Quad State (133, July 1, 2020)

Distinguished Service Awards: Jeff Kriske and Randy DeLelles

Grassroots Impact Award: Lisa (Sullivan) Odom

Activities of Note:

• Covid-19 Accomodations – Many chapters worked to have online workshops due to the Covid 19 restrictions.The national conference was also held online (see Conference History tab).
• The American Orff-Schulwerk Podcast began.
• AOSA Statement Denouncing Violence Against Black Community.Established the appointed executive level board position of 1st Vice President of Equity and Inclusion introduced to the National Board of Trustees.
• Established Ad-Hoc Restructuring Committee
• Updated the committee structure of the National Board of Trustees to the following standing committees: Chapter Relations, Communications, Curriculum and Instruction, Executive, Finance, Leadership Development and Nominations, Member Relations, Professional Development/Research
• Independent Study Units

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2021-2022

Chapter chartered: Quad State (chartered in 2020, recognized at AOSA, North Charleston, November 2021)

Distinguished Service Award: Judith Thompson-Barthwell

Activities of Note: Adjusted the election calendar as follows: October 1 – Candidates announced, voting opens at conference and closes 30 days after, results posted in December.

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2022-2023

Chapter chartered: Greater Augusta Area Chapter

Heart of Texas (116), dissolved in 2022

Distinguished Service Award: Judy Bond

Industry Service Award: Randy Hargis

Activities of Note: Carrie Barnette completed 11 years of service as Executive Director, Tiffany English hired as Executive Director. Implemented Unified AOSA Fee Structure.

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2023-2024

Distinguished Service Award: Rob Amchin

Grassroots Impact Award: Mary Ann Fritz

Industry Service Award: Andrew Perry

Activities of Note: Referendum held to update AOSA’s Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations.

Prepared by the History Sub-Committee, J. Brandon, Chair

2024-2025

Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Carolee Stewart, Dr. Julie Scott

Industry Service Award: Brent Holl

Grassroots Impact Award: Jean Barrack

Activities of Note: AOSA Affinity Groups formed, Jennifer Donovan hired as Associate National Conference Director, Justine Sullivan hired as Social Media and Marketing Manager, launched new AOSA website