2026 Osta Fall Workshop

About this event

Join us for the 2026 OSTA Fall Workshop on Saturday, November 8th at Upper Arlington High School. We are excited to host renown string teacher Jim Palmer from the Excelcia Music. Other clincians include: Katie Andrzejewski, Erin Broadhurst, Betsy Cranston, Chris Lape, Dawna Roan, Leo Singer, and the Loft Violin Shop.

The day (9:00am to 5:30pm) will be filled with informative and hands-on sessions with new ideas for your classroom. Lunch is included with your registration fee. If you are interested in the group dinner on Friday (11/6), there is an option to RSVP in the checkout process.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Jim Palmer is the New Orchestra Music Editor at Excelcia Music. He previously received the American String Teachers Association Elizabeth A. H. Green Award for a distinguished career in string teaching, Jim Palmer is retiring in 2026 after 37 years of teaching high school orchestra in both Georgia and Florida. Since 2003, he has also served as the Music Director of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus (Columbus, GA). An accomplished composer and arranger, Mr. Palmer has published numerous works for string orchestra and is the co-author of the Sound Orchestra method book. His works are frequently performed at ASTA and The Midwest Clinic and appear on state repertoire lists across the country. Throughout his career, Mr. Palmer served as the Orchestra Director and Fine Arts Department Chairman at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia (2008–2026), Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek, Georgia (2001–2008), and Cypress Lake Center for the Arts in Fort Myers, Florida (1996–2001). He began his career at Manatee High School in Bradenton, Florida (1989–1996).

Beyond the classroom, he has conducted the Florida West Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, and previously served as Music Director for the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras. He was also a long-time Senior Conductor at the Florida State University Summer Music Camps. Mr. Palmer’s orchestras have performed at prestigious venues and events, including the Florida Music Educators Conference, the MENC Southern Division Conference, the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, and The Midwest Clinic. A three-time Teacher of the Year, he has been inducted into the Florida Collegiate Music Educators Hall of Fame and is a frequent clinician for All-State and Honors Orchestras nationwide. As a professional violist, he served as Principal for the Sarasota Pops Orchestra and performed with the Southwest Florida Symphony. Mr. Palmer is a graduate of Florida State University and a member of ASCAP and GMEA. He is a Past President of the Georgia ASTA and a former Chairman of the ASTA National Orchestra Festival. He resides in Kennesaw, GA, with his wife, Lydia, and son, Curtis.

From Ohio String Teachers Association