Kansas American String
Teachers Association
Providing professional development, career building, and support
to Kansas’s string teacher community.
Our Organization
Kansas ASTA (KASTA) is an affiliate organization of the Kansas Music Educators Association and a state chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Founded in 1946, The American String Teachers Association is a membership organization for string and orchestra teachers and players, helping them to develop and refine their careers. ASTA’s members range from budding student teachers to artist-status performers. The organization provides a vast array of services, including instrument insurance, an award-winning scholarly journal, discounts on publications and resources, annual professional development opportunities, and access to a collegial network of colleagues from throughout the string profession.
Our Events
Intercollegiate
Orchestra
KASTA Middle-Level
Honor Orchestra
KASTA
Solo Competition
KASTA Private
Studio Summit
2025-2026 KASTA Calendar
March
1st - KASTA Middle School Orchestra nominations due
19-22nd - National ASTA Conference
April
3rd - International Bass Day
12th - KASTA Middle-Level Orchestra
October
3rd - International Bass Day
12th - KASTA Middle-Level Orchestra
May
Find some time for musical self-care!
November
Find some time for musical self-care!
June
Reach out to a retired strings teacher!
December
Reach out to a retired strings teacher!
KASTA
Summer Conference
January
13th - All State Auditions
30th - International Viola Day
Submit for spring newsletter
July
13th - All State Auditions
30th - International Viola Day
Submit for spring newsletter
February
28-1st - KMEA ISW
27th - KASTA Solo Competition
28th - KASTA Luncheon
August
28-1st - KMEA ISW
27th - KASTA Solo Competition
28th - KASTA Luncheon
Summer Middle
School Orchestra
September
1st - KASTA Middle School Orchestra nominations due
19-22nd - National ASTA Conference
Missing something? Email dates to KASTA Webmaster cfoster@usd345.com
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KASTA has organized a committee to review and revise the All-State Orchestra Audition Excerpts. The process is now completed, and changes and updates will be posted by the end of March 2026.
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Please consider nominating your awesome colleagues for a KASTA award. The categories are: Outstanding Private Studio Teacher, Certificate of Merit, Distinguished Service, Young Teacher of the Year, and KASTA Hall of Fame. All nominees must be KASTA members except for the Distinguished Service Award. If you’d like to check on the membership of someone you have in mind to nominate, go to astastrings.org. Log in using your email address, and click on the “members” tab at the top. To nominate a member, click on the “Awards” tab in this site.
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Check out our new newsletter created by our newsletter editor Kathy Mans. If you have anything you would like included in the newsletter, contact Kathy Mans at mansk@usd385.org.