MSMTA STATE CONFERENCE

Maryland State
Music Teachers
Association
Affiliated with Music Teachers National Association
www.msmta.org
A bi-monthly publication of the Maryland State Music Teachers Association
March 2011
From the President…
News From the Board
Spring is coming. With it comes
a myriad of events . . . the MTNA
Conference, MSMTA Theory exams,
Piano Ensemble, String events . . .
and our local association events. It’s
a busy time of season for us. The
brevity of this message verifies the fact
that yes . . . it’s a busy time! As you
continue onward in 2011, may you
be productive, find happiness and stay
healthy!
1. An ad hoc committee has been formed concerning
theory and keyboard centers in reference to the length of
time a participating teacher is expected to help in relation
to the number of students that teacher has entered. If you
have comments, you may contact Luba Turkevich, Claudette
Horwitz or Connie Fischel.
2. “Rule No. 5” in our Student Activities Handbook needed
further clarification regarding teacher assistance expectations
for our events. This rule has been updated on-line under
“Student Activities” – “General Rules.”
Our next Board meeting is April 4.
MSMTA STATE CONFERENCE
Our Annual State Conference was held January 8-9 at the
University of Maryland, College Park. It was gratifying
to see over 100 attendees enjoying lectures, masterclasses,
and concert, not to mention the camaraderie we have
at MSMTA! The sessions by Marvin Blickenstaff,
Catherine Rollin, David Cutler, Ann Schein, Karen
Guertler and our own Immanuela Gruenberg were all
fun, informative and inspiring. I believe all the attendees
brought home something to enhance their teaching.
The successful conference would not have been possible
without the help of hard-working committee members,
Carol Wolfe-Ralph, Geneva Jones, Ingrid Mongini,
Marilyn Briant, Yoon Huh, Andrew Zatman, Ella Wu
and Helen Smith Tarchalski. Also thanks to others who
helped behind the scenes: Annie Hou, Bonnie Kellert,
Anita Yuthasastrokosol, and Bonny Miller. Special
thanks to John Ralph for being around on the conference
days to help with all the technical equipment. I believe I
can speak for all who were involved that after months of
preparation, it was truly rewarding to see our members
and guests come together at the conference.
We are already thinking about next year’s conference, so
if you have any suggestions or if you would like to be on
the committee, please feel free to contact me at jutaka@
verizon.net
Sincerely,
Junko Takahashi, Conference Co-chair
Carol Wolfe-Ralph and Bonnie Kellert
Continued on Page 2
President
Carol Wolfe-Ralph
6102 Gallery Street
Bowie, MD 20720
301-464-0146
VP Student Activities
Richard L. Hartzell
1817 Arcola Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902
VP Membership
Annie Hou
13927 Rockingham Road
Germantown, MD 20874
VP Publications
Junko Takahashi
10503 Redosier Court
Bethesda, MD 20814
VP Finance
Claudette Horwitz
5004 Barkwood Place
Rockville, MD 20853
VP Certification
Donna C. White
21815 Three Notch Rd Ste E
Lexington Park, MD 20653
Recording Secretary
Kathryn P. Stansbery
16130 Patapsco Overlook Ct
Mt. Airy, MD 21771
Corresponding Secretary
Lori Davis
2848 Ridge Road
Waldorf, MD 20603
Historian
Kathryn P. Stansbery
16130 Patapsco Overlook Ct
Mt. Airy, MD 21771
Member-at-Large
Douglas Guiles
10359 Cullen Terrace
Columbia, MD 21044
Immediate Past President
Joselyn Cross Makowski
Local Association Presidents
Anne Arundel MTA
Helen Tarchalski
MTA Greater Baltimore
Betsy Stocksdale
MTA Bowie
Mary Parker
MTA Charles County
Michele Avrick
Carroll County MTA
Jane McIlvain
MSMTA STATE CONFERENCE
Continued from Page 1
LI-LY CHANG PRESENTS her
COMMISSIONED MSMTA/MTNA
COMPOSITION
The audience at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center was in for
a real treat on January 9, 2011 when Li-Ly Chang presented her new work, Three Mountain
Sketches, which was commissioned by MSMTA/MTNA. Li-Ly and violinist Ronald Mutchnik
performed the composition which is written in three movements representing three Chinese
good luck symbols. Movement 1. The Hermit Plays His Instruments Near a Brook, 2. Crane
Flew to the West and 3. Moon Dance Under the Rocky Gate.
Movement 1. (Blessing) This is a familiar image from the long Chinese scroll painting. We
can see the mountain is as tall as the scroll. At the foot of the mountain is a little hut where a
hermit lives. He plays his instruments near a brook for self-cleansing and meditation. The fish
and birds are his audience. The glides, long glissando, and fast running notes imitate the Er
hu, Gu Zheng instruments. The grace notes represent the birds chirping, and sudden splashing
chords evoke images of fish playing in the water.
Movement 2. (Longevity) This combines pentatonic melodies with off-beat syncopation,
sudden accented chords, 5-note cluster, quartal, quintal chords--influences of the 20th century
idiom. The crane is the
most popular bird in
Chinese history and is
a symbol of longevity,
a lasting soaring spirit,
health and happiness.
You can hear the
cranes’ playful calling
and at times anxious
argument from both the
violin and piano. The
crane’s
mesmerizing
courting dance is always
unforgettable.
Greater Laurel MTA
Movement
3.
(Prosperity) The moon
festival is a popular
harvest festival. Every
September or October
Li-Ly Chang, Carol Wolfe-Ralph, Ronald Mutchnik
when the moon reaches
its maximum brightness, we celebrate the harvest with dances and feasting, and share with each
other at harvest time. The piece finishes with a 2-beat rapid dance which shows thankfulness.
Montgomery County MTA
A reception followed the performance of this delightful new composition.
Greater Columbia MTA
Elaine Newhall
Eastern Shore MTA
Raymond Hobbs
Frederick County MTA
Laurel Carroll
Howard County MTA
David Kuperstein
Constance Fischel
Lori McCarthy
Prince Georges MTA
Ann Matteson
MTA Southern Maryland
Patricia Blanchard
2
Ann Matteson
Continued on Page 3
MSMTA COMPOSERS/IMPROVISERS CIRCLE
The Composers/Improvisers Circle was held at the MSMTA Conference at the Clarice Smith
Performing Arts Center, Univeristy of Maryland on January 9, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. The purpose of
the event is to encourage students and teachers to compose and to provide a venue for their original
works. There were twenty-three students who presented a varied and interesting group of pieces.
Included in the program were several improvisations; a piece for piano, cello and two violins; one for
voice and piano and many piano solos. Creative titles such as Pyrochlastic Flow; Away in a Magical
Place; Sunset, Moonrise; Music of the Knight; Lepidoptera; Dark Before Light; and Kindred Spirits
were performed to a very large and appreciative audience.
A biographical sketch of each student was included in the program notes and each performer received
a certificate. The composers received a printed booklet of their compositions. At the end of the
students’ performances, they heard the presentation of the Commissioned MSMTA Composition
which was composed by Li-ly Chang. Li-Ly talked about her piece and gave interesting comments
before it was performed. The composition, Three Mountain Sketches, was written for piano and
violin, and Li-Ly and violinist Ronald Mutchnik delighted the audience with their performance of a
new and very creative work. After this performance, a reception was held in honor of Li-Ly and all
the performing students.
Participating teachers were Linda Benoit, Anne Chen, Rose Eide-Altman, Edwina Hunter, Mark
Lontz, Ann Matteson, Ann McCandliss, Ruth Peng, Rodrigo Pincheira, Theresa Shykind, Shisa
Suskey, Helen Weems, Rosanne White, and Deborah White-Bondhus.
Teachers who are interested in having their students compose and/or improvise should start thinking
about preparation for next year’s event which will take place during the 2012 Conference.
Ann Matteson and Joanna Greenwood, Co-Chairs
STANDING
COMMITTEE
CHAIRS
Advertising
Claudette Horwitz
Bylaws/Parliamentarian
David Holmes
Certification
Donna C White
College Faculty
Matt Edwards
Community Outreach
and Education
Deborah
White-Bondhus
Composition
Commissioning
Li-Ly Chang
Conference
Carol Wolfe-Ralph
Junko Takahashi
Finance
Claudette Horwitz
Fund Raising
TBA
Independent Music
Teachers
Helen Smith Tarchalski
Local and Student Associations
Kathy Stansbery
MTNA Foundation
Michele Hobart Rohan
MSMTA Foundation/
Fundraising
TBA
Membership
Annie Hou
Multimedia
Ina Nacev Allen
Nominating
Richard Hartzell
Publications
Junko Takahashi
Publicity
Joselyn Cross Makowski
Student Activities
Richard Hartzell
Talent Resource
Jeffery Beaudry
Lindsay Blocker Li-Ly Chang, Kyra Britt
Continued on Page 4
Technology
Helen Smith Tarchalski
3
MSMTA STATE CONFERENCE
Continued from Page 3
Marvin Blickenstaff and Nick Troccoli
Immanuela Gruenberg
An appreciative audience
4
Lunchtime
competitions
Continued on Page 6
5
Continued on Page 7
6
For Sale
Yamaha U3
Polished Ebony Cabinet with
matching bench
Piano Life Saver System by Dampp
Chaser installed
$4,000.00
Please call Geneva Jones
301-706-7349
The Rockville
Competition for Piano
and Strings
Saturday, April 2
Montgomery College in
Rockville, MD.
Students will perform 2 contrasting
pieces and will receive an evaluation.
There are competitive and noncompetitive sections for elementary
(grades 1-4), intermediate (grades
5-8), advanced (grades 9-12),
and adult (ages 19+, including
collegiate). Winners in each division
will perform a concert on Saturday,
April 16 at Montgomery College.
Please phone 301-838-5594 or see
our website www.northpotomacsm.
com for further information.
Thank you,
Deborah Brown
advertisements
MSMTA is now accepting advertisements in
its newsletter. Space is limited to two pages
total, so ads will be accepted on a first come,
first served basis. Rates are:
Member
Non-member
1/8 page
$20.00
$30.00
1/4 page
$40.00
$50.00
1/2 page $80.00
$90.00
Full page
$135.00
$150.00
For more information, contact Junko
Takahachi at: jutaka@verizon.net.
7
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MEMBER NEWS
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington invite
syou to join us for our concert series featuring Gil and Orli
Shahm and Menahem Pressler. For ticket info, please visit
http://www.jccgw.org/articlenav.php?id=90
INTERNATIONAL CELLO FESTIVAL:
CONCERT FOR CHILDREN
Towson University Center for the Arts Recital Hall.
Wednesday, April 13, 11 a.m.
A perfect way to introduce young people to the wonderful
world of music, this concert features all string instruments in
solo and ensemble settings with music by Beethoven, Mozart,
Bartok, Bernstein, and Gershwin. Admission is free, groups
welcome. Advanced reservation required, call Cecylia Barczyk
at 410-704-2838.
collection of 14 pieces
for winds and piano
Imagination Music Publishing has published a collection of
14 pieces for winds and piano which is a collaborative work
between MSMTA member Elizabeth Borowsky and former
Towson University Music Chairman Dr. David Marchand. The
music is written for young musicians (flute, saxophone, clarinet,
or trumpet) at the intermediate level and the piano part is
written to be played by a young pianist as well.
INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ARTISTS
PIANO COMPETITION
Music from the East and the West Cash Award total $10,000
Ages 5-28, 6 Groups
Concert at Kennedy Center
Washington International Piano Festival
at U.S. State Department
June 23 – 26, 2011
Catholic University of America
www.musicalartsinternational.org Click IYAPC
Call Li-Ly Chang (301) 933-3715
25th IYAPC winner interviewed on WQXR, NY
http://www.wqxr.org/programs/youngartists/2010/oct/27/
“One more time I want to extend my most heartfelt thanks to the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy
Center for injecting some attractive live music in
Washington during this culturally lackluster summer.
This evening, it was the International Young Artist
Piano Competition which was presenting its young
prodigies between the ages of 7 and 18, founded by
Li-Ly Chang in 1986” On line review.
9
LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS
Our February member meeting treated us to an informative
program by our own Adriana Schueckler titled Ciranda,
Cirandinha: How Villa-Lobos Builds a Bridge between the
Popular and the Classical. Adriana brought students and made
the music of Villa Lobos come alive through demonstrations
of popular traditional Brazilian games and dances, followed
by performances of the repertoire related to specific games,
dances, and traditions.
All MSMTA members and their guests are invited to
attend a presentation sponsored by AAMTA. Bradford
Gowen, chairman of the piano division for the University of
Maryland College Park music school, will present “Style-—
What is it? How do we achieve it? How do we teach it?”
The presentation will take place April 8, 9:30 a.m. at Anne
Arundel Community College, Cade Building Room 224 in
Arnold, Maryland.
Helen Smith Tarchalski, President
The Frederick County Music
Teachers Association had several
teachers attend the2011 MSMTA
Convention this year, which
they thoroughly enjoyed. Two
teachers had students present
compositions in the Composers
Circle, which was a wonderful
event. Our February meeting
included watching an Andras
Schiff masterclass presentation of
the Late Beethoven Sonatas on DVD. Our group periodically
purchases books and DVDs for our “library,” which are then
available for members to borrow. The Schiff DVD was one
of those purchases, which we thought would be enjoyable
and inspiring to watch together. Our March program is a
Composition Workshop, presented by Theresa Shykind. In
addition to the MSMTA Musicianship and Theory events,
we are also hosting our Fifth Annual Sonatina/Sonata Festival
in March. We are excited to have Susan Carpenter from
Shenandoah University be our evaluator. We have much to
look forward to!
Laurel Carroll, President
In spite of the snowy weather and power outages, the Howard
County Music Teachers are busy getting ready for the
competition season, as well as more recitals! Our first event
of 2011 was our February 26th Theory 1 center, chaired by
Alla Merport and co-chaired by Olga Kuperstein and Sima
Elkis. Kathy Stansbery chaired our annual Theme/Ensemble
Festival the following day. Our Theme this year is Spanish/
Hispanic/Latin Music! 108 students entered from 9 studios,
playing solos, duets, duos and trios! March 13th is the first
of our competitions—the Piano Ensemble, chaired by David
Kuperstein. Eight studios have entered 76 teams this year!!
Many thanks to our chairs and all those teachers who help out
throughout the year to make our activities the high quality
events that they have grown to be!
Kathy Stansbery, Vice-President
Continued on Page 11
10
LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS
Continued from Page 10
and engaging Giuseppe Lupis, who offered a presentation
on “Expanding Students’ Repertoire: Technical and Musical
Features in the Compositional Output of Selected Italian
Baroque Composers”. We welcome all MSMTA to come and
attend our presentations. Details can always be found in our
newsletters, which are posted on the MSMTA website under
Local Associations.
MCMTA continues its busy schedule of events.
Two
elementary recitals were held on December 18th at
Montgomery College and MCMTA is grateful to chairman
Olga Soukhoveeva for her always-flawless preparation for
this well-attended event. Six judged recitals were held at
the Montgomery College Rehearsal Hall on December
12th. There were 55 participating students from 17 studios.
Seven high honors trophies and 42 honorable mentions were
awarded. Many thanks for chairmen Yoon Huh and Mei-Yu
Lin. Seven Intermediate recitals were held on December 4th
at Montgomery College. There were eighty-one students
from sixteen studios. Thanks to co-chairs Karina Hou and
Annie Hou.
Please join us for our next general meeting on March 15th.
Lori McCarthy, MCMTA President
On January 22, MTACC participated in the MTNA Year of
Collaborative Music by presenting two recitals full of piano
duets, duos, and 6-hand music, plus flute choir, flute and
piano, and violin and piano selections. Musicians of all levels
were featured, from early-level to professional. A highlight
was the Pachelbel “Canon” performed by four student string
players, a violin instructor and a pianist.
Fall activities included MSMTA Keyboard Musicianship
testing and our second annual Baroque Festival, in which
only harpsichord and pipe organ were used. The Southern
Maryland Flute Choir and flute soloists were a prominent
feature.
MCMTA held a December recital by members with great
performances by Li-Ly Chang, Immanuela Gruenberg,
Jaewon Lee, Barbara Wing, Marilyn Briant, and Andy
Zatman. Our February program welcomed the charming
Our February meeting featured Dr. Deborah Brown speaking
on the topic of preparing students for a competition.
MSMTA Theory testing will take place in March, and we will
be offering a Pipes, Pedals and Pizza event in April, followed
by the annual Sonatina and Sonata Festival.
Judy Dalton
The Keyboard Testing was held at Prince George’s
Community College Dec. 5 with Hui-Yen Chang
very efficiently chairing the event. On February
5 the Saul Roas Latin American Competition was
held. Jeannine Case was the judge of this event
and it was successfully chaired by June Miller.
Winning teachers were Hui-Yen Chang and MeiYu Lin. Our Broad Creek Festival takes
place on March 13th with the Winners
Concert being held on March 20.
Anne Matteson, President
Continued on Page 12
11
LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS
The Carroll County Music Teachers Association (CCMTA)
met Saturday, January 15, 2011, for its annual “Banquet and
Business Meeting” at the lovely home of Joan MacDonald
in Westminster. While spouses and friends cheered on the
Ravens-Steelers playoff game in the kitchen (at least during
the first half!), the business of membership and upcoming
CCMTA and MSMTA events was discussed.
After the business meeting, members engaged in a spirited
session of “Sixty Second Teaching Tips”, with a prize given
to the teacher with the most tips offered. Winner of the prize
was Charlotte Young. All of the teaching tips offered will
be distributed to CCMTA members. Much delicious food
and good conversation were enjoyed by everyone after the
meeting.
Continued from Page 11
We are busy as usual in Bowie. This fall we previewed Russian
music for our “Mirabella” competition, had a splendid series
of Halloween recitals featuring Jeannine Case as Vivaldi
­—complete with wig, costume and violin! Nancy Breth
presented a lecture-demonstration of her publications for
students and parents on practicing, and we finished 2010
with an ensemble festival under the chairmanship of Betsy Jo
Angebranndt. In January, Brain Ganz was our artist/lecturer,
highlighting the very early works contrasted with late works
of Chopin. Also in January was our chamber festival under
the direction of Ray Hobbs. This is a wonderful opportunity
for students to try out collaborative works with a live string
quartet and flutist.
As we enter a new decade, it is interesting to look back to the
changes that have occurred in the last 20 years within our
group, but our membership numbers have remained stable,
around 30.
New activities include our very popular Chamber Festival,
Classic Competition, and our Student Activities Handbook,
website and online records, documents & newsletter.
Mary Parker, President
DEADLINE FOR NEXT NEWSLETTER
Please email all notices and copy for
inclusion in the April 2011 MSMTA
newsletter by April 4, 2011, to:
jutaka@verizon.net or mail to:
Pictured are attending members, (front row, seated L-R)
Susan Gubernatis, Joan MacDonald, Arlene Bullock, Carole
Gauthier, and Dr. Joyce Hongsermeier. (Back row, L-R) Jane
McIlvain, Debbie Long, Charlotte Young, new member
Christopher Hall, and Carolyn Dinst. Attending, but not
pictured: Cynthia Hoover.
Jane McIlvain, President
12
Junko Takahashi
MSMTA Newsletter Editor
10503 Redosier Court
Bethesda, MD 20814-2211
The MSMTA Newsletter is published
five times per year by the Maryland State
Music Teachers Association, Inc.
Claudette Horwitz and
Elizabeth White, contributing editors
Circulation: 725