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For the Record |
| ISSUE 10 ::
Friday May, 05 2006 |
PAST ISSUES |
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From the
President's Desk
Millie Eben, President
MTNA's strength and diversity continue to
impress and amaze me as I attended the
latest MTNA National Conference in Austin,
Texas, March 25-29. There was a wonderful
variety of sessions on pedagogy, group
teaching, wellness, ethics, multiple
intelligences, students with disabilities
and specialized workshops featuring music
from Bach to Argentine composers. The
conference began with featured speaker Van
Cliburn reminiscing on his own life and
studies, and relating the influences of his
mother and teacher Rilda Bee Cliburn. One of
the most fun sessions gave attendees the
chance to sightread piano duets in a 10
piano orchestra as part of the collaborative
focus of the week. Other Pennsylvanians that
I ran into included Warren Magid, Patricia
Powell, Tim Blair, Anita Renfroe, Debra
Ronning and Jacqueline Herbein. We all
survived some intense Texas thunderstorms as
well as a three-hour, citywide power outage
on Saturday.
Next year's conference takes us all to
Toronto, Canada, a joint event with the
Canadian MTA. Preliminary information
already appears on the MTNA website. So get
your passport ready to roll! If you haven't
yet attended a national conference, put this
one on your agenda!
PASSING THE BATON
A few changes in command have occurred in
the PMTA Leadership:
Junior Competitions Coordinator
Kunyoung Kim
Secretary
Sue Garnhart
Commissioned Composer Chair
Paula Skutnick-Henley
Kunyoung Kim teaches piano at Bloomsburg
University (replacing our past president
James Douthit in that position). Sue
Garnhart is an IMT in the Pittsburgh area
and member of GPC. Paula lives in West
Chester and is a member of the Main Line and
Philadelphia local associations. We welcome
these additions to our volunteer staff, and
extend our heartfelt thanks to James Rodkey
for his years of service as our Junior
Competitions Coordinator; to Theresa Cocci
former secretary; and to Andrea Bogusko
former Commissioned Composer Chair.
PMTA LEADERSHIP WEEKEND
Our annual leadership retreats are a time
for renewal—renewal of focus, mission and
relationships; and for re-evaluation of
activities, decisions, structure and goals.
The conversations stimulate new ideas for
the upcoming leadership year. Discussions
focus on issues and concerns facing our
local associations, budget, conference
planning, general leadership issues.
"Suggested reading" for this year's event is
a book by Max DePree, Leading Without Power:
Finding Hope in Serving Community.
This year's June leadership summit and Board
meeting will take place at Westminster
College, site of our fall conference. The
majority of the weekend is spent in
discussions of issues, concerns, activities
of state and local leaders (Friday 4:00 to
9:30 pm, Sat 8:30 am to noon); and wraps up
with the Board meeting 1:00 to 3:00 pm. At
3:00 pm we'll take a short tour of the
facilities we'll be using for conference. To
all members—particularly those of you in the
western part of PA—please accept this open
invitation to attend any portion of the
weekend you wish even you are not in a
leadership position. Site and meal details
appear elsewhere in this newsletter.
STATE CONFERENCE
Anita Renfroe, state conference chair, has
been very busy organizing our next
conference at Westminster College in New
Wilmington, PA, November 2,3,4…that's about
ten minutes from the Ohio border! This
conference will have a slightly different
format than other years. The conference
begins Thursday evening with a Board meeting
at the hotel (all welcome to attend); Friday
will feature the MTNA competitions as well
as workshops, and the artist concert in the
evening. Saturday will continue workshops
through the afternoon with the IMT Luncheon
serving as the major social event of the
weekend. Keep an eye on the website
throughout the summer as details fall into
place. The Call for Clinicians is available
online for those wishing to present a
session. Contact Anita with any questions.
Registration information will appear in the
next newsletter which will be postal mailed
to all members as well as appearing online.
COMPETITIONS
MTNA Competitions will be chaired by
President-Elect, Nanette Solomon. Check the
April/May edition of AMT for complete
registration information. Remember that all
registrations are done online only.
Competition coordinators are: Warren Magid,
Composition; Kunyoung Kim, Junior;
Jacqueline Herbein, Senior; Ellen Flint,
Young Artist and Chamber. PLEASE NOTE!
Passports will be required for the next
national competitions.
DSPF
The DSPF Committee, under the leadership of
Aimee McCullen, is in the final stages of
revisions of process, forms and the
multitude of other details that go into
managing this event. They have done a
tremendous job streamlining the entire
system and are to be commended for their
dedication. THANK YOU -- Becky Lewis,
Carolyn Houck, Carolyn North, Elaine
Friedlander, Gloriana Sewell, Lois Forbes,
Michele Boulet, Sally Mullen, Teri Smith.
Details of this year's state level DSPF at
Penn State is found elsewhere in this
newsletter and on the website.
Wishing you all a restful summer! Remember
to take time for yourselves and enjoy some
sunshine!
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