May 2009
MTAC MARIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT NEWS DEBRIEFING
Testing day went remarkably well thanks to a team effort. Everyone worked hard to prepare their students, coordinate with parents, and help on evaluation day to make this year successful. A big round of applause to Helen Konowitz for doing a tremendous job. She managed everything beautifully. A few questions surfaced that will be addressed at the next board meeting and we will work to try and solve these problems. We hear you! Changes will be made that should benefit everyone.
Students selected to play on the Honors Recital should feel extra proud for their achievement. The 88 keys and 88 students were selected for the Honor’s Recital held at JB PIANO CO on a windy Saturday afternoon. Chair Paul Agricola was sensitive to the requests of teachers who had conflicts with other venues and needed their students to play later in the day. He divided the students into 3 recitals. The younger ones with shorter pieces were grouped first, with a half hour turn around time. The roving reporter overheard many positive comments such as “beautiful phrasing, singing tone, and great repertoire”. Glenn Woodruff’s son Galen measured 50 grams weight so the keyboard would be standard for all the performers. They made space for our huge audience and once again set up chairs on the showroom floor. The stage is ever evolving and seems better each time. Thank you Glenn for hosting us. Co-chair Elenor Barcsak made announcements and coordinated the activity with Paul. For those who did not make the Honors Recital, we encourage you to continue on even if the result was not exactly what you hoped it would be. We learn from our mistakes and trials. So as the song says “Pick yourself up and get back in the race”!
Report on MBDavis Winners Recital
Kuei-Ling Pomerleau, the chair of the Margaret B Davis Competition and Winners Recital is to be congratulated for a superb job. The quality of playing and enthusiastic participation ensures that the competition is thriving and healthy. We look forward to the next round. We thank the judges and Hilary Thompson for being the co-chair. The YAG was exceptional and inspiring. We will be hearing more great things from Michael Delfin in the future.
We appreciate all the teachers who entered their students. Do keep encouraging students to enter again. It is an inspiring learning tool.
2009 MTAC-Marin MBD Music Competition Results
Chair: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau
Co-Chair: Hilary Thompson
Level 4
First Place: Daria Hoang (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Second Place: Katherine Zhao (Teacher: James Marchand)
Honorable Mention: Matthew Lee (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Level 5
Honorable Mention: Katarina Lee (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Level 6
First Place: Kuni Migimatsu (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Level 7 and Up
First Place: Toki Migimatsu (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Second Place: R. J. Pearce (Teacher: Kuei-Ling Pomerleau)
Honorable Mention: Zachary Mathe (Teacher: Florence Aquilina)
Congratulations to these students and their teachers.
We had a large turnout and an exciting competition, a special Thank You to all of the teachers that participated and assisted for this successful event: Florence Aquilina, Jennifer Grant, Hilary Thompson, James Marchand, Albena Naydenova, June Choi Oh, Kuei-Ling Pomerleau, Tom Turinia, Barbara Wilkes and Virginia Wilson.
We would like to express our most sincere appreciation for your support in this program. Judging from the quality of the competition, we can be proud to say that the teachers in Marin County are of the highest quality and in the light of the superb results of the musical event, their dedication to music has been made manifest.
MUSIC LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE NEXT FALL
Two full or four partial scholarships are being offered starting September 1st. Students ages 7 years and up may apply. The Discovery Scholarship Program was started in 1987 by Barbara Vonk, Barbara Harris and Joan Weinstein in order to offer low-income public school students access to private lessons.
There is a lot more information about this so to learn more about the teacher’s roll and student’s expectations, please contact Christina Bradley. This is a really amazing opportunity for both teachers and students.
MusicaMarin@pacbell.net Or call her 415-302-0396
The application form may be downloaded from our branch website:
http://www.mtacmarin.org/activities.htm
Announcements
The Music Chest Winners will play at San Domenico. On Sunday May 3rd. 2:30 pm. Hall of the Arts, Music Pavilion 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo. Free. See announcement at the end of the Newsletter for more details. Cheers to these talented winners and their teachers. Bring your students along to hear them, and to help select new repertoire to learn.
Rarities of Franz Liszt was the theme of a fine Concert organized by Paul Smith and it instantly got my attention. Smith’s unwavering concentration was impressive to behold as he performed some rare pieces by Liszt. He also accompanied baritone Boyd Jarrel in 3 Petrarch Sonnets, and played a duet with Ronald Cavaye. Paul and Helen Konowitz turned pages for Ronald and Valerie Szervanszky as they performed the virtuoso Sonata in B minor transcribed for two pianos by Camille Saint Saens. St. Hilary Church was the perfect setting for Liszt’s compositions. The standing ovation was richly deserved. Congratulations to Paul for once again presenting something unique. The Concert was to benefit the Contemporary Opera Marin and the Tiburon Music Festival, which takes place from June 20th – 28th. Mark your calendars now. For more information or to make a donation, call the College of Marin music office 415- 485-9460.
Congratulations to professor William Corbett-Jones. His birthday celebration/fundraiser for a scholarship program at SFSU was a huge success. The San Francisco Chronicle Newspaper had a photo and article that helped reunited alumni and friends.
6 students are selected to participate in a Master Class at San Domenico Conservatory during the Piano Achievement Camp. Auditions were held April 25th. The camp runs from August 10th through August 14th. For more information call or email Flo Aquilina at:
415- 258-1921x1719, aquicox2@sbcglobal.net
The following item is for interested pianists. In an email forwarded to our branch by Larry Lobel, the following information was noted: The first meeting of the North Bay Piano Club will meet Sunday June 14th 2009 at 5:00p.m. in San Rafael near the civic center. This is a forum for amateur pianists to meet and share music. To RSVP, or get additional information, call 571 - 451-4851 or, email nbpc@comcast.net
Welcome New Member
We welcome our new member Britt LaGatta.
36 Alta Way
Corte Madera CA
415-924-5725
brittlagatta@yahoo.com
Britt teaches voice.
COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION CELEBRATION!
Join us on May 16th at 4:00 PM for this celebration of the innovative and creative part of music making. This is a chance to premiere original works and/or to showcase solo and group improvisation skills. This workshop is 100% free!
There will be a drummer and two tenor sax players (from the Davidson and Miller Creek jazz bands). If anyone knows of an acoustic bass player who’d be willing to sit in, contact chair Chris Bradley (see below).
This year, we are not set up for fully electronic groups who need amplification. Maybe we can expand the program to include those groups next year.
John’s lovely grand piano as well as an electronic piano will be available for use.
Students who play multiple instruments are welcome as are vocalists.
Individual teachers must arrange for accompanists, if needed.
Improvisations should be limited to a maximum of three minutes per piece.
Compositions may be played with music or by memory.
Techno-music compositions (i.e. pieces created entirely on a computer using computer-generated sounds and played on a computer through speakers) are welcome. The same holds true for any composition that has been created as the soundtrack for a movie. Student must provide the computer and speakers already queued and ready to play.
There will be a SHORT general meeting afterward to vote on the slate of officers for next year.
Teachers are asked to bring finger food ALREADY PLATED for the post-workshop reception. The Branch will provide beverages.
THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER for the Celebration is Tuesday, May 12th. Students registered after that time will be allowed to play only at the discretion of the program chair.
DATE: Saturday, May 16th
TIME: 4:00 PM
HOST: John Boyajy (phone: 415-572-3303)
ADDRESS: 385 San Marin Drive, Novato
Google map link: http://tinyurl.com/cvtteq
CHAIR: Christina Bradley - 415-302-0396 - musicamarin@pacbell.net
DEADLINE: May 12th
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTRY: Contact Chris Bradley by phone, email or postal mail with the name, age, grade, instrument, playing level of the student and the titles of the pieces. If it is not an original composition, please give name of composer. VIP: Include approximate LENGTH of each piece.
MTAC STATE NEWS
The MTAC 2008 Strategic Plan - Overview
Message to members: In my President’s Message in the current Convention Call issue of the CMT, I make reference to our Strategic Planning session and state that you can find an Overview of this elsewhere in that issue. As sometimes happens, the Strategic Plan Overview did not make it into the magazine, so it is here published for your reference:
Overview
The State Board had a Strategic Planning session in August 2008. The work of that weekend resulted in a series of topics that the State Board now pursues for the continuing effectiveness and professionalism of MTAC. Our Strategic Planning work has also resulted in a Vision Statement, which is a positive look at what we aim to be, as well as a newly revised Mission Statement. The State Board now makes Strategic Planning an active part of every meeting.
MTAC Vision Statement
MTAC is the recognized leader: in Student Programs which make a positive impact in the quality of music education and in the lives of music students; in Member Programs which inspire quality teaching, the pursuit of on-going teacher education and member involvement with community outreach; and in a thriving Foundation which funds Student Programs and member needs through its investments, donations and grants.
MTAC Mission Statement
The mission of the Music Teachers' Association of California is the establishment of excellence in the music teaching profession through high standards for membership, strong ethical values, and the continuation of musical education by its members to cultivate personal, professional, and artistic excellence.
MTAC Strategic Plan Topics
The following topics are worked on, by the State Board in an ongoing process, for the purpose of realizing our Vision Statement and our Mission:
- Publicity – Maintain ongoing publicity at the level to be expected for an organization of MTAC’s stature
- Website Development – Keep the website fresh, effective and informative.
- Convention Management – Manage aspects of Convention by professionals, able to maintain high standards and continuity of experience from year to year.
- Staff Management – Have ongoing tasks done by office staff to achieve better continuity over time and more professionalism through efficient tasking.
-
Membership - Streamline the process of membership so that it is efficient, effective, and maintains professional and legal concerns.
- Student Chapters – Create Student Chapters to keep interest in MTAC from the ground up and connect our students with others of like interests.
MORE MTAC STATE NEWS
Your busy board members at work: Membership Secretary Marie Carbone and Branch President Elenor Barcsak will attend a meeting at the State Office on May 1st. A report will be given to the branch on the material presented by the State Board.
Remember to save your programs for Marie Carbone as she keeps track of copyright credits for composers.
Do read the report sent by the State President Lee Galloway at the end of this section:
This flyer came in my country mailbox:
youngARTS 2010 is a core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NRAA). Eligibility requirements are found in detail on the web cite
www.youngARTS.org
tel# 1.800.970.2787
1) Must be a high school senior in 2009-2010 or if already graduated, be 17 or 18 years old on Dec 1, 2009.
2). Must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.A.
3). You must apply online however exceptions are asked to call the Programs Department phone listed above.Broad range of categories, from Voice, Music, (Classical Instrumental and Composition), Jazz, theater etc. Cash awards, Master Classes, All-expense paid trip to Miami. $3 million in scholarship opportunities. Register and get details online now.
Piano for Sale
Steinway D Nine Foot Concert Grand $24,500 
Originally made in 1881, this is a fully modern 88 note concert grand. In the mid 1960's, the piano was fully restored and the soundboard, pinblock, action and entire damper system were replaced by Warren Groff - a well known piano technician from Colorado and Hawaii. Beautiful Rosewood finish.
The action has been recently serviced. The original ivories are perfect. Includes humidity control system.
Owned by a private party represented by Christopher Ris, piano technician, of San Rafael.
Considering all serious offers.
Call 415 454-9009 or ChrisRis@comcast.net.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/msg/1155618106.html
 
Deadline for June,'09 newsletter: May 20th
Please send items to President Elenor Barcsak
email: zenezest@aol.com
send a note to:
1065 Erica Rd; Mill Valley, C.A. 94941.
or Tel. 415- -383-0125. |
