News from the Michigan Music Teacher
Download the June 2008 issue. (PDF file)
Distinguised Service Award - Barbara Collins
MMT Archives
June 2008
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT, Isabelle Tulk
Dear MMTA Members,
Greetings and best wishes to all of you
as we enter the summer season. We
wish you safe travel if you vacation or
have commitments away from home,
great success if you are planning a special
summer project, and well-earned
time for rest and relaxation. Thank
you again for sending your local chapter
newsletters and announcements. I
have enjoyed reading about the great
ideas each local chapter has used this
season!
Please note we have several changes in
membership of our Board Members.
Congratulations and welcome to
Gerardo Ascheri (Capital Area MTA)
Piano Handbook/Testing Committee
Chair, Amy Dykhouse (Grand Traverse
MTA) SAT Auditions Chair, Arvi
Sinka (Metropolitan Detroit Musicians
League MTA) MTNA Collegiate and
Chamber Music Competition Chair.
Congratulations to the students and
their teachers that qualified for participation
in the Student Achievement
Testing Semi-Finals, April 19th, and
Finals, May 3rd. Your diligent efforts
to reach this level of accomplishment
do not go un-noticed! Our appreciation
goes to Penny Draper and Amy
Dykhouse, for their organizational
skills, time, and nurturing extended to
our accomplished students.
This year we have had the privilege of
partnering with the Birmingham-
Bloomfield Orchestra and Evola Music
Centers to award our Senior Piano
Concerto Winner, J. Bennett (teacher,
Logan Skelton) an opportunity to perform
with the orchestra on Sunday,
May 4th. The concert was held at
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan. Mr. Bennett performed
Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 1, First
Movement. This concert was very well
attended and most inspiring.
Great News! We have been invited to
partner again in 2009! This event was
to be available every two years, but I
am happy to announce the change by
the BBSO Board to make this award
available again next year - the invitation
was very well accepted by the
MMTA Board in April! Competition
Date - Feb. 1, 2009 - Performance
Date - May 10, 2009.
Twenty MMTA members attended the
MTNA Conference in Denver,
Colorado March 29th - April 2nd.
The enlightening workshops, presentations,
and concerts were enjoyed by
all. One of the highlights was the
presentation of the MTNA Fellow status
awarded to Eileen Keel, which was
accepted by her daughter. A very
moving ceremony, especially to those
who knew Eileen.
Barbara Collins, our MMTA 2007
Distinguished Service Award
Recipient, was presented and recognized
as our representative to receive
an "Educator of the Year Award" at the
Michigan Youth Arts Festival held at
Western Michigan University. Each
member organization of the Michigan
Youth Arts Council was invited to
name one of their members as a recipient
of this award presented on May 9th at the Festival.
Our appreciation goes to Gerardo
Ascheri for organizing the master class
event that took place at the Youth Arts
Festival. This is one of the ways
MMTA participates at this event.
Have a wonderful, musical summer!!
"Music is in the air, you simply take
in as much as you want!"
Attributed to Edward Elgar
This page was last updated on 17 June 2008.