Member Associations
of Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association
Willow Grove Chapter
President
Eleanor Roberts Fund/Astera Program
Alex Ramirez
Vice President
Kathy Moser
Dorothy Sutton Festival/Honors Recitals
Olga Bondarchuk-Huque
Secretary/Publications
Christopher Ravenscroft
Treasurer
Lois Forbes
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Master Class
Sue Bakshi
Recitals/Hospitality
Olga Smirnova
Programs
Marilyn Granahan/Kathy Moser
Sunshine
Joan Kryzwicki
Membership/Certification
Cheryl Woodford
cuwoodford@yahoo.com
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2023 - 2024
Affiliate of Music Teachers National Association
www.willowgrovemusicteachers.org
SPECIAL EVENTS
All events are online or at Settlement Music School, 318 Davisville Rd, Willow Grove, PA, 19090
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 Settlement Music School, Willow Grove
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 318 Davisville Rd, Willow Grove, PA 19090
Fall “Kick-off” Meeting and Friend Raiser
Methods for the Younger Student: Developing Technique and Artistry
Internationally recognized pianist Veda Zuponcic studied at Indiana University with the great pedagogue and pianist Sidney Foster. While at Indiana she completed both B.M and M.M. degrees in Piano Performance, and distinguished herself by winning the Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto Competition and the Performer's Certificate. Further studies were with Ilona Kabos in New York and London, and with Abbey Simon and Seymour Bernstein. Veda Zuponcic is a Professor of Piano at Rowan University, where she has built a reputation as a successful pedagogue of all ages. Her presentation will focus on teaching methods for the younger students. As a prizewinner in the Casella Competition in Naples, Professor Zuponcic toured Italy under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State. Her American debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in 1973 was followed by recital and orchestral performances throughout the United States, and she has played more than 100 concerts and recitals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, among other venues. After her first Moscow performance, Musykalnaya Zhisn wrote: “Zuponcic played commandingly, intelligently, strongly with great natural energy and fire, but without artificial exaltation. She is a genuine virtuoso.”
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Sunday, October 15, 2023 Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
10:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival
Local Evaluations: By September 15, teachers should notify Chair Olga Bondarchuk-Huque with the number of participating students from their studio, and request the Excel registration form, theory test information, and Evaluation Form (Judge's Rating Sheet) by that same date. Email: pianofialka@gmail.com
On October 15, students of all ages and levels will be judged on the playing of two contrasting pieces. Accompanying theory tests will be taken by each participant. Both adjudication and Theory tests will be held that day at the Willow Grove Settlement School, 318 Davisville Rd., Willow Grove, 19090. Participating students must reside in the state of Pennsylvania. Students who receive a Superior or Excellent rating will be eligible to perform in the Local Honors Recital. Online registration for Local WGC/DSP Festival deadline is October 1, 2023. The non-refundable registration fee for the Local Festival and October 29 Honors Recital is $50 per student. Please make one check payable to WGC/PMTA and mail to Olga Bondarchuk-Huque, 9620 Darlington Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19115. Email:pianofialka@gmail.com
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Sunday, October 29, 2023 Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Dorothy Sutton Local Honors Recital
The Local Honors Recitals will be held at Settlement Music School, Willow Grove on Sunday, October 29 at 10:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 1:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M., and 3:00 P.M., in small groups of 15-20 students. Students who are invited to these recitals are selected from those who performed on October 15, 2023 and received a Superior or an Excellent rating.
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Saturday, November 4, 2023 Indiana University of PA, Indiana, PA
9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Online registration: www.pamusicteachers.org
2023 PMTA State Solo and Ensemble Showcase Recitals
and the PMTA Keystone Concerto Festival
Performers who received a Superior rating and scored 85% or higher on a theory test may advance to the State level for performance in a Showcase Recital where they must play the one piece the judge has chosen. Teachers and students must live in the state of Pennsylvania. Online registration will open Monday, October 9 and will close on Wednesday, October 20 at 11:59 P.M.
There will be no charge for student participants thanks to the generosity of the Susan D. Miller Trust Fund from the York Music Teachers' Association. There will be a fee of $40 for teachers of participating students who do not attend.
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Saturday, January 20, 2024 Settlement Music School, Willow Grove
Snow date: January 27, 2024
10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Day of Collaborative Music Making
Willow Grove Chapter, along with Philadelphia Chapter, will host a Day of Collaboration on Saturday, January 20, 2024, with snow date on January 27. Our chapters will celebrate the importance of “music making.” The Day of Collaboration will include group performances, ensembles, duets and trios; all instruments are welcome. Teachers, students and parents are all welcome to participate. The only requirement is that it must be a performance of at least two people. It can be a teacher with a teacher, a student with a teacher, a student with a student, etc. Even if you do not perform on that day, come and enjoy listening to music from this collaborative event. For more information or to register, please contact Francine Christy at 610-971-1563 or at piano_fran@verizon.net
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Saturday, April 13, 2024
4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Location: TBA
Student Recital
Teachers may enter students performing one or two memorized solo pieces and one or two ensembles. Fee is $10.00 per student. Send to Olga Smirnova by April 2, 2024.
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TEACHERS WORKSHOPS
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 ZOOM Presentation: ZOOM Link TBA
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
My Lessons with Leon Fleisher
Bonnie Kellert studied at American University (B.M. and M.M.) as a scholarship student of Leon Fleisher, describing him as a true thinker, inquisitive listener, a musician of the highest echelon searching for the finest interpretation. Among her awards are 1st Prize in the Washington International Competition for Piano, and she is widely known as both performer and presenter in the Washington D.C. area at such places as the National Gallery of Art, the Cosmos Club, and the Smithsonian, among others. Ms. Kellert's students are consistent competition winners and she is a popular adjudicator for local, state, and national competitions. In this presentation, she will describe what it was like to be beside Fleisher on the piano bench, giving us examples of central concepts of his teaching, sharing recordings of his early performances, and including even one from Artur Schnabel, Fleisher's teacher and mentor. We are excited to have such a fascinating presentation!
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Wednesday, April 10, 2024 ZOOM Presentation: ZOOM Link TBA
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Teaching Classical School Techniques with the Help from Modern Day Composers From the First Lesson to the Road of the Lifetime
Timothy Brown is an award-winning American composer, widely considered one of the most popular piano composers of his generation. Brown initially studied with Rebecca Shoup Willhide, and later received an undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University and a master's degree from the University of North Texas under the tutelage of Adam Wodnicki and Newel Kay Brown. A research fellowship led him to study composition and orchestration with Brian Lock at the University of London, with continued research at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Foundation in Rome, Italy.
Brown was awarded the first prize at the Alienor International Harpsichord Composition Competition, followed by commissions from The Daniel Pearl Music Foundation, The Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education, The MTNA Collaborative Composer Commission and The Carter Albrecht Foundation, among others. His compositions, often influenced by Italian composer Ennio Morricone, have been showcased around the world, including the Mozarthaus Vienna, the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Washington's “Library of Congress Concert Series”, the Chapman University Symphony and Chorus and the Spoleto Music Festival. Brown's orchestral, ballet, keyboard and choral compositions have been widely acclaimed for their emotional impact, and include over 300 pedagogical publications for the piano. We look forward to hearing new and motivational music today as we focus on the building blocks of technique.
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HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 Location: TBA 11:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M
Please join us for our annual luncheon, an opportunity to socialize and celebrate. Reservations will be taken by Olga Bondarchuk-Huque. Please RSVP by December 1. pianofialka@gmail.com. Don't miss this annual fun celebration!
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SALON MUSICALE
Friday, May 3, 2024 Host: TBA
10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Teachers will have an opportunity to perform for each other either alone or in ensemble in the home of a member. This event is open to all members. We invite you to perform selections which need not be memorized. This event is in conjunction with the Philadelphia Music Teachers. If you wish to attend or participate, please contact the host at least one week before the designated date. Luncheon will follow.
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EVENTS
Fall “Kick-Off” Luncheon and Friend Raiser
with Veda Zuponcic: Methods for the Younger Student
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival local evaluations
Sunday October 15, 2023 10:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
Dorothy Sutton Honors Recitals
Sunday, October 29, 2023 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
State Solo and Showcase Recitals
Saturday, November 4, 2023 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Indiana University of PA, Indiana, PA
Holiday Luncheon
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Location: TBA
Day of Collaborative Music Making
Wednesday, January 20, 2024 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
(snow date: January 27, 2024) Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
Bonnie Kellert: My lessons with Leon Fleisher
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
ZOOM Presentation
Timothy Brown: Teaching Technique with the Help of Modern Day Composers
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
ZOOM Presentation
MTNA Conference
March 16-20, 2024 Atlanta, GA
Student Recital
Saturday, April 13, 2024 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Location: TBA
Salon Musicale
Friday, May 3, 2024 10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Host – TBA
Pennsylvania State Conference
June 14-16, 2024 Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
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MEMBERSHIP FEES
Active Membership
Membership fee for the year……………………………………………………………………………………….….$25.00
State PMTA………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..$50.00
Senior Discount for members over 70 years of age………………………………………………..…….$37.50
National MTNA………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….$97.00
Senior Discount for members over 70 years of age………………………………………………..…….$72.75
Non-Member fee for workshops and Master Classes..………………………………………….……….$10.00
**It is necessary to pay state and national dues in order to join the Willow Grove Chapter.
BOARD MEETINGS
September 13, 2023…………………………………………………………………………..10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
November 6, 2023……………………………………………………..……………………….10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
March 6, 2024……………………………………………………………………….…………….10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
May 1, 2024………………………………………………………………………………………. 10:00 A.M. – 12::00 P.M.
All board meetings will be online except for September 13, which will be held at the Willow Grove Settlement Music School preceding our Fall ”Kick-Off” Luncheon and Friend-Raiser.