Member Associations
of Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association
Willow Grove Chapter
SPECIAL EVENTS
All events are online or at Settlement Music School, 318 Davisville Rd, Willow Grove, PA, 19090
unless specifically noted
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Fall “Kick-off” Meeting and Friend Raiser
Clipper Erickson presents and performs the piano works of African descent composer R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943). His CD release, My Cup Runneth Over – the Complete Piano Works of R. Nathaniel Dett, is the first complete recording of this 2 ½ hour body of music. Released in 2015, it has received rave reviews in major music periodicals, and was honored as an editor’s choice by Gramophone UK. Erickson is an authority on Dett’s music, writing his Doctoral dissertation on Dett at Temple University. Along with beautiful and colorful piano writing, harmonies and melodies, Dett expresses his diverse interests such as Rosicrucian philosophy, Hindu poets, and Biblical narratives in his wonderful creations.
Described as “one of the finest pianists of his generation…a consummate musician” by Fanfare, Clipper Erickson has dedicated much of his long career to bringing new works to life as an enthusiastic musical explorer. Erickson made his debut at age 19 in Los Angeles as soloist with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra, followed by studies at The Juilliard School, Yale University, and Indiana University. While at Indiana, Clipper trained with the great British pianist John Ogdon, whose dedication to the performance of new music and lesser-known works of the past inspired Clipper to follow in his footsteps. His artistry continues to win international critical acclaim through recordings and performances as soloist in major concert halls including the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and Carnegie Hall.
Erickson’s release on Navona Records, My Cup Runneth Over – The Complete Piano Works of R. Nathaniel Dett, was honored by Gramophone UK in 2016 as a critic’s choice and best album of the year while writing: “this historically and musically important release not only fills a crucial catalogue gap but sets reference standards. No serious aficionado of the history of American piano music can afford to miss it.” It continues to be featured on radio worldwide and streamed extensively. Many of Clipper’s performances of Dett and much more may be found on his YouTube channel, Spotify, and other streaming venues.
Clipper loves sharing his gifts and knowledge with music students in his teaching at the Westminster Conservatory in Princeton and in master classes.
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Sunday, October 12, 2025 Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
10:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. 318 Davisville Rd., Willow Grove, PA 19090
Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival
Local Evaluations: Registration will be done online by each participating teacher at the PMTA website between September 10 and September 27. Each teacher will be sent Excel registration forms by Olga Bondarchuk-Huque by September 10. Olga is our chairperson for the Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival. Please contact her if you have questions. Olga’s contact information -- email: Pianofialka@gmail.com, tel#267-334-1787 (TEXT ONLY)
Excel registration deadline for Local WGC/DSP Festival is September 27, 2025. The non-refundable registration fee for the Local Festival, and for the October 26 Honors Recital, is $50 per student. Each teacher will have multiple online payment options.
Requirements: students of all ages and levels will be judged on their playing of two contrasting pieces of music by memory. All selections must be a minimum of sixteen (16) measures without repeats, including for elementary level students. Simplifications or arrangements are NOT acceptable at the intermediate and advanced levels unless the original composer is the arranger (i.e. Liszt transcriptions, Brahms Waltzes).
Auditions and theory tests must be conducted live and under supervised conditions on the same day and at the same site. 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. Please refer to the PMTA website for more detailed information.
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Sunday, October 26, 2025 Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Dorothy Sutton Honors Recitals
The multiple Local Honors Recitals will be held at Willow Grove Settlement Music School on Sunday, October 26, starting at 10:00 A.M., in small groups of 15-20 students. Students who are invited to these recitals are selected from those who performed on October 12, 2025 and who received a Superior or Excellent rating. At the end of each Recital there will be a Trophy Ceremony
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Saturday, November 8, 2025 Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA
9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Online registration: www.pamusicteachers.org
2025 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 12 and will close on Sunday, October 25, 2025.
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. If a teacher has one or more students participate and the teacher cannot attend for any reason, the teacher will be charged $40.
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HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Location: "TBA"
12:00 P.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 5 to Pianofialka@gmail.com. Don't miss this annual fun celebration!
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DAY OF COLLABORATION
Saturday, January 24, 2026 Host: Francine Christy
10:00 A.M – 3:00 P.M. Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA
The Willow Grove and the Philadelphia chapters will host a day of musical collaborarion—duets, trios, quartets—performed by students with students, or students with teachers, or teachers with teachers, or even students with parents or any combination. No soloists—just ensembles of two or more. We will have two pianos available. Rain/snow date is January 31, 2026. Please contact Francine Christy (Piano_fran@verizon.net or 610-971-1563) before December 20, 2025 to register for the event.
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MASTER CLASS
Saturday, April 25, 2026 Timothy Shafer
1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Professor Timothy Paul Shafer will work with students of teachers from both the Willow Grove Chapter and the Philadelphia Chapter that are of middle school and high school age. The students chosen to get to work with Professor Shafer will be picked in advance and must have their pieces well prepared. This event is open to members of both chapters.
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SALON MUSICALE
Friday, May 1, 2026 Host: TBD
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 Clipper Erikson
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Settlement School of Music, Willow Grove, PA
Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival Evaluations
Sunday, October 12, 2025 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Settlement School of Music, Willow Grove, PA
Dorothy Sutton Honors Recitals
Sunday, October 26, 2025 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Settlement School of Music, Willow Grove, PA
State Solo and Showcase Recitals
Saturday, November 8, 2025 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA
Holiday Luncheon
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 12:00 - 1:30 P.M.
Location: TBA
Day of Collaboration
January 24, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Settlement School of Music, Willow Grove, PA
MTNA Conference
March 21 - 25, 2026 Chicago, Illinois
Master Class with Timothy Shaffer
April 25, 2026 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Settlement School of Music, Willow Grove, PA
Salon Musicale
Friday, May 1, 2022 10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Pennsylvania State Conference
June 12 - 14, 2026 Seton Hall University, PA
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MEMBERSHIP FEES
Local membership fee for the year……………………………………………………………………...….….....$25.00
State PMTA………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….………..$50.00
Senior Discount for members over 70 years of age…………………………………………….…..…….$37.50
National MTNA………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….$104.00
Senior Discount for members over 70 years of age………………………………………………....…….$78.00
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.
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BOARD MEETINGS
September 17, 2025…………………………………………………………………………..10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
November 19, 2025……………………………………………………..…………………… 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
March 4, 2026……………………………………………………………………….…………….10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
May 6, 2026………………………………………………………………………………….…….10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2025 - 2026
Affiliate of Music Teachers National Association