Warmest greetings!
By the time you read this,
your teaching year will likely be coming to a close and you may be looking
toward summer with a sense of exciting anticipation, and frankly, some
relief! As music educators, we work very
hard to bring out the best in our students, and to instill in them an attitude
of excellence, an appreciation for the rewards of hard work, patience and
perseverance, and probably most of all, a love and appreciation for the gift of
music. How truly fortunate we are to
work in this profession, and to contribute so positively to the lives of our
students and their families!
I have just returned from the
MTNA National Conference in Milwaukee,
rejuvenated and excited to share new ideas and techniques with my students and North Carolina
colleagues. There were many highlights
from this year’s conference, but most notable for me was the outstanding master
class conducted by Conference Artists Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and Pianist
Warren Jones. Their own collaborative
efforts in working with young singers and pianists demonstrated the importance
of performing in a spirit of collaboration, and their generous praise and
support for the young musicians were an inspiration to us all. Their evening recital was electrifying, and a
very fitting and exciting conclusion to an wonderful conference.
Next year’s MTNA National
Conference is slated for New York City,
March 24 – 28, 2012,
and is sure to be one of the most exciting conferences ever. If you have never attended a national conference,
or it has been some time since going, please make attendance at next year’s
conference a must. You owe it to
yourself and your students to participate in the outstanding workshops,
recitals, national competitions, showcases and many other activities planned
with you in mind. You will come home as
I do, rejuvenated, excited, and eager to share with your students and
colleagues what you have gleaned from the conference. And, you will have a chance to visit one of
the greatest cities in the world, and explore all that New York has to offer! And, don’t forget that all expenses incurred
for the conference attendance are tax-deductible!!
Here in North Carolina, we are busy making plans for
the 2011 NCMTA Conference, scheduled for October 27-30th, at Salem College
in Winston-Salem, NC.
Dr. Thomas Swenson has graciously agreed to serve as our on-site host,
and he and President-elect Diane Blanchard are busy making preparations for our
visit to Salem College.
I am pleased to announce that our 2011 Conference Artist will be Marina
Lomazov, Professor of Piano at the University of South Carolina School of
Music. In addition, Mr. Robert Vandall,
well-known to us all, will be attending on behalf of Alfred Music Company. Other presenters are being confirmed, and a
full list of workshops, clinicians and events will be posted on our website in
the coming weeks as details are finalized.
I encourage you to check the website often for the latest information. Register early, and consider inviting your
local colleagues, students and friends to attend as well.
As we wind down this studio
year and look ahead to the next, I hope you will consider how you might serve
your fellow colleagues, students and parents, by becoming more involved in
NCMTA. There is truly a need for
everyone to serve at the local or state level, and your service will not only
benefit those whom you serve, but enrich your own professional life in ways far
beyond your expectations. I encourage
you to step up, and lift up yourself and others toward a more certain future
filled with the transforming power of music!
Please stay in touch with
your questions, comments and suggestions, so I may better serve you and your
students.
I send my best wishes for
your boundless joy and success in this most wonderful profession!
All the best,
Liz
