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MCMTA<br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
Montgomery County<br />
Music Teachers Association<br />
newsletter<br />
Visit us on <strong>the</strong> web: http://MCMTA.<strong>MSMTA</strong>.org<br />
Brian Ganz and Chopin!<br />
Brian Ganz will be performing an all-Chopin recital at our upcoming <strong>December</strong><br />
meeting. Need any more be said<br />
Brian is widely regarded as one of <strong>the</strong> leading pianists of his generation.<br />
For many years he has made it his mission to join vivide music making with<br />
warmth and intimacy onstage, often guiding listeners on a journey of discovery<br />
inside <strong>the</strong> composer's craft.<br />
"Recently I had <strong>the</strong> privilege of visiting Poland, <strong>the</strong> homeland of Chopin,"<br />
Brian says. "I knew that Chopin was a national treausre, but had not known<br />
that he is THE national treasure. There are pictures of him everywhere...he is<br />
truly <strong>the</strong> spirit of his country. The trip was very moving to me, and intensified<br />
my connection to <strong>the</strong> man and his music."<br />
Senior Concerto Competition<br />
The MCMTA Senior Concerto competition was held at Jordan Kitt's Music in<br />
Rockville on November 17 and 18. The winners will be playing <strong>the</strong> Mozart Concerto<br />
in A Major K488 with <strong>the</strong> Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, Scott Wood<br />
conducting. The concert will be held on Sunday, Feburary 24, 2013 at 3:00 pm at<br />
Be<strong>the</strong>sda Presbyterian Church, 7611 Clarendon Road in Be<strong>the</strong>sda. Participating<br />
teachers were Hyun Park, Conchita Jan, Sergei Morozov and Li-Ly Chang. The Senior<br />
winners follow, Junior and Intermediate results on are inside on page two.<br />
1st Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Alternate<br />
Lili Sun<br />
Ariel Hsu<br />
2nd Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Jessica Li<br />
Alternate<br />
Savannah Du<br />
Honorable Mention Winston Wu<br />
Crystal Liu<br />
William Brauneis<br />
Christine Jean<br />
3rd Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Savannah Du<br />
Alternate<br />
Crystal Liu<br />
Honorable Mention Mary Wan<br />
Grace Chan<br />
The next members'<br />
meeting is Tuesday<br />
<strong>December</strong> 11, <strong>2012</strong> at<br />
Jordan Kitt's in Rockville<br />
12303 Twinbrook Parkway Rockville, MD<br />
10:30 Business Meeting<br />
and Program<br />
Followed by Luncheon<br />
November<br />
Meeting Review<br />
In her presentation “40 Things I’ve Learned<br />
in 39 Years of Teaching” Michiko Yurko covered<br />
topics ranging from how to (carefully!)<br />
choose students (and <strong>the</strong>ir parents), through<br />
tips on how to run our studios, how to help<br />
our students practice, <strong>the</strong> manner in which<br />
we conduct lessons, all <strong>the</strong> way to how to<br />
take care of ourselves – a much neglected<br />
topic. Michiko shared with us her many<br />
practical, common sense, and insightful ideas<br />
presenting <strong>the</strong>m clearly, in detail, with good<br />
humor and interspersed with anecdotes we<br />
all can relate to. What a treat!<br />
If you missed it you can still get a taste;<br />
Michiko has shared her handout with all of<br />
us on our YahooGroups list-serve (look in <strong>the</strong><br />
Files section). You will still have missed her<br />
stories but <strong>the</strong> handout is quite extensive.<br />
– Immanuela Gruenberg<br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
page one
More Results:<br />
1st Movement<br />
Junior Concerto<br />
Performer<br />
Avery Liou<br />
Alternate<br />
Eirena Li<br />
Honorable Mention Jessica Lin<br />
William Chan<br />
Lulu Chang<br />
Lihua Mo Hunter<br />
2nd Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Emily Tong<br />
Alternates<br />
Andrea Chen<br />
Jamie Wang<br />
Honorable Mention Simon Cantor<br />
Eirena Li<br />
Titus Liu<br />
Alvin Ya<br />
3rd Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Eirena Li<br />
Alternate<br />
William Chan<br />
Honorable Mention Lulu Chang<br />
Max Li<br />
Flora Li<br />
Judges were Elena Arseniev and Margarita Gramaticova.<br />
Intermediate Concerto<br />
1st Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Alternate<br />
Christine Cho<br />
Grace Chen<br />
2nd Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Julia Lutong Li<br />
Alternates<br />
Isabella Chang<br />
Honorable Mention Valentino LaVilla<br />
Elementary Recital<br />
Fall and Winter are very busy seasons for those who participate<br />
in MCMTA elementary recitals. The first elementary recital of <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>2012</strong>/2013 school year took place in October 20th <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
48 students from 9 Montgomery County Piano studios<br />
participated in <strong>the</strong> recital. Just ten days before Halloween <strong>the</strong><br />
children were happy to dress up in <strong>the</strong>ir costumes and play <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
favorite "spooky" songs, etudes, folk songs and classical music<br />
pieces at <strong>the</strong> elementary level.<br />
I would like to thank all <strong>the</strong> teachers who helped prior recital<br />
to make it run smoothly and happy. Special thanks to Dr. Svetlana<br />
Volkova who helped to type all <strong>the</strong> 3 recitals programs.<br />
Susan Roberts amd Suzanne Ferall were wonderful monitors.<br />
Larissa Domracheva and Deborah O'Neill helped with registration.<br />
Larissa Domracheva also provided a lot of candies and fall<br />
ornaments.<br />
Winter holidays are in town! Come and join our winter music<br />
celebration piano recital on <strong>December</strong> 15th at Montgomery<br />
College.<br />
– Olga Soukhoveev<br />
Elementary<br />
Recital Chair<br />
3rd Movement<br />
Performer<br />
Alternate<br />
Isabella Chang<br />
Martin Torrey<br />
Judges were Bok Hwa Kim and Alla Merport.<br />
Please see <strong>the</strong> Senior Concerto write-up on page one for<br />
information on <strong>the</strong> performances of <strong>the</strong> winners.<br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
page two
Notes from our President<br />
We had an enjoyable and informative program at our November<br />
13th meeting from our own member Michiko Yurko entitled “40 Things<br />
I Have Learned in 39 Years of Teaching” that gave us some great ideas<br />
for our own teaching studios. Michiko graciously agreed to share her<br />
handout with <strong>the</strong> entire membership by allowing us to post it on <strong>the</strong><br />
listserv (MCMTA at yahoogroups.com). So if you were unable to attend<br />
but would like to see some of Michiko’s great ideas, be sure to visit <strong>the</strong><br />
listserv. Haven’t joined yet Just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/ and<br />
search for MCMTA. Put in a request to join with a note that you are an<br />
MCMTA member and start receiving all <strong>the</strong> great information on discount<br />
tickets and postings by our members.<br />
Please mark your calendars for <strong>the</strong> upcoming <strong>MSMTA</strong> convention on<br />
January 12th and 13th at <strong>the</strong> University of Maryland in College Park.<br />
Conference and registration information is available on <strong>the</strong> <strong>MSMTA</strong><br />
website.<br />
Please join us on Tuesday, <strong>December</strong> 11th for our holiday potluck<br />
lunch and program. We will be treated to a performance by Brian Ganz.<br />
No tickets to buy - it’s one of <strong>the</strong> benefits of MCMTA membership! There<br />
is a short business meeting at 10:30am followed by <strong>the</strong> program and<br />
<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> luncheon. Bring a dish to share, but please keep in mind that<br />
it must be ready-to-serve as we will not have <strong>the</strong> capability of heating<br />
dishes up at Jordan Kitt's Music. Please join us for a great day of music<br />
and camaraderie!<br />
– Lori McCarthy, MCMTA President<br />
<strong>MSMTA</strong> Conference<br />
There were some omissions in <strong>the</strong> previous registration<br />
form (<strong>the</strong> one in <strong>the</strong> October Maryland<br />
State Music Teacher's Association Newsletter), so<br />
if you have not registered, please use <strong>the</strong> revised<br />
form or register online at http://msmta.org/<br />
The conference schedule is also online and<br />
detailed descriptions of sessions will be posted<br />
soon). Hope to see many of you at <strong>the</strong> conference!<br />
– Junko Takahashi, <strong>MSMTA</strong> President<br />
There will be a discussion about proposed bylaws<br />
revisions at <strong>the</strong> <strong>December</strong> 11th meeting. It has been<br />
several years since <strong>the</strong>y were last revised and inclusion<br />
of internet and o<strong>the</strong>r items have been proposed<br />
by <strong>the</strong> Board.<br />
Upcoming Events:<br />
The next MCMTA meeting is <strong>December</strong> 11, <strong>2012</strong><br />
The first meeting of 2013 is February 12<br />
MCMTA Judged Recital <strong>December</strong> 9, <strong>2012</strong><br />
At Montgomery College Rehearsal Hall<br />
Elementary Recital <strong>December</strong> 15, <strong>2012</strong><br />
"Autumn Magic" at Montgomery College<br />
Music Building (51 Mannakee St. Rockville)<br />
Festival 2013: All Things French and Spanish<br />
February 24, 2013 (deadline is January 26)<br />
We're on <strong>the</strong> web: http://MCMTA.<strong>MSMTA</strong>.org<br />
Please join us at YahooGroups.com (List name is<br />
MCMTA)<br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
page three
Montgomery County Music<br />
Teachers Association<br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2012</strong> Newsletter<br />
Susan Burkhalter reports that one of our MCMTA<br />
members, Christine Couch has passed <strong>the</strong> Colleague<br />
Exam, <strong>the</strong> third most difficult American Guild of Organists<br />
National Certification test, which she took in<br />
June <strong>2012</strong>. Christine is a piano teacher and church<br />
organist at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Silver Spring.<br />
The Colleague exam includes five performance<br />
pieces of classical music which are required, two<br />
hymns, a vocal music or choral music piece, and also<br />
keyboard skills tests on modulating and improvisation,<br />
sight-reading, and transposition. Only 21 minutes<br />
of preparation are given for <strong>the</strong> keyboard skills<br />
portion of <strong>the</strong> test. Preparation for <strong>the</strong> test takes at<br />
least one year of rigorous study and practice, usually<br />
working with a teacher. The test is given locally and<br />
recorded, <strong>the</strong>n sent to New York City for grading by<br />
<strong>the</strong> judges.<br />
Newsletter Deadline is<br />
January 25, 2013<br />
Please submit information for <strong>the</strong><br />
next newsletter before January 25, 2013.<br />
Please send submissions to :<br />
Cynthia Cathcart, phone 301-587-6267.<br />
email Cynthia@PotomacTalent.com<br />
(please put MCMTA in <strong>the</strong> subject line)<br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
page four<br />
Member News<br />
Musical Arts International Inc. will present its<br />
holiday Concert "Misto Di Voci" on <strong>December</strong> 9,<br />
<strong>2012</strong> at 3:00 at Calvary Lu<strong>the</strong>ran Church, 9545<br />
Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. It will feature David<br />
Yarbrough, violin, Paula Hickey, Clarinet and Daniel<br />
Lau, Piano. 301-933-3715 for more information.<br />
Friday Morning Music Club<br />
The FMMC Competition for High School Pianists will take place on April<br />
13, 2013. The competition is open to piano students who are currently<br />
enrolled in grades 9 through 12, living within a 50‐mile radius of Washington,<br />
DC. First place winners from previous years are ineligible. Please note<br />
that you do not have to be a member of <strong>the</strong> FMMC to enter a student in<br />
<strong>the</strong> competition.<br />
The location of <strong>the</strong> competition is National Presbyterian Church at 4101<br />
Nebraska Ave., NW in Washington, D.C. The date is April 13, 2013, with an<br />
application deadline (postmark) no later than Saturday, March 13, 2013.<br />
Prizes are awarded at <strong>the</strong> discretion of <strong>the</strong> judges, and range from $700<br />
for first prize, to $500 for second prize and $300 for third prize.<br />
Winners will also be presented on a student concert later in <strong>the</strong> season.<br />
All winners will receive a one‐year membership in <strong>the</strong> Student Division of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Friday Morning Music Club.<br />
Students must play works from each of four categories: <strong>the</strong> Baroque<br />
Period; <strong>the</strong> first movement of a sonata from Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn or<br />
Schubert; a substantial work from <strong>the</strong> Romantic Period; and a work from<br />
<strong>the</strong> Impressionist, 20th or 21st century. (Please see <strong>the</strong> website fmmc.org<br />
for specific requirements and excluded works).<br />
If you have any questions please contact MCMTA member Lois Jones<br />
at LoisSmithJones@gmail.com or by phone at 301-654-6275. Complete<br />
details and <strong>the</strong> application are available at fmmc.org.<br />
Holiday Luncheon Notes<br />
Please bring items to share during our holiday luncheon, which follows<br />
Brian Ganz's performance at our <strong>December</strong> meeting. We only have access<br />
to a very small microwave oven, so please try to bring food dishes that do<br />
not require re-heating. We have also in <strong>the</strong> past had members suggest<br />
that nuts be avoided if <strong>the</strong>y are not essential to your recipes.<br />
We hope to see everyone on <strong>December</strong> 11 at <strong>the</strong> Jordan Kitt's in Rockville<br />
for this special time toge<strong>the</strong>r.