Washington Music Teachers Association Newsletter February 2013 www.wmta-dc.org Nancy Longmyer, Acting President Ruth Rose, Newsletter Editor PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Dear WMTA members, Our WMTA President, Marina Ovtcharenko, informed the WMTA Board last week that it is with deep regret that she must step aside as WMTA President, effective immediately. There are pressing family health issues that are consuming her time and energy. For this reason, as President-Elect I have assumed the office of President of WMTA effective February 7th, 2013, temporarily taking over these duties until the end of the school year. On behalf of WMTA I would like to thank Marina Ovtcharenko for the hard work and dedication that she has given WMTA. We extend her and her family wishes for a speedy recovery and continued good health. I would also like to thank members of the board for their help and guidance during these next few months. It is with sadness that we announce the passing last December of John Mang, husband of Rosita Kerr Mang, former WMTA President and longtime member. Many of you remember John s faithful support of Rosita, as he sat at the registration desk over the years, checking in students for the Novik, the Lichtenberg and the Tselentis competitions. We will all miss him. Three important items of business: 1. Compared with MTNA members in neighboring states, MD and VA, who pay state as well as local county dues, WMTA dues have remained fixed at $30 for several years. The Finance Committee recommended a modest increase of $5.00. Based on this comparison, the Board has voted to increase WMTA dues from $30 to $35. 2. In the past year, several motions were brought before the board which will affect WMTA events. The following policies are now part of the General Rules for WMTA Events. Please note these carefully, and familiarize yourselves with the WMTA General Rules as well. - No interaction is allowed at the venue between teachers and students until after the decisions have been announced. (in Rule #5) - All recording devices are prohibited at competitive events. Parents may videotape their child at WMTA noncompetitive events only, in a location designated by the Chair. (Rule #6) - Teachers are required to help in events entered by their students. Assignments are determined by the Chair. No substitutions allowed. (Rule #8) 3. We need to form a nominating committee to prepare a slate of candidates to fill vacant positions. If you would be willing to volunteer for this committee, please contact me by email or phone as soon as possible. There should be three board members and two non-board members on the committee. The following events are coming up soon: February 24 & March 17, Student Musicales & Judged Recitals; March 16, Baroque Festival; May 12, Hartman Performance Awards and Lichtenberg Scholarship Competition. Chairs of these events encourage teachers to apply online where offered, and on time, and would appreciate teachers full cooperation. SAVE THE DATE: May 10, 2013 for the General Meeting/Election and Potluck. Thank you for your continued cooperation. I look forward to serving WMTA as Acting President. Nancy Longmyer WMTA Acting President
WMTA Newsletter February 2013 - page 2 WMTA News WMTA welcomes new members: Anne Curley (bassoon) 1833 Elgin Dr Vienna, VA 22182 (956) 371-7376 Edmond Saint-Jean (music education) 11235 Oak Leaf Dr #B1620 Silver Spring MD 20901 (516) 673-5158 yeye27198112@gmail.com Quanice Floyd (general music) 1001 3rd Street SW #716 Washington DC 20024 (917) 691-7561 qgfloyd@gmail.com Donna Sweeney (piano) 3304 Idaho Ave NW Washington DC 20016 (202) 465-6062 dede.sweeney@live.com Tamara Munk (piano) 4920 Upton St NW Washington DC 20016 (202) 244-5267 bach2rach@gmail.com Marisela Torres-Smith (piano) 42510 Legacy Park Dr Ashburn VA 20148 (571) 244-2852 smith_marisela@yahoo.com WMTA shares in the loss of John Mang, husband of WMTA member and former President Rosita Kerr Mang. John passed away in December. He was known to many WMTA members because of his kind presence and generous volunteer involvement in helping out during many of our organization s events over the years. John and Rosita were married for 36 years. He embraced her children and grandchildren as his own, a love that was deeply reciprocated. John was a systems analyst for the House of Representatives for over 30 years, as well as a music lover and an avid collector of netsuke and other Asian art, whose aesthetic beauty and incredible intricacy he was enamoured of. This love for detail surely contributed to his appreciation of and involvement with the music-making in the family. Alex Kerr wrote a moving eulogy in which he describes his stepfather as a wonderful man: kind, modest, generous, honest and loving someone who would go to the end of the world to make sure he could be there for his loved ones. May his memory be blessed.
WMTA Newsletter February 2013 - page 3 The WMTA CONCERTOFEST was held this January at Steinway place in North Bethesda. The event had a very high enrollment, with 33 students from eight studios performing. We look forward to the next ConcertoFest in two years! -- Jaewon Lee, Chair FOR SALE MARIMBA, 4 octave DEAGAN Contact: Ted Bayler 703-941-4559 ABayler@aol.com Below are listed the results of the last three WMTA JUDGED RECITALS: Judged Recital October 21, 2012 Kevin Zhang (M. Lee), Vivien Zhu (Nazarenko) Katie Bode (Sarratt), Kirsten Springer (Longmyer) Bonnie Kellert and Barbara Cackler Judged Recital December 2, 2012 Evan Hu (M. Lee), Angela Wu (Nazarenko), Saniya Han (Nazarenko) Wiley Skaret (M. Lee), Ian Yu (Kellert), Anders Brodnax (Miller), Grace Qi (Jun Yang), Teddi Yoo (Kellert) Krysta Hawkley and Soyoon Yim Judged Recital January 27, 2013 Jeannette Jiang (Nazarenko), Adam Cleland (Sarratt), MichelleTang (Nazarenko), Grace Park (Min) David Janus (Lees), Samuel Myung (Koras), Helena Liu (Sarratt), Julia Lutong Li (Lin), Lucy Faust (Wing), Eleanor Chen (J. Yang) Nancy Hallsted and Thomas Mastroianni
WMTA Newsletter February 2013 - page 4 FMMC Competition for High School Pianists Date: April 13, 2013 Postmark deadline: March 13, 2013 The competition is open to piano students who are currently enrolled in grades 9 through 12, living within a 50-mile radius of Washington DC. First-place winners from previous years are ineligible. Students must be prepared to play works from each of the following four categories: 1. A prelude and fugue from either volume of the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach, or two other comparable pieces from the Baroque period. 2. The first movement of a sonata by Beethoven (excluding op 49), Mozart (excluding K 545), Haydn (excluding early Divertimenti) or Schubert. 3. A substantial work from the Romantic period. 4. An impressionist work or a work from the 20th or 21st century. Prizes At the discretion of the judges, the following prizes will be awarded: First Prize $700 Second Prize $500 Third Prize $300 Winners will be presented in a student concert later in the season. All winners will receive a one-year membership in the Student Division of the Friday Morning Music Club. For details, contact Lois Jones at: LoisSmithJones@gmail.com (301) 654-6275 For application forms and complete details about requirements, repertoire and prizes, visit www.fmmc.org. The RAISSA TSELENTIS BACH COMPETITION took place at Steinway in Tyson s Corner on February 9th. Congratulations to all the all students for their magnificent playing and to all their great teachers who inspired and worked so hard with them. We also thank our three judges, Lydia Frumkin, Dionne Laufman and Barbro Dahlman, who in a very professional and kind way wrote beautiful comments for our competitors. -- Marjorie Lee and Valerica Maican The winners are: Junior Division: Ethan Hsiao (Nazarenko), Michelle Tang (Nazarenko), Wiley Skaret (M. Lee) Intermediate Division: First Group: Julia Lutong Lee (Lin), Angela Wu (Nazarenko), Saniya Han (Nazarenko), Risako Takamura (Breth), Alena Lu (Arseniev) Second Group: Christopher Lu (Breth), Jennifer Su (Breth), Virginia Sun (Breth), Alex Lim (Bartman), Margot Bartol (Maican), Katherine Wu (Nazarenko) There were no senior competitors this year.
WMTA Newsletter February 2013 - page 5 The POTTER (HOOD) STRINGS COMPETITION was held December 15th, 2012 at Catholic University. Judges were Hrant Parsasamian, cellist with the US Army Orchestra, Zino Bogochek, violinist in the Washington National Opera Orchestra, and Anna Binneweg, conductor of the Londontowner Symphony and Anne Arundel Community College Orchestra. We are pleased to present the results: Junior High: 1st place (TIE): Sarah Kim, violin (Christian Tremblay) and Raymond Lin, cello (Laurien Laufman) 2nd place (TIE): Calvin Liu, violin (Natalia Yampolsky) and Olivia Chen, violin (Emil Chudnovsky) HM: Magalan Tso, cello (Miron Yampolsky) and Edward Lee, violin (Adrian Semo) Senior High: 1st place: Samuel Kim (Laurien Laufman) 2nd place (TIE): Arman Nasrimpay, violin (Emil Chudnovsky) and Samantha Cody, violin (Emil Chudnovsky) HM: Jeffrey Yang, violin (Jody Gatwood) and Ellen Gira, cello (Glenn Garlick) I want to personally thank everyone who participated and contributed to the 2013 Margaret Frank Specialty Competition Music of North America. It was a delight to hear so many talented young pianists play so beautifully. There were 84 participants representing 14 studios. Participating teachers were: Elena Arseniev, Silva Blazquez, Nancy Breth, Sung-Hee Choi, Simone Deering,, Debra Gunnerson, Yoshi Hosaka, Svetlana Kaplanskaya, David Kosutic, Marjorie Lee, Julie Lees, Betty Miller, Lisa Emenheiser-Sarratt and Jun Yang. The event was held on February 3 at Catholic University. Our esteemed judges were Dr.Scott Beard, Dr. Joni Chan, Dr. Lori Piitz and Dr. Paulo Steinberg. -- David Kosutic, Chair The results of the 2013 SPECIALTY COMPETITION are as follows: Level 1A (2:50 pm): 1st Place Oscar Paz Suaznabar (M. Lee) 2nd Place Sean Li (McFarlane) 3rd Place Faddey Soldatov (Arseniev) HM Lauren Kim (M. Lee) Level 1B (2 pm): 1st Place Helena Liu (Sarratt) 2nd Place Irene Tang (Arseniev) 3rd Place Petrina Steimel (M. Lee) HM Annabel Lee (Breth) Level 2A (9:30 am): 1st Place Annabelle Xie (J. Yang) 2nd Place Michael Hie (Arseniev) 3rd Place Lena Stechuk (Breth) HM Preston Steimel (Breth) Level 2B (9:30 am): 1st Place Alena Lu (Arseniev) 2nd Place Wiley Skaret (Lee) 3rd Place (TIE) Hana Wang (Sarratt) and Sasha Wang (Sarratt) Level 3A (10:35 am): 1st Place Charlotte Cai (S. Blazquez) 2nd Place Eileen Wen (Sarratt) 3rd Place Emily Ye (J. Yang) HM (TIE) Clara Ke (Sarratt) and Austin Huang (J.Yang) Level 3B (10:40 am): 1st Place (TIE) Risako Takamura (Breth) and Ashley Andona Konga (Breth) 2nd Place Kevin Wang (Breth) 3rd Place Eleanor CHen (J. Yang) Level 4A (1:40 pm): 1st Place Anna Wang (Sarratt) 2nd Place Theron Masters (Breth) 3rd Place Virginia Sun (Breth) Level 4B (12:40 pm) : 1st Place Nicholas Pace (Sarratt) 2nd Place Johanna Gerr (Hosaka) 3rd Place Annie Bao (Arseniev) Level 5 (3:15 pm): 1st Place Cynthia Liu (Arseniev) 2nd Place Matthew Schultheis (Sarratt) 3rd Place Motya Gershunskiy (Arseniev) HM (TIE) Tiffany Wang (Arseniev) and Luke Ratcliffe (M. Lee) Level 6 (12:45pm): 1st Place Adam Heins (Breth) 2nd Place Issaac Friend (Deering) 3rd Place Paul Li (Breth)