Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition

 
 HARTMAN STICKLEY MEMORIAL PIANO COMPETITION
 
Event: Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition
Dates: March 4 & 5, 2016
Place: Harris Prairie Christian Church, 14719 SR 23, Granger, IN
Times: Approximately 10 AM – 6 PM on Friday, March 4, and
Approximately 9 AM – 4 PM on Saturday, March 5
 
Free and Open to the Public
Announcement is made of the twenty-first annual Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition, which will be held on March 4 & 5, 2016 at the Harris Prairie Christian Church, Granger, Indiana. The competition is open to pre-college students, ages 4-18. There are six divisions where winners will receive cash prizes:
 
Division I        ages 7 yrs. and younger; $50.00
Division II       ages 8 & 9; $75.00
Division III     ages 10 & 11; $100.00
Division IV     ages 12 & 13; $125.00
Division V       ages 14 & 15; $150.00
Division VI     ages 16, 17 & 18; $175.00
Contestants who receive Honorable Mention will win cash prizes as well.
The competition, which is sponsored by the South Bend Area Music Teachers Association, is open to piano students residing in Berrien, Cass & St. Joseph counties, Michigan; and Allen, Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Starke counties, Indiana. Prize money is made available through the Elnora Hartman Stickley Scholarship Fund.
Judges will be: Dr. Wael Farouk, Roosevelt University, Chicago; Nicole Lee, Valparaiso University; Lori Sims, Western Michigan University; Dr. James Helton, Ball State University; Dr. Lori Rhoden, Ball State University; Dr. Joyanne Outland, Indiana University Purdue University, Fort Wayne Continue reading

Nineteenth annual Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition

Announcement is made of the nineteenth annual Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition, which will be held on February 28 & March 1, 2014 in the Spencer Gallery, Downtown Mishawaka Penn Harris Library, Mishawaka, Indiana. The competition is open to pre-college students, ages 4-18. The four winners in each of four divisions will each win cash prizes: $150 for ages 15-18, $100 for ages 12-14, $75 for ages 9-11 and $50 for ages 8 & under, plus the opportunity to play in a winners recital on March 9, 2:30 pm, in the Kroc Center’s Auditorium, South Bend, Indiana. Contestants who receive Honorable Mention will win cash prizes as well.
The competition, which is sponsored by the South Bend Area Music Teachers Association, is open to piano students residing in Berrien, Cass & St. Joseph counties, Michigan; and Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Starke counties, Indiana. Prize money is made available through the Elnora Hartman Stickley Scholarship Fund.
Judges will be Steven Greene and Dr. Susan Merdinger from Highland Park, Illinois, and Dr. Hamilton Tescarollo from Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The purpose of the competition is two-fold: 1) to honor the memory of Elnora Hartman Stickley, and 2) to reward talented pianists in the Michiana area. The competition’s goal is to provide a performance venue for piano students in this area. Music is a performing art, and all musicians need many chances to practice the art of performance. This competition provides an excellent opportunity to do just that, along with getting feedback from highly-qualified judges.
Competition applications must be postmarked by January 25, 2014. Brochures and applications are available on the South Bend Area Music Teachers Association website at www.sbamta.org. For further information, please contact the competition chair, Michelle Beyler, at (574) 226-2950.

Wabash Valley MTA Hosts Garnet Ungar

A recital and workshop by Garnet Ungar, from University of Evansville, was hosted by the Wabash Valley Music Teachers Association (WVMTA) February 7-8. His appearance was made possible by a local association programming grant from IMTA and with the cooperation of Indiana State University (ISU) in providing recital and workshop space.
Garnet’s recital and workshop were well attended by members of both WVMTA, ISU, and the Terre Haute community. His recital featured music of the 19th century – Chopin and his contemporaries. The workshop “Practicing Catalysts” included ISU students and pre-college students of WVMTA members in a lecture/master class format. Dr. Ungar, a gifted performer and teacher, engaged and inspired his audience. It was an outstanding event and fulfilled the purpose of IMTA grants, to support the educational and professional development of teachers and to support the promotion of music in the immediate community.

South Bend Area Music Teachers Association Spring Master Class

On Wednesday, February 13, the SBAMTA program featured a master class with Professor Giuseppe Lupis of Grand Valley State University located in Allendale, Michigan.  Giuseppe Lupis is known for his explorations of unique repertoire. He is the first pianist to have performed an entire solo piano recital with music by Keith Emerson. Between concerts of the classics, a manuscript work of Italian composer Nino Rota, and his own compositions, he is also one of the few pianists in the world to have mastered and frequently performed entire George Gershwin solo piano programs.  Giuseppe Lupis is an active piano composer and arranger.  A former pupil of renowned concert pianist Aldo Ciccolini, Lupis holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts in piano performance at the University of Georgia, under the tutelage of Richard Zimdars, and a piano performance degree earned with highest honors at the State Conservatory of Music in Bari, Italy, with Pierluigi Camicia. Professor Lupus work with three students  performing, “Venetian Gondola Song in F# Minor, Op. 30 No. 6 by Mendelssohn, Lotus Land, Op. 47 No. 1 by Scott and Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14, 4th movement.  Dr. Lupis gave insightful ideas on the background of each composer as well has performance practices and technical strategies.
The master class was partially funded by the IMTA Local Association Grant.

Northern Indiana Music Teachers learn about Indiana Piano History

In November NIMTA (Northern Indiana Music Teachers Association) met for a meeting in Huntertown at the Piano Shoppe http://thepianoshoppe.org/ owned by piano tuner and technician Larry Merriman. Merriman has been a piano technician in the area for over 45 years. His shop is in a warehouse that houses a large amount of pianos both ready to be restored or ready to be sold after having been restored by himself. Since piano students often go to their teacher for advice regarding the purchase of an acoustic piano, he discussed basic things one can look for to determine their quality. Larry also explained different issues one may have with an acoustic piano (such as sticking keys) that may be easily fixed without a tuner/technician. Did you know Indiana was the home to several piano manufactures including two in Northern Indiana? Merriman gave the group a unique look at one of those factories. In 1871 the Packard Piano & Organ Company was in Ft. Wayne 1871 – circa 1935. The Estey Piano Corp. manufactured pianos in Bluffton from 1935 – 1982.

SBMTA Announces 2013 Hartman Stickley Piano Competition

Announcement is made of the eighteenth annual Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition, which will be held on March 1 & 2, 2013 in the Spencer Gallery, Downtown Mishawaka Penn Harris Library, Mishawaka, Indiana.  The competition is open to pre-college students, ages 4-18.  The four winners in each of four divisions will each win cash prizes:  $150 for ages 15-18, $100 for ages 12-14, $75 for ages 9-11 and $50 for ages 8 & under, plus the opportunity to play in a winners recital on March 10, 2:30 pm, in the Kroc Center’s Auditorium, South Bend, Indiana.  Contestants who receive Honorable Mention will win cash prizes as well.
The competition, which is sponsored by the South Bend Area Music Teachers Association, is open to piano students residing in Berrien, Cass & St. Joseph counties, Michigan; and Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Starke counties, Indiana.  Prize money is made available through the Elnora Hartman Stickley Scholarship Fund.
Judges will be Dr. David Abbott from Albion College, Dr. Winston Choi from Roosevelt College, and Dr. Lia Jensen-Abbott from Albion College.
The purpose of the competition is two-fold: 1) to honor the memory of Elnora Hartman Stickley, and 2) to reward talented pianists in the Michiana area.  The competition’s goal is to provide a performance venue for piano students in this area.  Music is a performing art, and all musicians need many chances to practice the art of performance.  This competition provides an excellent opportunity to do just that, along with getting feedback from highly-qualified judges.
Competition applications must be postmarked by January 25, 2013.  Brochures and applications are available at Shirk’s Piano in Mishawaka, as well as on the South Bend Area Music Teachers Association website at www.sbamta.org.  For further information, please contact the competition chair, Hyeja Chong Gahahl, at (574) 271-0625.
Event:  Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition
Dates:  March 1 & 2, 2013
Place:  Spencer Gallery, Downtown Mishawaka Penn Harris Library
Times:  approximately 10 AM – 6 PM on Friday Mar. 1, and approximately
9 AM – 4 PM on Saturday Mar. 2
Free and Open to the Public

Virginia Adye honored for 45 years of membership

Venita Hooper, president of the Greater Evansville Music Teachers Association presented Virginia Adye with a certificate honoring her 45-year membership in the Indiana Music Teachers Association. Hooper commented “Virginia has been a real influence in my life. During those exciting high school years, she afforded me many cultural opportunities, prepared me for college, and introduced me to many great piano works I love to this day. She has continued to be a friend and mentor in my life. She still has an active studio of about 20 students, with an enery level and attitude that is energizing” IMTA extends its warm congratulations to Virginia.

South Bend Area Music Teachers Association Fall Events

The South Bend Area Music Teachers have had a great start to our year themed – The Classical Period starting with Dr. Rhein of Bethel College giving a program on The Classical Period; In October our VP-Paula Laskowski gave a program on ” Making Games to Supplement & Reinforce Theory”; and in November Linda Witchie gave a program on  “Student Motivation & Retention”. Our AIM festival at Bethel College was a huge success with 102 students entered. In December we have our “Classical Cameos” recital and we end the year with our Christmas Luncheon

NCIMTA Monster Concert a Success!

About a year ago one of our NCIMTA members, Michelle Roeske, had a dream of our local association sponsoring a Monster Concert.  She pictured up to eight pianos filled with students on stage at McHale Performing Arts Center in Logansport and a guest conductor of national stature.  That dream came true on Saturday, October 20.
Late last spring three of us met to consider whether and how we might undertake such a venture.  We are a very small local association; could we pull it off?  We decided to go for it.  We consulted with a variety of groups throughout the state who had undertaken similar projects.  Their suggestions and advice were a huge help.Continue reading

SBMTA completes year of Local Association Programming

This year the South Bend Area Music Teachers Association focused on the Baroque Period with our theme “Bach to Baroque.”  Dr. David Barton was our September speaker giving a general view of the historical period starting with influences from the Renaissance.  In October we watched the Baroque Dances DVD with Dr. Hinson.  In November, the association held their Achievement In Music Festival at Bethel College and our November meeting program was our own membership performing duets.  In December we had our “Bach to Baroque” Recital with 18 students performing from the Baroque Period.  We had our Christmas Luncheon to finish out the year.  In February we watched “Principles of Style for the Young Pianist,” with Nelita True(DVD) and our Spring Recital with 11 students performing; March 2 and 3 was our annual Stickley Competition; our March program featured our own Devon Haupt “ It’s Not Just a Naked Piano: An Introduction to the Harp”.  In April, Dr. Lori Rhoden, Ball State University “Developing Expressive Performance” and we closed the year with a Brunch at the home of SBMTA President, Juliana Lockman. To learn more about the Local Association visit their website.