Program: May Breakfast & Business Meeting
Wednesday, May 8 May Breakfast & Business Meeting
9:30am Jim & Carol Prodan’s house, Charlottesville
Your Custom Text Here
Wednesday, May 8 May Breakfast & Business Meeting
9:30am Jim & Carol Prodan’s house, Charlottesville
Wednesday, March 13 Continuing Education: The influence of Bach on Twentieth Century Composers
9:45am Social Time Municipal Arts Ctr, 1119 5th St SW 10:00am Program Dr. Adam Carter, Cellist
Adam Carter will present a program of solo cello music that explores the connections between the Bach Cello Suites and 20th-century solo works. The program will include excerpts from compositions by Bloch, Hindemith, Britten, Ligeti, and Reger as well as excerpts from various Bach suites. Adam will explore how Bach influenced motive, form, style, and character in these 20th-century masterpieces. Adam is principal cello of the Charlottesville Symphony and an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia. Dr. Carter grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended high school at the North Carolina School of the Arts. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree with Distinction from the Eastman School of Music, and completed his Doctoral degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his free time, Dr. Carter and his wife are passionate animal advocates, and foster kittens through the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.
PIANO/ORGAN/HARP DETAILS:
Chair: Joyce Polifka - joycepolifka@gmail.com
Date: Saturday, February 17, 2024
Place: First Presbyterian Church (500 Park St.)
Registration Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Any student of CMTA members, all instruments including voice. Contact chairs for non-member policy.
Fees (non-refundable): $25 (solo), $30 (duet or trio), larger ensembles consult with the chair
STRING/WIND/VOICE DETAILS:
Chair: Erin Flynn - erinannflynn@gmail.com
Date: Saturday, February 10, 2024
Place: Location TBA
Registration opens: December 15; Registration Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Any student of CMTA members, all instruments including voice. Contact chairs for non-member policy.
Fees (non-refundable): $25 (solo), $30 (duet or trio), larger ensembles consult with the chair.
Saturday, Feb 3; Music from the Stage and Screen; 10am-noon; The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd
Dr. Matthew Cataldi, Pianist
In the first hour of his program, Dr. Matthew Cataldi will present a recital of classical masterpieces, virtuoso transcriptions, and original arrangements of music inspired by opera, ballet, musical theatre, and television. From Beethoven to Gershwin, Liszt to Broadway - there will be something for music lovers of every age and background. The second hour of his presentation includes a discussion of improvisation and a masterclass.
Dr. Matthew Cataldi holds MM and DM degrees in Piano Performance and Literature from Indiana University. He has enjoyed a versatile career as a piano soloist, collaborative artist, conductor, composer, and educator and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in addition to many other venues across the Americas and Canada. As an experienced conductor and musical director in the theatre world, he's premiered several new works in New York City in collaboration with Tony Award winning Broadway artists. He enjoys bridging the classical and popular worlds, creating, and presenting exciting new music that caters to his unique background and interests. Dr. Cataldi is president of the Highlands Chapter of the Virginia Music Teachers Association and is Director of Piano Studies at Radford University in Radford, Virginia where he was recently awarded the Dalton Eminent Scholar Rising Star award - a university-wide award for creative scholarship that recognizes faculty with distinguished international reputations in their discipline.
This program is free and open to the public.
Chair: Lynanne Wilson; lyncello@hotmail.com
Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, 7:00 pm
Place: University Baptist Church, 1223 W. Main St., Charlottesville
Eligibility: Any adult (post high school) students of any CMTA member
Fee: None
Chair: Marie Powers Ellis
Date/Time: Sunday, November 19; 1:30 pm Place: The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd
Eligibility: Any CMTA member's student, grade 12 or younger
Fee: None
Deadline/applications: Received by November 12; applications are accepted by email (preferred) or by snail mail.
The 2023 CMTA Play-a-Thon Fundraiser will take place at the Mudhouse Coffee Crozet on the afternoon of Saturday, November 18 (located at 5793 The Square, Crozet). All proceeds will benefit the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.
For additional inquiries, please contact: Marie Powers Ellis, marie@ivypianostudio.com
Wednesday, Nov. 8 Guiding Intermediate Students Through the Bridge
9:45am Social Time Municipal Arts Ctr, 1119 5th St SW
10:00am Program Dr. Paulo Steinberg, Pianist
Research shows that a big percentage of students who quit piano lessons are between ages 11 and 14. That is when many extracurricular activities are added to their schedule which affect their performance in other areas, including piano. How can we prepare our intermediate students for that inevitable phase? How can we keep them engaged and motivated? More importantly, how can we GUIDE them through the bridge that will lead to their success? This lecture will discuss a few tips that might help your students make progress and succeed during a very busy phase in their lives.
A winner of several national competitions in his native Brazil, Dr. Steinberg was also the recipient of a prestigious scholarship from the Brazilian Government while pursuing his advanced degrees in piano performance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in piano from Universidade de Sao Paulo, a Master’s degree from Arizona State University, and a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University. Among his distinguished teachers are Brazilian pianists Carlos Yansen, Elizabeth Barthelson, Gilberto Tinetti, Caio Pagano, Paulo Gori, and Belgian pianist Ms. Evelyne Brancart. Dr. Steinberg is Professor of Piano at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.
The VMTA 2023 State Conference will be held on November 2-4 in Norfolk, VA at Old Dominion University.
Wednesday, Oct. 11 Without the Instrument, Without the Music: Teaching Beginners Through Music Games
9:45am Social Time Municipal Arts Ctr, 1119 5th St SW
10:00am Program Melinda Goodwin
Welcome to Melinda’s bag of tricks. There are so many ways to teach beginners to play an instrument without one. Teaching sight-reading, rhythm and musicality through games and fun activities is a great way to add variety to
your teaching day. Pre-teaching for new pieces before the student even opens
the book makes the lesson flow smoothly. Join Melinda to learn the variety of tips she has invented and picked up from other teachers over the years. Manipulatives to make yourself and favorite teaching aids will be shown along with resources of where and how to make and buy them for your own students.
Before moving to Virginia, Melinda had her own piano studio in Plano, TX. As an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University for two years in the Piano Pedagogy department, she instructed master’s level pianists to teach private and class piano lessons in the preparatory academy, and she also taught class piano to undergraduate students. Melinda has a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, and a Bachelors of Music from the University of Oklahoma in Piano Pedagogy and Performance.
Saturday, August 26 Opening Meeting
3:00-5:00 pm The Colonnades, 2600 Barracks Rd. Member performance, plans, and activities for the 2023-24 season.
WMC ADULT RECITAL
SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 12:00 - 3:00
THE CENTER at BELVEDERE
The Wednesday Music Club is happy to offer an opportunity for students of college age and beyond to share their musical accomplishments! Students of both vocal and all instrumental music, at all levels of proficiency, from Early Intermediate to Advanced may enjoy an informal format which will make available performances on either the Steinway in the Atrium or
the concert Yamaha in the auditorium. We're always delighted at the response from pianists but would be even more delighted to add to the pianists more voice, strings, winds, and ensembles of all kinds!
From 12 until 1:45 there'll be opportunities to warm up for 5 or so minutes on the pianos or other instruments. The actual recital will begin at 1:45, starting in the Atrium and then everyone will move to the auditorium to hear those eager to try out the Yamaha.
Deadline for submissions is JUNE 1. Please send the following information or any questions by email to Pat Davis, patdav5@gmail.com:
-----name, length, and composer of composition.
-----performance venue (atrium, auditorium, or undecided).
Wednesday, May 10 May Breakfast & Business Meeting
9:30am Home of Lynanne Wilson
Wednesday, Mar. 8 The Road to a Professional Career
9:45am Social Time Municipal Arts Center, 1119 5th St SW
10:00am Program Fitz Gary, Violist
In the summer of 2022, Fitz Gary joined the Garth Newell Piano Quartet as Violist and Co-Artistic Director. The Quartet programs and performs over 50 concerts a year and hosts numerous outreach and educational programs at the Garth
Newel Music Center in Hot Springs, Virginia. Fitz will share with us the path he followed to achieve his goal of becoming a professional chamber musician, orchestral violist and soloist. Fitz, a native of Charlottesville, has toured across the United States, Europe and Asia performing in such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Japan’s Suntory Hall. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Jeffrey Irvine, and graduate studies at The Juilliard School with Heidi Castleman and Hsin-Yun Huang. Selected as a 2013-2014 Fulbright Scholar, he studied with Barbara Westphal at the Musikhochschule in Lubeck, Germany. The school subsequently awarded him the DAAD prize for an outstanding international student, as well as his second master’s degree.
The CMTA Festival provides students of all ages and ability levels the satisfaction of sharing their music with others, as well as hearing music performed by their peers. Students perform in recital format before a small audience of family, friends, and other performers. Students receive ratings and feedback from 2 judges as well as a certificate of participation. A special Comment Only category allows adult students to perform privately for judges’ comments only. All students earn a medal for every 3 years of participation (the years do not have to be consecutive). This event is open to piano, organ, string, wind, harp and voice students. Check the CMTA website for complete information and watch for Allegro newsletter updates.
PIANO/ORGAN/HARP DETAILS:
Chair: Joyce Polifka
Date: Saturday, February 18
Place: TBA
Registration opens: January 1 Online Deadline: January 28
Chair: Joyce Polifka
Date: Saturday, February 18
Place: First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Registration opens: January 1 Online Deadline: January 28
The CMTA Festival provides students of all ages and ability levels the satisfaction of sharing their music with others, as well as hearing music performed by their peers. Students perform in recital format before a small audience of family, friends, and other performers. Students receive ratings and feedback from 2 judges as well as a certificate of participation. A special Comment Only category allows adult students to perform privately for judges’ comments only. All students earn a medal for every 3 years of participation (the years do not have to be consecutive).
Members should check the CMTA website for complete information and watch for Allegro newsletter updates. NON-MEMBERS can find complete festival details about registration and payment information by contacting the chairperson, Joyce Polifka at joycepolifka@gmail.com.
Joint Program: with American Guild of Organists; Arsenal Duo - Piano/Organ Concert
Date: Friday, February 10
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park Street
CMTA ADULT STUDENT RECITAL
CMTA’s annual adult student recital offers a relaxed and supportive environment for adult students of all instruments including organ to share their music with family and friends. As always, collaborations are encouraged. See Allegro for updates.
Chair: Content “Corky” Sablinsky
Date/Time: TBA (Tentatively scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3, 2023)
Place: University Baptist Church, 1223 W. Main St., Charlottesville
The CMTA Festival provides students of all ages and ability levels the satisfaction of sharing their music with others, as well as hearing music performed by their peers. Students perform in recital format before a small audience of family, friends, and other performers. Students receive ratings and feedback from 2 judges as well as a certificate of participation. A special Comment Only category allows adult students to perform privately for judges’ comments only. All students earn a medal for every 3 years of participation (the years do not have to be consecutive).
Check the CMTA website for complete information and watch for Allegro newsletter updates.
STRING/WIND/VOICE DETAILS:
Chair: Erin Flynn
Date: Saturday, January 21
Place: University Baptist Church, 1223 W. Main, Charlottesville
Registration opens: December 1 Online Deadline: December 19
Wednesday, Jan. 11 Community Music and Student Wellness
9:45am Social Time The Front Porch, 221 Water St. E
10:00am Program Nora Brookfield
CMTA members will have the opportunity to go on a brief tour and learn a little about what’s happening at this bustling Community music school, located right in the heart of the Downtown Mall. The morning’s featured program will be a one-hour somatic therapy session, which integrates mindfulness, neurobiology, and grounding techniques that empower people to tap into their own innate healing capabilities. Using breath and body awareness along with dialogue, teachers and students develop the tools to regulate their nervous systems, an invaluable skill for performing musicians.
Nora Brookfield recently finished a three-year training program in somatic therapy and is passionate about helping young people overcome debilitating anxiety. She has extensive training and decades of experience as a therapist, counselor, and wellness and yoga instructor.
YOUTH STUDENT RECITAL
“Essential and Entertaining Etudes”
This year, students of CMTA members are invited to perform at a recital comprised entirely of etudes of any level. All instruments, including chamber ensembles and voice, may participate.
Each CMTA teacher may submit up to two students to perform for this event. Teachers should confer with the Recital Chair ahead of time about any questions regarding a particular composition or before selecting a longer piece. Please note that all solo performers are required to have their pieces memorized.
Chair: Marie Powers Ellis
Date/Time: Sunday, November 20; time TBD
Place: The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd
Eligibility: Any CMTA member's student, grade 12 or younger
Fee: None
Deadline/applications: Received by November 7
The 2022 CMTA Play-a-Thon Fundraiser will take place at the Mudhouse Coffee Crozet on the afternoon of Saturday, November 19 (located at 5793 The Square, Crozet). Students and teachers can enjoy performing in a casual environment while contributing to a greater cause!
CMTA members will have the opportunity to sign up their students via SignUpGenius.com. As the date approaches, keep an eye out for the signup in Allegro!
For additional inquiries, please contact: Marie Powers Ellis
Wednesday, Nov. 9 “Musician, Heal Thyself!”
9:45am Social Time Municipal Arts Ctr, 1119 5th St SW
10:00am Program Dr. James Litzelman, Pianist
In this interactive presentation, Dr. Litzelman will offer helpful methods for getting students to develop good posture and alignment right from the start. When bad habits form early, pianists are forced to make compensations, which in turn can affect their overall well-being and impede good sound production and music-making. In 1994, Dr. Litzelman was diagnosed with focal dystonia and through retraining has been able to return to performing. As a result of this diagnosis, he has spent the last 28 years investigating ways in which pianists may play in a more physiologically correct way, allowing injured pianists to become healed, and keeping healthy pianists from becoming injured.
James Litzelman, DMA, NCTM, enjoys a successful career as a pianist, teacher, and lecturer, teaching piano and piano pedagogy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He has performed and lectured in the United States, Mexico, Europe, China and Russia. In addition, he maintains an active studio at his home in Arlington, Virginia, where his students have distinguished themselves in state and national competitions. Dr. Litzelman is currently the chair of the editorial committee for the American Music Teacher magazine and is a recent past-president of the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association.
VMTA 2022 State Conference will be held on October 27-29 in Lynchburg at Liberty University. If you are interested in attending, watch for more information in the Allegro newsletter. Every year there are CMTA teachers who attend the VMTA State Conference and return to share how fun and informative it was. Carpool and room sharing arrangements are possible.
Saturday, Oct. 1 Pedagogy Mixer with HMTA
12-2:00 pm Barren Ridge Vineyards, 984 Barrenridge Rd, Fishersville
RSVP to Joyce Polifka
In collaboration with the Harrisonburg MTA, this is sure to be an enjoyable afternoon of idea sharing and fellowship with our colleagues from over the mountain. Members will have the opportunity to restock their teaching tip toolboxes for the year ahead through guided questions and discussion. CMTA and HMTA will provide lunch for all attendees, along with the chance to enter a drawing for a free a bottle of wine! Please RSVP to Joyce Polifka NLT September 15. This will allow adequate time to arrange rides from Charlottesville for those who are interested and structure the small group breakout discussions.
Wednesday, Nov. 9 “Musician, Heal Thyself!”
9:45am Social Time Municipal Arts Ctr, 1119 5th St SW
10:00am Program Dr. James Litzelman, Pianist
In this interactive presentation, Dr. Litzelman will offer helpful methods for getting students to develop good posture and alignment right from the start. When bad habits form early, pianists are forced to make compensations, which in turn can affect their overall well-being and impede good sound production and music-making. In 1994, Dr. Litzelman was diagnosed with focal dystonia and through retraining has been able to return to performing. As a result of this diagnosis, he has spent the last 28 years investigating ways in which pianists may play in a more physiologically correct way, allowing injured pianists to become healed, and keeping healthy pianists from becoming injured.
Sunday, August 28 Opening Meeting
3:00 - 5:00pm Jim/Carol Prodan’s house
Wednesday, May 11 May Breakfast & Business Meeting
9:30am Home of Lynanne Wilson
Come to enjoy breakfast, courtesy of the CMTA Board, and social time with your colleagues. After election of CMTA’s 2022-23 officers, we’ll hear reports from various committee chairs and seek members’ input for upcoming programs and events.
Wednesday, Mar. 9 The Intersection of Folk Music and Art Music
Municipal Arts Center, 1119 5th St SW
9:45am Social Time
10:00am Program By Dr. Daniel Sender
Daniel will share “New Compositions Based on Old Tunes.” A Fulbright recipient, he and Shelby will travel to Budapest this fall to research Roma Folk Tunes. On their return in the spring, he will present and perform folk music and some of his own compositions for us. Daniel will also address how incoming college students can take full advantage of the university’s musical offerings.