Music Educators Association of New Jersey

The  2019 Annual Piano Competition Syllabus is now available under Forms/Downloads. You can also download it by clicking Here.

Come meet your fellow colleagues from around the state! 
In an effort to bring NJ music organizations and members together, the MEA is inviting members of other music organizations to our October meeting.

There will be time to mingle and network with colleagues after the meeting at the potluck buffet luncheon.

Please note that the location of the meeting has been changed to a larger space.  It will be held at Thursday, October 18 at 10 AM at the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) Building, 570 Central Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974 (park and enter at the rear of the building).

Ingrid Clarfield, Professor and Coordinator of Piano at Westminster Choir College, MTNA 2012 “Teacher of the Year” and MEA-NJ 2018 “Lifetime Achievement” Honoree, will speak on Keeping the Spark Alive and Still Learning after 50 Years: Pedagogical Tips from A to Z and will “provide strategies to keep the passion alive and promote artistry and joy in your teaching.” Her talks are always infused with enthusiasm. These are perfect topics for music educators at this time of year. 

Energize, Refresh, Socialize!

For planning purposes, we would appreciate an RSVP by 10/3 to Karen Dann Sundquist at hospitality@mea-nj.org.  If you are willing to contribute to the potluck food, that would be greatly appreciated.  Please let Karen know!

The Scholarship Committee received Camp Scholarship applications from three outstanding students:

Gordon Li.   A student of Julia Lam, Gordon is an 8th grader at William Annin Middle School  who will attend the one-week Westminster Choir College Piano Camp in July. 

Kelsey Lee.   A student of Beatrice Long, Kelsey is a junior at Summit High School and will attend the two-week Interharmony International Music Festival in Germany in August.

Eliza Tagle.  Another student of Beatrice Long and a student at Millburn High School, Eliza will also attend the two-week Interharmony International Music Festival in Germany in August.

All three students have impressive music credentials and experience, including awards, recitals, second instrument proficiency, and  ensemble performance.  The Board approved to award them with two-$400 scholarships and one $300, totalling $1,100. 

 Congratulations to these outstanding, deserving young musicians!

The MEA-MJN (Mary Jean Nelson) Scholarship Fund relies solely on the generosity of our donors, matching contributions from employers, and music sales at the monthly MEA general meetings. MEA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible. Making a contribution to the scholarship fund is a wonderful way to support aspiring musicians and perpetuate the beauty inherent in the arts. With your donation, you can also honor a person with congratulations (birthday, anniversary, graduation, etc.), get-well wishes, or in memoriam. Please help us continue our scholarship efforts!

 The MEA Scholarship Committee:  Sondra Tammam and Charlene Step, Co-chairs and Sal Mallimo

 For more information on the scholarship program click Here.

Remember that all of our lectures and special events are archived under the “Highlight” link on our website. Last year was our 90th Anniversary year and it was a year filled with exciting events. If you missed any of these celebrations you can still read all about them along with our regular monthly lectures Here.

October 19, 2017: Celebrate Ensembles The program  was a two piano and duet recital performed by MEA members at the Steinway Gallery in Paramus.

November 19, 2017: In celebration of our 90th Anniversary the MEA-NJ presented ~ Our event for Students of MEA members. The Good Times with Ragtime celebration included special guided tours of the museum’s Guinness Collection of Automata (music machines). The Ragtime Festival student showcase followed at 3 PM at the museum’s Bickford Theatre.

Nov.  30, 2017: Francoise Choveaux
Sound Visions, Music for Museums

January 18, 2018: The Bulletproof Musician -a GREAT Presentation by Noa Kageyama (Juilliard)

February 15, 2018
TEACHERS' MASTER CLASS with Jerome Lowenthal

March 15, 2018
Paul Roberts, Scenes from a French Nursery

April 8, 2018
Gala Concert & Cocktails
To view a video of the concert click Here.  

April 19, 2018 
Celebrate Composers: MEA-NJ  was pleased to present a morning of original music composed by our own MEA-NJ members!  

MAY 17, 2018
Magdalena Stern-Baczewska: Baroque Keyboard Music of Italy, France, Germany, and Spain: Stylistic Elements and Aspects of Interpretation.

June 14, 2018: Young Artists Master Class, Dmitry Rachmanov

The winners of the Young Artist Master Class Auditions for 2018 are:
Jeffrey Koc, student of Julia Lam
Joshua Velez, student of Beverly Anderson

The pieces that were performed were:
Dumka in C minor, opus 59 by Tchaikovsky 
Un Sospiro by Liszt

Congratulations to all the other participants in this year’s Young Artist Master Class Auditions.  All received a rating of Outstanding!

1st runner-up, Eric Guo student of Beatrice Long; Louis Farenci, student of Thomas Parente; James Gao, student of Grace Tseng; Aneesha Kumra, student of Marina Stefanovsky.  

Dmitry Rachmanov worked his magic at our annual Young Artist Master Class. Pianist Dmitry Rachmanov has garnered much acclaim for his passionate performances, refined musicianship and brilliant pianism. Hailed as an "indisputable musician" by the Brussels' Le Soir and "suave and gifted pianist' by the New York Times, Rachmanov has been heard at venues such as New York's Carnegie Hall, Washington DC's Kennedy Center, London's Barbican and South Bank Centres, and Beijing Concert Hall, and his tours brought him to Canada, Mexico, Europe, Russia, Turkey and the Far East. He has recorded for Naxos, Navona, Omniclassic, Master Musicians and Vista Vera labels, and collaborated as a soloist with Manhattan Philharmonia, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Orlando Symphony, London Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Ukraine National Symphony, National Orchestra of Porto, Portugal, among others.  Visit his website to read all about his illustrious career: Dmitry Rachmanov

 Master Class Coordinator/Audition Chair
Joan Bujacich

The 90th Anniversary Gala was enjoyed by all!  A concert given by MEA members Dan Crisci, Michelle & Christopher Kuo, Beatrice Long, Sojung Lee and Luba Vasilyeva was held at the Theater at Drew University in Madison, followed by a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception across the path at Mead Hall Mansion where Ingrid Clarfied, Maxine Giannini, Anita Gordon, Sallie Lloyd and Gloria Weisberg were honored. The Gala Committee of Marcia Maull, Lisa Gonzalez, Nancy Modell, Ruth Pasquariello and Charlene Step did an exceptional job.  Enjoy the Highlights from this event posted Here.

To view a video of the concert go to: Gala Concert

The Fourth Annual Original Composition Festival was a huge success! Held in the beautiful Alumni Hall at Caldwell University, the Festival showcased participants from the Eric Steiner Original Composition Competition along with additional young composers.  Dr. Stefan Young, one of the two adjudicators of the ESOCC, was able to attend the Festival.  He continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of the competition and festival and shared words of encouragement and praise.  

Congratulations to all our student composers! Highlights will be featured in the September Glissando and on the MEA website under "For Members".

The Competition Committee is happy to report that there were 24 students who participated in the 2018 competition representing 10 teachers.  This sets a  new record of student composers who entered into the competition!  Ten students entered in the Elementary Division, 4 students in the Junior Division, and 10 students  in the Senior Division!  Congratulations to all!

Here are the lists of winners and honorable mentions: 

Senior Division:  Dr. Stefan Young, judge
First Place Winner
Expedition by Kedhar Narayan, student of Eric Olsen

Second Place Winner
Jump Down by Rhea Kapur,  student of Danette Whelan

Third Place Winners (tie)
Alea Iacta Est by Valerie Chen, Student of Danette Whelan
Experimentation in A Minor, Student of Danette Whelan

Honorable Mention:  April by Olivia Escousse, Once in a Dream by Sonia Parmar, On Avance(piano/violin) by Jacklyn Zhu,  students of Danette Whelan; My Existential House by Tayfun Zaidi, student of Amanda Harberg; A Tedious Summer(flute/piano) by Shuchi Patel and I Left My Heart in China(violin/piano) by Yutong Lin, students of Kay Tsuji

Junior Division:  George Rothman , judge,

First Place Winner
Lucidity by Terry Luongo,  student of Barbara Landi-Hause

Second Place Winner
Frozen Spring by Kailyn Williams,  student of Danette Whelan

Third Place Winner
Rose Heaven by Nathan Crisci,  student of Nancy Modell

Honorable Mention:
Majestic Cake by Tarun Kalynaraman, A student of Kay Tsuji

 Elementary Division: George Rothman, judge, 

 First Place Winner
Winter Breeze by Shivali Pandya,  student of Nancy Rosen

Second Place Winner
Mosquito By My Window, by Celia Arrazcaeta, A student of Joan Bujacich

Third Place Winner
Cave of Halloween by Vinayak Sinh,  student of Melissa Casia

Honorable Mention:
Morning Snowfall by Catherine Arrazcaeta, A Happy Walk by Cameron Wapner, students of Joan Bujacich; River of Tears by Kate O'Rourke, student of Lisa Gonzalez; Melting Away by Jayden Adams, student of Nancy Modell

Katherine Knittel
Chairperson

Read the latest message from our president, Nancy Modell Here.

If you missed this wonderful concert you can still view it Here.
You can read the highlights from this event  Here.