From C to Shining C:  Music by American Composers
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It’s the 90^th anniversary of the MEA!  The celebrations begin in October with a spectacular ensemble event. Twelve duet/duo teams, all MEA members, will play some of the outstanding music for the genre. Thanks to the generosity of John Weis and the Steinway Piano Gallery, people can arrive as early as 9:30 to share bagels, juice and coffee.  Members and guests are all welcome to share in this special occasion. 

The duet/duo teams include Beatrice and Christina Long, Michelle and Christopher Kuo, Anita Gordon and Ana Berschadsky, Sophia Agranovich and Yuly Verbitsky, Rebecca Eng and Florence Liu, Diane Battersby and Jacqueline Schiller-Audi, Irma Ferdinand and Beverly Thomson Shea, Yuka Yanagi and Kai Pangune Kim, Anna Katznelson and Ruth Kotik, Charlene Step and Andrea Stark, and the two piano, eight hand team of Barbara Landi Hause, Valerie Martin, Yelena Rybalskaya, and Aziza Khasanova.

Among the pieces scheduled to be performed are:  La Valse  by Ravel,  Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens, Allegro Brilliante by Mendelssohn, Malaguena by Lecuona, Slovanic Dances by Dvorak, Bilder Aus Osten by Schumann,  Chorale,Variations and Finale by Rieti,  Three Disney Waltzes for Two Pianos arranged by Greg Anderson, Fantasy in A Minor by Scriabin, and more.

To finish off the concert, everyone will be invited to join in a “monster” event.  Ten duet teams (that’s ten pianos, forty hands!!) will simultaneously perform some simple duets.  This is a sight reading event, and anyone can participate.  Music will be provided.  

 But don’t leave yet!  There’s more!  Thanks again to the generosity of John Weis, the Steinway Piano Gallery, and the MEA, there will be a luncheon where all can mingle and share the pleasures of being an MEA member.  Don’t miss it!

Victor Rosenbaum, renowned pedagogue and performer, returned to the MEA to conduct the Young Artist Master Class on Thursday, June 15. Read all about this wonderful program in our Member Highlights. A sincere congratulations to the three students who performed, they were amazing:

1. Conor Hampton, student of Sophia Osokov: Haydn Sonata, Hoboken XVI in F Major, 1st and 2nd movements . 

2. Sophia Chen, student of Sophia Agranovich: Schumann Sonata Op. 22 in G minor, 1st movement

3. Yulia Kuzniar, student of Beatrice Long: Prokoviev, Visions Fugitives'  Op.22, No.3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Some information on our esteemed Master Teacher:

Former chair of the New England Conservatory piano department, Mr. Rosenbaum served on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music and Brandeis University, as chair of piano at the Eastern Music Festival, and as Director/President of the Longy School of Music. He gives master classes and lectures worldwide.

As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed in the US, Europe, Asia, Israel and Russia. He has collaborated with such artists as Leonard Rose, Arnold Steinhardt, Robert Mann, and the Cleveland and Brentano String Quartets, among others. Festival appearances have included Tanglewood, Rockport, Yellow Barn, Kneisel Hall, Kfar Blum (Israel) and Musicorda, where he is on the faculty. He has been a soloist with the Indianapolis and Atlanta symphonies and the Boston Pops. 

He is also an accomplished composer, conductor and recording artist. Among his highly praised CD’s are: Schubert: Music From His Last Year (2015); Rosenbaum Plays Mozart (2012); and Beethoven Trilogy (the last three sonatas, 2006).

A born Chopinist whose distinctive artistry is matched by his charismatic personality, Eduardus Halim explored the close correlation between technical dexterity and tone production, using the Chopin Etudes as the basis. We were awed by his playing and inspired by his presentation in May.  Please see Highlights for a complete recap.

The MEA Board of Directors is happy to announce that a total of $4,200 was awarded in scholarships to the following 2017 recipients:

COLLEGE
Elizabeth Amels, student of Diane Battersby 
Bryanne Makus, student of Dr. Lorraine Butterfield 

 CAMP
Student of Linda Petrocchi: Luke Surretsky  
Students of Gloria Chu: Jenna Cooley, Vincent Jiang, Meghan Jin 
Students of Beatrice Long: Rachel Chen, Eric Guo, Yulia Kuzniar 

 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 our wonderful scholarship program click Here.

The Composition Committee ran another very successful, well attended concert of original music on April 23 at Caldwell University's lovely Alumni Theater. Sixteen students performed, demonstrating a wide range of styles and levels.  The program included nine of the 15 entrants in the Eric Steiner Original Composition Competition. Adjudicator Stefan Young noted that he was truly impressed by the quality of the compositions, and that even the most innocent was nicely done.

Gracious Committee Chair Kathy Knittel greeted the audience warmly and put the performers at ease.  MEA President Nancy Modell shared some inspirational words before awards and certificates were presented. The ceremony included presentation of trophies to the three first place winners of the Eric Steiner Original Composition Competition.

Congratulations to all the teachers who entered students. The students were all well prepared and showed much creativity! All members of the committee were there to help and support this wonderful event: Joan Bujacich, Lisa Gonzalez and Nancy Modell.  Many thanks to Nan Childress Orchard and Caldwell University for the use of Alumni Hall. 

Congratulations to the fifteen student composers representing 8 teachers entered into the 2017 Eric Steiner Original Composition Competition. We established three divisions for this year's competition: ages 10 and under, age 11-14, and age 15-18. Our esteemed judge, Dr. Stefan Young, commented that all students did a very nice job!

 In the senior division, the first place winner was Kedhar Narayan, a student of Eric Olsen, second place Edward Cai a student of Danette Whelan, and third place Robert Argasinski, a student of Sophia Agranovich. Honorable mention students include Felicity Anderson-Morre and Deanne Ferro both students of Nancy Modell.

In the junior division, the first place winner was Cole Griscom, a student of Susan Leiser, second place Emily Schatz, a student of Kay Tsuji, and third place Shuchi Patel, also a student of Kay Tsuji . Honorable mention students were Tiffany Wang, Charles Love, and Joseph Uglialoro, students of Nancy Modell, Joshua Iyengar, a student of Marcia Maull and Gideon Johnson a student of Maxine Giannini.

The elementary division first place winner was Jocelyn Engel a student of Kay Tsuji, and second place was Jayden Adams, a student of Nancy Modell.

Set your sights on next year's competition and encourage your students to compose now. The summer is a great time to let their creative juices flow! 

Be sure to read the replies to the latest topic question in the
September Glissando!

Topic Question:

What are your "chestnuts," the sure-fire teaching pieces? Please tell us your favorites (from beginner to the 12th grade level), and describe their appeal.

To answer a topic question and/or suggest a new question, please contact :
friendlyforum@mea-nj.org. 
Please check back for the January 2018 Topic Question.

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

Watch the video by clicking Here.

Take a look at the highlights from this event Here.
(For Students/Annual Piano Competition/Highlights)

The MEA's 47th Annual Piano Competition Winners Recital took place on Sunday, March 19 and it was fantastic!  This free event was held in the Concert Hall of Drew University in Madison, NJ and the theme this year was "Song and Dance". The performances by our talented young students were stunning. It is not too late to make a small donation to our scholarship fund honoring these performers and their teachers.

Thanks to the Competition Committee Chairs, Anna Katznelson and Barbara Landi Hause, and their hard-working committee members, Ana Berschadsky, Rebecca Eng, Kai Pangune Kim, Ruth Kotik, Michelle Kuo, Beatrice Long, Florence Lui, and Yuka Yanagi. 

Bravo to all!

In his April presentation to MEA members, Daniel Epstein — international performer, teacher and recording artist — discussed Franz Schubert in a new light. While some critics find Schubert’s larger structures rambling, episodic and lacking in dramatic tension, especially when compared to Beethoven (whom Schubert idolized), Schubert’s last piano sonata in B flat is extraordinary.  A careful, sensitive look at the first movement revealed a dramatic, uniquely un-Beethoven structure — based upon memory, intuition and subtle shifts of harmony, melody and rhythm. Mr. Epstein suggested ways in which performers and teachers can use this understanding to make their performances of Schubert more compelling and beautiful. For a detailed recap of his presentation, please click Highlights.