Dear Members,
Our branch meeting on Wednesday, February 20, 10:00 a.m. at Fields’ Piano was given by Dr. Monica Lee. She gave an interesting business lecture focusing on the issue of keeping classical music relevant for students and also on taxes. I would like to thank Dr. Lee for making time in her busy schedule to come and present it to us and to our first vice president, Melody Lu for arranging the presentation!
This past Saturday, February 23, the new Festival for Strings, Winds and Voice, Jr. Bach Festival and Sounds of Baroque Festival was held at the Geneva Presbyterian church in Laguna Woods. A total of 63 students from 22 studios participated on this day, playing various instruments such as violin, viola, cello, voice, organ and piano. I would like to thank the hard working chairs of these three events, Anna Kim and Chi Asada for running them so smoothly and also for the beautiful programs! Ladies, we all really appreciate everything you did to make these events such a resounding success! And a big thank you to all the teacher helpers – we couldn’t do it without you! We are always interested in feedback on our branch events; if you have any comments please send them to our festival chairs Chi Asada and Ana Kim.
I would like to thank Lisa Honea for organizing and running our branch VOCE recital with OCC. Once again she did a lovely job and the program looked wonderful. Here is her report:
VOCE Recital and Competition
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s VOCE Recital and Competition. We had a very successful program with thirty-two students from eleven studios participating. The standard of performance was excellent. I would like to thank Shelley Johnson and the Orange Coast Cities Branch for hosting the festival this year. I would also like to thank Janice Luna and the Long Beach Branch who partnered with us.
Congratulations to the following teachers:
Ana Marie Eckstein – first place, Senior Instrumental Ensemble division
Anna So Jung Choi – first and second place, Intermediate Solo Wind division
Stephanie Puhl Young – third place, Intermediate Solo Voice division
Best wishes to you and your students as they participate in the state finals on April 21, at Chapman College.
I would like to especially thank Charla Edgar for compiling our South Coast branch history for the MTAC state office. Charla did an absolutely beautiful job thus ensuring that our branch is now well documented and our special events especially highlighted, such as the Masquerade Concert, Master Classes, Concerto Competition, Senior, Branch Honors, Composers Today and MSSL recitals. We thank you, Charla for an important job well done!
Upcoming deadline and event dates:
March 31 Branch Piano Eval. form/fee Deadline to Laura Chang
APRIL 8 CM Theory test materials released
April 13 Branch piano evaluations at Laura Chang’s studio
April 15 Branch Honors Recital Applications Deadline ($10 per student) to Jennifer Puhl
- Convention Applications Deadline ($20 per student);
- Deadline to apply for CM Make-Up Evaluations (high school students only)
April 20 Senior Graduation Concert Deadline w/Bios to Dr. Xiao Li
April 25 Contemporary Flare Deadline to Laura Chang
April 27 CM Branch Honors Recital and Composer Today Recital at Fields’ Piano
MAY 5 Senior Graduation Concert at Chi Asada’s new performance studio, Hoson House in Tustin (venue directions will be given)
May 15 Deadline for completion of CM Make-Up Evaluations
May 18 Contemporary Flare Festival at Fields’ Piano
May 22 Branch Meeting at 10:00 AM at Fields’ Piano
Please remember to periodically check our website, southcoastmtac.org, for further updates and information.
CM theory exams, March 16 and the playing evaluations of March 23 & 24 are fast approaching. Thank you in advance to all participating teachers for your valuable assistance in helping our hard working chair, Sandely Miller, make these evaluations a big success! Best wishes for a successful CM to all teachers!
Musically yours,
Vivian Lee R. Field