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skamania lodge

washington

oregon music teachers association

state conference

june 29 – july 1, 2012

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skamania lodge

washington

oregon music teachers association

state conference

june 29 – july 1, 2012

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This conference is supported in part by grants from the Oregon Community Foundation and the Music Teachers National Association

OMTA is affiliated with the Music Teachers National Association

Welcome members and guests to the beautiful banks of the Columbia and the

serene surroundings of the Skamania Resort. Our time here promises

to afford you the opportunity to enrich your professional experience,

catch up with friends and meet new members.

We are fortunate to be hosting a talented group of artists and clinicians

from whom we will gain both information and inspiration.

Your Conference chair, Dr. Bonnie Esbensen had a wonderful vision to bring us

to this destination location to enjoy our gatherings as well as the nature around

us. This promises to be one of our most successful Conferences

in many years with attendance at an all time high.

Thank you all for attending and supporting OMTA and your profession! I wish

you all a pleasant stay and an unforgettable Conference experience.

greetings from the omta president

Fern McArthur

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schedule of events

friday june 29

8:00–9:25 Meeting of Board of Directors Hood Room

9:30–11:00 Forrest Kinney

Pattern Play Cascade Ballroom

11:10–12:10 Dr. Leonard Richter

Training Rhythm and Tempo Cascade Ballroom

12:10–1:30 Lunch

1:30–2:30 Forrest Kinney

Chord Play Cascade Ballroom

2:40–3:40 Stephen Beus

Performer as Composer:

Ornamentation in the Keyboard

Music of J. S. Bach Cascade Ballroom

3:40–3:50 Break

3:50–4:20 Ramona Goddard

The Future:

Syllabus Registration Made Easy Cascade Ballroom

4:30–5:15 Geneva Wright

Honoring an OMTA Master Teacher:

Florence Chino Cascade Ballroom

saturday june 30

8:30–9:20 Cynthia Irion

A New Approach to Sight Reading Cascade Ballroom

9:30–11:00 Dr. Alan Walker

Liszt and the Keyboard Cascade Ballroom

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11:10–12:00 Panel Discussion

Integrity and the Musical Profession Cascade Ballroom

12:00–1:30 Lunch

1:30–2:30 Jack Gabel

Composer of the Year Recital Cascade Ballroom

Reception Conference Ctr Lobby

2:30–3:00 Margaret Littlehales & Co.

Skits Cascade Ballroom

3:00–5:00 Dr. Leonard Richter

Development of Technique and

Sound Interpretation

(with intermediate master class) Cascade Ballroom

5:30–6:15 Happy Hour Stevenson Ballroom C

6:15–8:00 Banquet & Awards Stevenson Ballroom C

8:00 Stephen Beus

Artist Concert Cascade Ballroom

Reception following the concert Conference Ctr Lobby

sunday july 1

8:00–9:20 Breakfast &

General Membership Meeting Cascade Ballroom

9:30–10:20 Dr. Leonard Richter & Stephen Beus

The Development of Talented Students Cascade Ballroom

10:30–12:30 Stephen Beus

Master Class Cascade Ballroom

12:30 Conference Ends

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keynote lecture

Liszt and the Keyboard

Dr. Alan Walker

Saturday June 30, 2012

9:30 AM

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ALAN WALKER is Professor Emeritus of Music at McMaster University, Canada.

Before settling in North America he was on the staff of the Music Division of

the British Broadcasting Corporation in London. He has broadcast for the BBC,

for the CBC, and for CJRT – FM (Toronto), and gives regular public lectures on

the music of the Romantic Era, a period in which he specializes. His thirteen

published books include A Study in Musical Analysis, An Anatomy of Musical

Criticism, and symposia on Chopin, Schumann, and Liszt.

Dr. Walker recently finished a three-volume, prize winning biography of Franz

Liszt for which the President of Hungary bestowed on him the medal Pro

Cultura Hungarica. The biography also received the Royal Philharmonic Society

Prize, presented by HRH The Duke of Kent in London.

Time Magazine hailed the biography as “a textured portrait of Liszt and his

times without rival.” The Wall Street Journal called it, “The definitive work to

which all subsequent Liszt biographies will aspire.” The Washington Post

selected it as a Book of the Year.

Two other books have meanwhile followed. The first is called The Death of Franz

Liszt. It describes the last ten days of the composer’s life in Bayreuth. Based on

eyewitness accounts, and the unpublished diary of a pupil, it tells a harrowing

story of the final illness, medical malpractice, family neglect, and a callous

disregard of Liszt’s final wishes. Walker’s latest book Reflections on Liszt is a

sequel to the 3-volume biography, and deals with certain topics in greater

depth than the biography itself could accommodate.

In January 2012, the Government of Hungary bestowed on Alan Walker one of its

highest honours: the Knight’s Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.

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Purely abstract, free of programatic content and quasi-improvisational,

DIAMETERS is a set of 12 duets. All share a common pitch set (i.e. extended

melodic content), each pitched at a different level, developed differently and

further contrasted through instrumental color — essentially a study in instru-

mental pairings and melodic development. Each alone is a trifle. As a whole,

they constitute a substantial body of work. DIAMETERS is an ideal set of modu-

lar pieces for mixed ensembles, as they can be programed in various combina-

tions to suit the ensemble’s specific instrumentation.

DIAMETERS IX, X and XI are best performed in the following order: IX, XI, X.

Between each piece, as the percussionist moves to a new battery and prepares,

the other instrumentalists slowly exit and enter the stage respectively, impro-

vising while doing so, based on material in their parts, then on consensual cue,

the next piece begins. These transitions may take 30 to 60 seconds, depending

on how the performers choose to execute them.

composer of the year recital

Jack Gabel

Saturday June 30, 2012

1:30 PM

Diameters

III cello + xylophone

II oboe + guiro, temple blocks, bamboo wind chimes

V viola + vibraphone

VIII clarinet + glockenspiel & chimes

XI violin + marimba

X trumpet + suspended cymbals & antique cymbals & tam tam

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JACK GABEL (b. 1949) presently lives in Portland, Oregon. He has traveled

extensively, throughout Europe, Africa and Asia and worked many summers

as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. Though classically trained in traditional

academic institutions, he cites his life as far and away more informative of his

development as an artist — such experiences as the 1972 extended ‘jam ses-

sion’ he had with an Afghan tribesman in a Herat tea house, the local talent on a

rough-hewn 3-string lute-like instrument and our composer on his mouth organ

traveling companion.

Jack Gabel has written numerous concert hall works for many different combina-

tions of instruments and voices, with and without electroacoustic accompani-

ments and/or enhancements. He also creates mixed-media works alone and with

collaborators, using musique concrete and poetry, frequently his own, some of

which has been published apart from its use in contemporary performance piec-

es and more traditional settings for singers. Today, Gabel’s work is infused with

widely varied ethnic and ancient colors and motives, most notably those of the

ancient, native cultures of North America. He is currently the Resident Composer

and Technical Director to Agnieszka Laska Dancers. Since 1991 he has owned and

operated North Pacific Music, an Oregon-based non-mainstream record label

and provider of technical services to artistic event producers.

continued on page 12

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the musicians

violinJonathan DeBruyn has been with Metropolitan Youth Symphony for eight years,

and served as concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra this year. He has been

a leading member of that organization’s MYSfits string ensemble and has had

many conducting opportunities at MYS. A graduate of Lakeridge High School,

Jonathan will be a music major at PSU next year.

trumpetNick Halsey is both a trumpeter and cellist, and has played both

instruments at the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. He is also an avid

composer and arranger. A recent graduate from Oregon

Episcopal School, Nick plans to pursue music while also majoring

in Civil Engineering at the University of Southern California.

clarinetAnnika Horlings was principal clarinet for two years with the Oregon Pro

Arte Youth Chamber Orchestra, where she won the concerto competition and

appeared as soloist. She also placed 2nd in the Vancouver Symphony’s Young

Artists Competition. Annika just graduated from the Running Start program at

Clark Community College, and will be attending PSU to double major in Music

and Earth Science.

celloBrita Horlings has been principal cello of the Oregon Pro Arte Youth Chamber

Orchestra for two years. She was recently a featured soloist as a winner

of this year’s concerto competition. She just graduated from the

Running Start program of Clark College and will be attending

Portland State University next fall to double major in

Music Performance and Earth Science.

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percussionIan Kerr holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Florida

and a Master of Music degree from Portland State University, where he was

a Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dr. Joel Bluestone. Ian is an active chamber

musician and has played with groups such as New Music Tampa and The Mc-

Cormick Percussion Ensemble. He has also performed with pop stars Styx, Clay

Aiken, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, and he often plays with the Newport

and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras.

oboeNoah Weiner has played in Metropolitan Youth Symphony this past year.

He just graduated from Vancouver School of Arts and Academics,

and will be attending Evergreen State College next year to

study filmmaking and media arts.

violaSamuel Zacharia was assistant principal viola of Portland Youth Philharmonic

this year, where he also won the concerto competition and appeared as soloist

at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. He has previously been principal viola

with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and appeared twice as soloist with that

organization’s Symphony Orchestra. Samuel is home-schooled.

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master class

Dr. Leonard Richter

Saturday June 30, 2012

3:00 PM

Two-Part Inventions J.S. Bach (1685–1750)

No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777

No. 10 in G Major, BWV 781

Avery Hsieh, piano

Sonata op. 10, No. 1 in C Minor Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

Mvt 1: Allegro molto e con brio

Sam Doby, piano

Avery Hsieh age 10, has just finished fourth grade at Garfield Elementary

School, a Spanish Immersion School in Corvallis, Oregon. She plays violin as well

as piano and frequently plays with ensembles on both instruments. She has

performed twice in the State Bach Festival in the past three years and once was

selected as first runner up. She enjoys reading, swimming, and soccer. Avery

studies piano with Mary Ann Guenther.

Sam Doby age 12, will be an 8th grader at Lake Oswego Junior High. For his

academic excellence and leadership, he was recently honored as a Pacific West

Bank All-star. Sam has been a consistent winner in Portland District period

festivals and has participated in many community talent shows and recitals.

He also plays violin and guitar and enjoys playing basketball and tennis. Sam is

a student of Patricia Scordato and will attend the Interlochen Summer Music

Camp this summer.

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STEPHEN BEUS won, in the space of four months, first prize in the 2006 Gina

Bachauer International Piano Competition, first place in the Vendome Prize In-

ternational Competition, and he was awarded the Max I. Allen Fellowship of the

American Pianists Association.

Born and raised on a farm in eastern Washington, Mr. Beus began lessons at

age 5 and made his orchestral debut four years later. He went on to win numer-

ous national and international competitions throughout his youth, capturing the

attention of both audiences and critics. Commenting on Mr. Beus’ competition

success, Fanfare magazine writes: “In some ways Beus doesn’t fit the mold of

the typical competition winner. His playing is strikingly original and, despite his

youth, he has an interpretive voice all his own … Above all, his playing is so natu-

ral as to seem effortless and the sound he produces has extraordinary richness

and depth, not quite like anyone else’s.”

Mr. Beus holds degrees from Whitman College, The Juilliard School, and Stony

Brook University where his teachers have included Leonard Richter, Robert

McDonald, Gilbert Kalish and Christina Dahl. He has recorded on the Endeavor

Classics and Harmonia Mundi labels. Stephen Beus is a Steinway Artist and cur-

rently lives in Salt Lake City with his wife and two sons.

artist recital

Stephen Beus

Saturday June 30, 2012

8:00 PM

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Sonata in E Major, op. 6 Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)

Allegretto con espressione

Tempo di Menuetto

Adagio e senza tempo

Molto allegro e vivace

Chaconne from Partita No. 2 Bach-Busoni (1866–1924)

intermission

Barcarolle op. 6, No. 1 Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884–1920)

Fairy Tale, op. 51, No. 6 Nikolai Medtner (1880–1951)

Fairy Tale, op. 20, No. 2

Sonata tragica, op. 39, No. 5 Nikolai Medtner (1880–1951)

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master class

Stephen Beus

Sunday July 1, 2012

10:30 AM

Sonata op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

Mvt 3: Presto agitato

David Goodman-Edberg, piano

Poems of the Sea No. 3 Ernest Bloch (1880–1959)

At Sea

Taylor Gonzales, piano

Paganini Etude No. 3 Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

La Campanella

JJ Guo, piano

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David Goodman-Edberg age 17, has been a piano student of Christine Mirabella

since age six. He has participated in many OMTA festivals and competitions. He

was a gold medalist in the OMTA Jr. Bach Festival, OMTA State Ensemble Festival

and completed Level 10 Syllabus. He was chosen to participate in the Eugene Sym-

phony Visiting Artist Masterclass. David is an AP Scholar with Distinction, Merit

Scholarship winner and will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall.

Taylor Gonzales age 17, is an incoming senior at Summit High School in Bend,

Oregon. He has studied with Mariann Slavkovsky, NCTM, since the age of 8. He

has recently played in Master Classes with Nelita True and John Perry. As a mem-

ber of the Honor Bands, he also enjoys playing clarinet and alto saxophone. Tay-

lor is a recent winner of Rotary and Sunriver Music Festival awards. Taylor is also

the founder and conductor of the Summit High Student Symphony Orchestra.

JJ Guo age 15. As a ‘Ten Grands’ pianist, JJ has performed at the Arlene

Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland and the Benaroya Hall in Seattle since 2009.

In 2011 he played with the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra as a runner

up of the PYP Concerto Competition. He is a winner of the 2010 Young Artists

Debut! Concerto competition and performed under the direction of Niel De-

Ponte at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. JJ is a freshman of the Camas High

School’s math-science-technology magnet program and plays for Camas High

junior varsity soccer and the Washington Soccer Academy Premier team. He is a

student of Dorothy Fahlman.

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Ramona Goddard received her Bach-

elor of Music in Piano Performance

from the University of Arkansas in

1983. After returning to Oregon, she

continued private study with Harold

Gray, Nellie Tholen, Mark Westcott, John

Bloomfield and Deborah Cleaver. She

has been teaching classical piano in her

home studio in Portland for 29 years.

She served as an OMTA syllabus chair-

man from 1987 to 1996. A self-taught

computer geek, Goddard developed the

prototype for an online registration sys-

tem that has been in use for Portland

District’s period festivals since 2010.

Cynthia Irion holds a master of

music degree from the University of

Tennessee and has taught piano for

the past 30 years. Originally from

Brazil, Irion lived for several years in

Oregon where she was a member and

president of the Linn-Benton district.

She currently resides in Boulder,

Colorado and is studying psychology

and neuroscience at the University

of Colorado. She has given several

lectures on sight reading, including a

presentation at the 2011 MTNA

Conference in Milwaukee.

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Forrest Kinney is a Nationally Certi-

fied Teacher of Music (NCTM) who has

taught music for over thirty years.

He has published seventeen books:

the Pattern Play series on musical

creativity, the Chord Play series on ar-

ranging, two books on creativity, and

two books of art songs. He has given

solo concerts of his own compositions,

performed at many events hosted

by the Seattle Symphony, and played

twenty times at the home of Bill

Gates. He regularly gives workshops

throughout North America on music

pedagogy and creativity. Kinney was

just awarded a U.S. Patent for a new

kind of computer keyboard that allows

us to type all the letters of a word at

once, like playing chords on a piano.

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Leonard Richter graduated with high

honors from the People’s Conservatory

in Ostrava (in today’s Czech Republic).

He went on to Palacky University to

major in German and English. He re-

ceived masters degrees in music from

Andrews University and the Manhattan

School of Music, and a Ph. D. from New

York University. His teachers were Anna

Skalicka, Donald Walker, Margarette

Parsons-Poole, Dora Zaslavsky, and

Adele Marcus.

Dr. Richter taught for eighteen years

at Whitman College and is currently

professor of music at Walla Walla Uni-

versity. He is also on the faculty of the

International Institute for Young Musi-

cians at the University of Kansas.

Dr. Richter’s students are recognized

for their artistic playing and have won

three MTNA national first-prizes and a

number of state and regional prizes.

His students have also participated in

and won prizes in the Gina Bachauer,

Van Cliburn, and Chopin international

competitions.

A highly gifted pianist, musician,

and teacher.

—Adele Marcus

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Rhonda Ringering, NCTM is a profes-

sional pianist, recording artist, indepen-

dent music teacher and writer whose

articles have appeared in American

Music Teacher, Piano & Keyboard and

Clavier. She is currently editor of The

Oregon Musician. Her blog can be

found at www.ringeringpiano.com.

Geneva Russell Wright, NCTM

Hillsboro, Oregon, graduated from

Willamette University summa cum

laude with a Bachelor of Music in Piano

Performance. From 1990 until 1999 she

studied piano performance and compo-

sition with Dr. Walter B. Saul III at War-

ner Pacific College, Portland, Oregon.

A pianist, composer, and watercolorist,

Geneva maintains an active private

studio in Orenco Station Hillsboro. She

is past president of Oregon Music

Teachers Association and travels

throughout Oregon as an adjudicator

and presenter of workshops.

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It takes the efforts of many people to bring together the musicians, performers,

teachers, lecturers, and conference attendees for an endeavor such as this.

OMTA gratefully acknowledges and thanks the following people for their work

on this conference.

2010 State Conference Committee Dr. Bonnie Esbensen, Chair

Everything Fern McArthur, NCTM, Assistant Chair

Presenters & food Mary Ann Guenther, NCTM

Planning & food Linda Hansen

Recruitment & college students Dr. Rachelle McCabe

Presenters Rhonda Ringering, NCTM

Planning & incentives Carol White, NCTM

Presenters & housing rebates Geneva Wright, NCTM

OMTA President Fern McArthur, NCTM

OMTA Treasurer Carolee Harbour, NCTM

OMTA Grant Writer Carolyn Mayer, NCTM

OMTA Administrative Assistant Robin Power

Conference Registrar Robin Power

Assistant Registrar Caris Power

Composer of the Year Recital Dan Brugh

Master Class Arrangements Patricia Scordato

Program Book Dr. Bonnie Esbensen

MTNA Foundation Fundraising Robyn Pfeifer, NCTM

OMTA also thanks the many volunteers – members and non-members alike

– who will be helping during the conference with door monitor duties, registra-

tion, transportation, introduction of sessions, and a myriad other needs.

acknowledgements

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To the Oregon Community Foundation (Nellie Tholen Fund) for generous

support without which this conference would not be possible.

additional thanks

Music Teachers National Association

Sherman Clay Pianos

Frederick Harris Publishers

Portland Music Co.

Cornell University Press

Julie Weiss of Tobias Weiss Design

Dan McMahon, piano technician

Kristin Waymire of Skamania Lodge

Swank Audio Visual

special thanks

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