Please click on the 2026 District Conference you are interested in:
- District II • October 24 • Seattle
- District IV • October 3 • Centralia
- District VI • August 22 • Toppenish
Did you know that some chapters offer members grants to attend district, state, and even national conferences?
Check with your chapter to find out if they offer conference fee grants.
DISTRICT II CONFERENCE
Freedom in Music: Attitudes and Performance Practices of the Greats Across the Ages
Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 10 am
Steinway Showroom in downtown Seattle, 1218 3rd Ave., Suite 105, Seattle WA, 98101
Registration Fees
Before October 5: $35 Member | $40 Non-Member
At the door: $40 Member | $45 Non-Member
Lunch and beverages are included.
Contact Ryan Worskwick for more information.
Presentation and performances by Mark Salman, followed by facilitated group discussions centered on sharing ways we’ve found to incorporate musical freedom in our own studios today. World-renowned concert pianist and local treasure Mark Salman will be our keynote speaker, who will take us on a tour of the attitudes towards and performance practices of music at the hands of the greats. From the Baroque era through modern day, we will learn about the liberties and openness of their practice and enjoy a rich tapestry of historical grounding scored by exquisite performance.
Following Mark’s presentation will be a facilitated group discussion where we can compare notes on how we approach different aspects of music and teaching in our own studios. Ideally some of us might even be willing to demonstrate some of the freedoms and liberties we take today as we carry the torch forward!
The Steinway Center is located across the street from the Symphony Station (formerly University Street Station). Alternatively you can find $10 flat rate parking at the Unigard Financial Center next door. There will be a coffee/tea station in the morning followed by a catered lunch.
PRESENTER: Mark Salman
Mark Salman, hailed as a “heroic virtuoso,” has performed in Europe, Asia, Canada and throughout the United States, including Carnegie and Alice Tully Hall in New York, in performances described as “powerful,” “astonishing, exacting, evocative,” “wildly imaginative” and “touchingly lyrical. His performance of Liszt’s transcription of the Beethoven Seventh Symphony was named one of three “Performances of the Year” by Seattle Weekly. His account of his meetings with and playing for Vladimir Horowitz appears in the book, Evenings with Horowitz. Mr. Salman is a co-founder of the Delmarva Piano Festival in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which ran for seventeen seasons. His performances have included appearances at the Newport Music Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, an eight recital series devoted to the works of Franz Liszt in Seattle, three recitals featuring Schubert’s final three sonatas, a complete cycle of Beethoven’s five piano concertos and Choral Fantasy with Orchestra Seattle, a recital series celebrating Chopin’s 200th birthday, and a five recital series commemorating Liszt’s 200th birthday. Mr. Salman is regularly heard as a concerto soloist with northwest orchestras, having performed over 30 different concertos with orchestra. Mr. Salman has performed the complete cycle of Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas on both coasts and in sixteen KING-FM broadcasts. Mr. Salman is a Steinway artist.
Mr. Salman’s recordings include his newest release, Schubert Late Sonatas, two all-Chopin CDs, including Chopin’s Intimate Art: The Mazurkas, Mozart’s Piano Concertos K. 488 and K. 503 with the Northwest Sinfonietta, the Transcendental Piano, featuring works by Alkan, Beethoven and Liszt, two DVDs in the series Beethoven and his 32 Piano Sonatas – A Musical Universe as well as American Interweave, featuring contemporary American works for cello and piano. Also available in limited release are the first four live performances from his 2004-2005 Liszt series and his Beethoven concerto performances with Orchestra Seattle.
DISTRICT IV CONFERENCE
Unleashing the Musical Potential in Students through Dalcroze Eurhythmics
October 3, 2026. Time: 9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1209 Scheuber Rd. North, Centralia, WA
AM – Presentation by Stephen Moore
NOON – Lunch
PM – Masterclass with Stephen (piano, voice and string students will participate in the masterclass)
PLEASE NOTE: The Conference will be informative, educational and interactive. (Wear comfortable clothing for moving to the Eurhythmics part of the presentation.)
Registration Fees
Before September 25: $35 Member | $40 Non-Member
At the door: $40 Member | $40 Non-Member
Salad Luncheon, dessert, and beverages are included.
Contact Jan Rowen Music for more information.
PRESENTER: Stephen Moore
Stephen Moore is a leading authority in teaching the Dalcroze Approach. He is one of only 100 practicing Diplomats in the world to hold the Diplome Superiuer from the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneve, Switzerland. He is currently Performance Specialist/Piano, Associate Professor of Music, at California State University, Dominguez Hills, CA and former tenured Associate Professor at the Oberlin Conservatory. He has also taught at the University of Puget Sound and University of Redlands. Dr. Moore is the author of two books, The Rhythm Inside and Rhythm One on One. He holds a PhD. in Music Theory from Indiana University, MM in Piano from the Manhattan School of Music, and BM Edc. from the University of Rhode Island. Stephen Moore is a leading authority in teaching the Dalcroze Approach. He is one of only 100 practicing Diplomats in the world to hold the Diplome Superiuer from the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneve, Switzerland.
DISTRICT VI CONFERENCE
Adaptive Teaching Methods and Piano Concert
Adaptive Teaching for the Neurodivergent Learner • Amora Bussey
Performing Selections by Schubert, Severac, Barber, Tanaka, and Antheil • Leah Terrill, piano
Saturday, August 22, 2026 @ 9:00 am
Grace Brethren Church, 507 S Juniper Street, Toppenish WA 98948
Registration fees
Presentation and Concert: $35 Member | $40 Non-Member | $20 Student | $30 Virtual attendance
Concert only: $15 Member | $20 Non-Member
Contact Naomi Johnson, NCTM for more information.
Supported by the chapters in District VI:
- Sunn Valley Chapter
- Tri-City Chapter
- Walla Walla Chapter
- Yakima-Ellensburg Chapter
PRESENTERS:
Amora Bussey
Adaptive Teaching Methods
Amora Bussey has been a music educator for over 25 years, with a focus on piano, flute, and vocal performance. Recognized by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a (BAMT)-trained music therapist, Amora has worked in schools across Western Europe, bringing music to life within communities of special needs children and adults. Now settled in the great Pacific Northwest, Amora offers lessons to local and international students, who seek instruction delivered through the comfort and understanding of adaptive teaching methods. As the president of the Puyallup Valley Chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association (WSMTA), she also serves as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force for the WSMTA. In addition, Amora also serves as Vice Chair City Commissioner for the Puyallup Arts and Culture Commission. Amora was honored by a special invitation and participated as a guest performer at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Salt Lake City. Amora has also received the Paul Mazzola Best Teacher in Your Area, Puget Sound Award of 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. She founded the Briar Thomas Conservatory in Puyallup. Recently, she was invited and presented “Adaptive Teaching Techniques for the Neurodivergent Learner” in 2022 at the WSMTA State Conference. Amora has most recently joined Tacoma Music Collaborative as a board member, hoping to further her outreach and support in service to the local music community.
Leah Terrill, piano
Performing selections by Schubert, Severac, Barber, Tanaka, and Antheil.
Leah Terrill is a pianist and teacher located in the Yakima Valley. Hailing from the Midwest, Leah began lessons at age 7 in Kansas, and continued lessons through moving to rural northeast Missouri. During high school, she studied with Dr. David McKamie (Truman State University). She received her bachelor’s degree in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Central Missouri, where she was a student of Dr. Mia Kimi. She then went on to receive a Master of Arts in Piano Performance from Washington State University, where she was a student of Dr. Yoon-Wha Roh. She served as a graduate teaching assistant while at Washington State (mentored by Dr. Fabio Menchetti), teaching all sections of class piano and assisting with the collaborative piano needs of the music department.
She has participated in masterclasses/private lessons with Dr. Alessandra Feris, Dr. Futaba Niekawa, Dr. Natlya Antonova, Dr. Kristin Taylor, and Dr. Spencer Myer. She has been runner-up of state MTNA competitions twice (2019 in South Dakota, 2021 in Washington state). She also participated in the InterHarmony festival in 2019, in Acqui Terme, Italy where she was a student of Dr. Alessandra Feris.
She has taught piano for 10 years, and now runs a private studio in Yakima. Her students are active participants in the Yakima-Ellensburg chapter of WSMTA activities, including MAP, ribbon festival, and studio recitals. She has been teaching in the Yakima Valley since 2022.
When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jack and her rescue dog, Marley, and loves hiking, running, reading, and watching NFL football.
DISTRICT I CONFERENCE
The next District I Conference will be in the 2027-2028 academic year.
DISTRICT III CONFERENCE
The next District III Conference will be in the 2027-2028 academic year.
DISTRICT V CONFERENCE
The next District V Conference will be in the 2027-2028 academic year.
DISTRICT VII CONFERENCE
The next District II Conference will be in the 2027-2028 academic year.