CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE 2024 WSMTA CONFERENCE STARTS SEPTEMBER 8, 2023
The WSMTA Conference Planning Committee is accepting presentation proposals for the 2024 WSMTA Conference at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. Proposals may be submitted until Monday, November 6, 2023. The committee is eager to see your presentation proposals and particularly interested in, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Pedagogy sessions that apply to all instruments and all levels:
- Creating/facilitating a chamber music program within the studio
- Pre-instrumental classes for young children
- Group lessons
- Composition
- Jazz
- Ensembles
- Adult students
- Accompanying skills
- Studio management: marketing; policies; communication skills
- Balancing one’s personal and professional life
- Music and Movement
- Mental Health in the Music Lesson
- Sessions focused on Vocal, Winds, Brass and Strings
- Sessions focused on non-Western European repertoire
INTRODUCING 2024 CONFERENCE GUEST ARTIST:
Connor Chee, Pianist and Composer
Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee is known for combining his classical piano training with his Native American heritage. Chee made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 12 after winning a gold medal in the World Piano Competition. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Chee’s solo piano music is inspired by traditional Navajo chants and songs.
Chee has released 3 studio albums of original pieces and piano transcriptions of Navajo music. The Navajo Piano won Best Instrumental Recording at the 16th Annual Native American Music Awards, and his piece “Beginnings” won Best New Age Song.
Chee’s most recent release, Scenes from Dinétah, features piano pieces written about elements of Navajo life and culture. It has been accompanied by the release of several music videos filmed on the reservation, directed by Navajo filmmaker Michael Etcitty Jr.
Previous Conferences
2023
COLLABORATION IN THE CASCADES
June 26-28
Sun Mountain Resort
Winthrop, Washington
2023 Guest Artist Dr Wei-Han Wu
2023 Guest Artist Dr. Wu has been described as “brilliant” by the Pittsburgh Tribune, and has performed in venues such as the Chicago Cultural Center, the Kennedy Center, and Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. He has been a featured performer at the Tanglewood, Aspen, Castleton, Lake George, and Walla Walla Chamber Music Festivals.
Dedicated to the performance and promotion of new music, Dr. Wu is currently pianist for the [Switch~ Ensemble] as well as Duo Axis, which was cofounded with flutist Zach Sheets. Duo Axis has commissioned and premiered dozens of new works by many up-and-coming composers, including Katie Balch, Anthony Cheung, Tonia Ko, and many others. Dr. Wu previously served as pianist for the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and the president of OSSIA New Music.
As an accomplished vocal coach, Dr. Wu has worked with artists such as Susanne Mentzer, Vinson Cole, and Nancy Gustafson. He is currently on the faculty at Shenandoah University and Peabody Conservatory, and served on the faculty for the Washington National Opera Institute. More recently, Dr. Wu has served as music director for several opera productions in the D.C. area.
A member of Pi Kappa Lambda, he is the recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Juilliard School, the Felicia Montealegre Fellowship from the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Collaborative Piano Fellowship from Bard College. Dr. Wu holds degrees from Northwestern, University of Michigan, and the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a double doctorate in piano performance and collaborative piano.
Wei-Han Wu and Zach Sheets
2022
REKINDLE RECONNECT RECHARGE
June 23 – 25
Lower Columbia College
Longview, Washington
WSMTA was thrilled to gather together again after two years!
From June 23 – June 25 WSMTA members gathered to reconnect, rekindle our passion for teaching, and recharge by the Columbia River. Lower Columbia College hosted the conference in its lovely Rose Performing Arts Center, and members enjoyed recitals and concerts in the Wollenberg Auditorium on the college’s Bosendorfer Imperial Grand Piano.
WSMTA was proud to welcome Ukrainian-born American pianist Inna Faliks as our guest artist for 2022. Inna Faliks has established herself as one of the most exciting, committed, communicative and poetic artists of her generation.
The 2022 conference featured more than fifteen presenters, covering everything from pedagogy to best business practices. With three evening concerts, five student honors recitals – including a new Vocal and Instrumental recital, and the Young Composers recital, members were inspired after two years of glitchy zoom connections. Included in each in-person conference registration fee was a complimentary conference booklet, access to all our presentations, recitals, and concerts, and access to the virtual conference through September 7th.
Our exhibit hall was in the Forsberg Art Gallery and attendees enjoyed Lower Columbia’s permanent collection upstairs from the exhibitors.
To further reconnect with old colleagues and meet new ones, members attended our banquet at McMennamin’s a short drive away in Kalama.
For those of you unable to attend in person, we had a bite-size version of the conference available virtually. The Virtual Conference includes livestreams of Inna Faliks’ presentation, masterclass, and concert. It also includes a Virtual Swag Bag, a digital copy of the conference booklet, access to the Virtual Exhibit Hall. The virtual conference runs through September 7th.
Just like usual, our recitals and evening concerts were open to the public. Friends or family who were interested in attending the Student Honors Recitals, Young Composers Recital, the Washington Winners Concert, Inna Falik’s performance, or our Chamber Music Concert were able to purchase stand-alone tickets.
2022 Guest Artist Inna Faliks
2022 Guest Artist Inna Faliks has made a name for herself through her commanding performances of standard piano repertoire, as well genre-bending interdisciplinary projects, and inquisitive work with contemporary composers. After her acclaimed teenage debuts at the Gilmore Festival and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she has performed on many of the world’s great stages, with numerous orchestras, in solo appearances, and with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Keith Lockhart. Faliks is currently Professor of Piano and Head of Piano at UCLA. Her discography includes a recital recording for the Yamaha Disklavier label, Chopin solo and cello sonatas recording with cellist Wendy Warner; “Polonaise-Fantasie, Story of a Pianist” for Delos – a recital of short piano works from Bach to Chopin and Carter, combined with autobiographical essays written by Faliks; and a critically acclaimed CD on MSR Classics, Sound of Verse, released in 2009, featuring music of Boris Pasternak, Rachmaninoff and Ravel.
Faliks is internationally in demand as an Artist Teacher, and frequently adjudicates competitions gives masterclasses and travels to Artist Residencies in major conservatories and universities around the world. In March 2019, Faliks was Artistic Director of Classical Music for YoungArts LA, programming and workshopping a program with the nation’s top young musicians and composers, as well as directing a number of panels and masterclasses.
2022 Guest Artist Inna Faliks has made a name for herself through her commanding performances of standard piano repertoire, as well genre-bending interdisciplinary projects, and inquisitive work with contemporary composers. After her acclaimed teenage debuts at the Gilmore Festival and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she has performed on many of the world’s great stages, with numerous orchestras, in solo appearances, and with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Keith Lockhart. Faliks is currently Professor of Piano and Head of Piano at UCLA. Her discography includes a recital recording for the Yamaha Disklavier label, Chopin solo and cello sonatas recording with cellist Wendy Warner; “Polonaise-Fantasie, Story of a Pianist” for Delos – a recital of short piano works from Bach to Chopin and Carter, combined with autobiographical essays written by Faliks; and a critically acclaimed CD on MSR Classics, Sound of Verse, released in 2009, featuring music of Boris Pasternak, Rachmaninoff and Ravel.
Faliks is internationally in demand as an Artist Teacher, and frequently adjudicates competitions gives masterclasses and travels to Artist Residencies in major conservatories and universities around the world. In March 2019, Faliks was Artistic Director of Classical Music for YoungArts LA, programming and workshopping a program with the nation’s top young musicians and composers, as well as directing a number of panels and masterclasses.
2021
Virtually Legato: Community and Collaboration
June 17 – 19
in partnership with
Washington State University
WSMTA was thrilled to present our first Virtual State Conference!
Dr. Jeffrey Savage, NCTM and Dr. Karen Savage, NCTM wowed conference attendees with their presentations and masterclasses, and their joint concert.
The conference featured more than twenty presenters, covering everything from pedagogy to best business practices. There were concerts, honors recitals, a virtual exhibit hall, opportunities for connecting with old colleagues, and meeting new ones. We were particularly excited to offer several sessions geared toward high school students on Saturday, June 19th.
One advantage of our virtual conference this year is that there will be no need to choose between two stellar sessions. You can attend them all! Many of our presentations are already available to watch, and will remain available through September 15, 2021.
Attendees interested in refilling their artistic buckets, joined a Warm-Up Session. Those interested in discussing the days’ events and catching up with old colleagues, carried on lively discussions on the private Facebook page, or jumped into one of the Close-It-Down Zoom rooms for fun and games. The Facebook page is still up and open for ongoing discussion!
New this year, WSMTA offered “Meal and Mentoring” sessions; these were opportunities to eat lunch and chat with someone a little farther on in the musical and pedagogical journey.
Included in the conference registration fee is a complimentary conference booklet and swag bag and access to all our presentations, recitals, and concerts both during the conference and through September 15, 2021.
Just like usual, our evening recitals were open to the public. Friends or family who were interested in attending the WSU Faculty Recital, the Washington Winners Recital, or the 88 Squared performance were able to purchase stand-alone tickets. The State Honors Recitals are available to all. Click the button below to watch!
