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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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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