|
JMTA High Notes
May 2026 —Vol. 29, no. 8 The May JMTA meeting and program was held at the UNF Fine Arts Recital Hall on May 14, 2026 at 9:30am. The District IV Concerto Competition winners and the JMTA Scholarship winner performed. ____________________________________ Table of Contents MEETING MINUTES April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - 4 TREASURY REPORTS April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Welcome New Members! . . . . . . . . .6 District IV News Concerto Competition . . . . . 6 - 7 Over Coffee With… Ciarán Abuan . . . . . . . . . .8 – 10 Who am I… in Music? . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS . . . . 12 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 President’s Pen Dear JMTA members, Looking back over the past year, I am thankful for all of the teachers who have been a part of our association and who have worked together to make sure all of our events would run smoothly and successfully. I am thankful for the association itself, as it has been such a benefit for me over the years. The camaraderie with fellow teachers and advice from them has always been helpful. In addition, the musical activities my students can engage in are experiences they will remember all of their lives. I hope that you are enjoying membership in our group, and that you will continue to renew. Being a part of MTNA, FSMTA, and the local JMTA has so many benefits. I hope you and your students all have a wonderful, safe, and peaceful summer, and I look forward to seeing you again in September! Sincerely, Angie Holt President, JMTA ________________________________________ MEETING MINUTES Jacksonville Music Teachers Association Thursday, April 9, 2026 Zoom Meeting 9:30 AM Welcome & Call to Order: President Angie Holt called the meeting to order at 9:38 AM. Zoom Attendees: Angie Holt, Daniel Holt, Lorraine Sears, Rhonda Danielson, Christine Couch, Anita Renfroe, Denise Homsley, Paulette Kilts, Lynn Freeman, Sandy Stewart, Melody Morrison, Mary McKee. Parliamentarian: Lynn Freeman Secretary Minutes: Rhonda Danielson Minutes accepted as presented. Treasurer’s Report: Lorraine Sears
Treasurer’s Report was accepted as presented. Communications & Internet Media: Angie Holt No report Vice President of Membership: Mary McKee No report Programs: Anita Renfroe Today’s program presenter is Melody Morrison. May 14 meeting and program will be held at UNF. Other Committee Reports: Social: Sandy Stewart No report Student Recitals: Christine Couch & Gavin Taylor Proton Therapy Recital: Sandy Stewart April 21 at 6:00PM Scholarship: Kama Rasmussen-Li Kama has received two piano applications for the Scholarship Competition on April 11 at Mandarin Baptist. Student Day judges will judge the Scholarship competition. Student Day: Angie Holt Student Day will be April 11. Erin Bennett, Sandy Stewart, and Michael Mastronicola will be the judges. Altruistic: Cheryl Dubberly is unable to fill this position, so Rhonda will take the position. Donations of greeting cards would be appreciated. Community Service Awards: Stefanie Batson-Martin No report Ethics: Betty Atkinson No report Archivist/Historian: Paulette Kilts Paulette would like copies of every recital program for the archives. Concerto Competition: Erin Bennett Daniel read Erin’s report in her absence. Concerto Winners will be listed in the May newsletter. Old Business: New Business: Membership vote for Amendment Proposals was not taken. Paulette suggested that we vote at our May meeting. We need a quorum of 12 members. Announcements:
Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 10:23 AM. Respectfully Submitted, Rhonda Danielson Recording Secretary __________________________________ TREASURY REPORTS – April 2026 JMTA Treasurer Transaction Monthly Report Apr. 1-30, 2026 Checking: Rate .10% Expenses 04/15/26 Check 104 S. Stewart (scholar. judge)$50.00 04/16/26 Check 103 M. Morrison (presenter-Warren$50.00 04/16/26 Check 105 M. Mastronicola (scholar. judge)$50.00 04/22/26 Sunbiz (yearly corporation filing fee)$61.25 Deposits 04/03/26 Recital fees $140.00 04/24/26 Dues $60.00 04/30/26 Interest $0.77 Current Checking $8,545.11 Warren Fund $727.73 TOTAL Checking Account $9,272.84 Business Money Market (Scholarship): Rate .60% ($1000+) Expenses Deposits TOTAL Business Money Market Account $138.23 Business Shares (Savings): Rate .10% ($100+) Expenses Deposits 04/30/26 Interest $0.02 TOTAL Business Shares Account $199.36 12 Month Business CD: Rate 4.00% Matures 6/7/26 Expenses Deposits 04/30/26 Interest 17.92 TOTAL Business CD Account $5,569.00 13 Month Promo CD: Rate 4.00% Matures 10/16/26 Expenses Deposits 04/30/26 Interest 16.50 TOTAL Promo CD Account $5,127.77 TOTAL ASSETS as of Apr. 30, 2026 $20,307.20 Submitted by Lorraine Sears 05/07/2026 _________________________________________ Welcome New Members! Tracy Morris Hsiang Tu __________________________________ District IV News Concerto Competition Report The FSMTA District IV Concerto Competition was held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in the Recital Hall of the UNF Fine Arts Center. We had 9 competitors this year across piano and strings (4 piano; 5 strings)
______________________________________ Over Coffee With . . . Ciarán Abuan This month we are interviewing one of our newer members. Ciarán is a UNF graduate who has a bachelor degree in Piano Performance. Thank you, Ciarán, for helping us to get to know you better, and we wish you the best in all your pursuits! Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. I’m the son of a Filipino father and Irish mother but I was born here in Jacksonville. After my dad finished medical residency, my family moved to Fort Myers for a year, after which a job with Winter Haven Hospital brought my family to Polk County. Soon thereafter, my parents bought their house in Lakeland, FL, where they have been for the past twenty years. I attended public school, graduating from Harrison School for the Arts. Q. As a college student, what inspired you to major in music? A. My mom grew up with traditional Irish music and dance, later studying classical violin. Naturally, she wanted her children to share her love for music. When my parents bought their house, their first piece of furniture was a Kohler & Campbell baby grand piano—I remember going to the store and picking it out (and afterward sleeping on the floor). Some of my earliest music experiences were with Kindermusik. Soon after, my mom took up piano lessons and I followed suit. To be brief, I have had numerous and diverse interests, but I have always pursued music because I love knowledge and beauty, self-control and discipline. I have come to understand that music is essential to education. Q. Did you have a music course that you really enjoyed or specifically helped you as you teach piano? A. Piano Pedagogy challenged me. In my first six years of lessons, I was taught out of method books (Bastien, Schaum, and Alfred). In middle school, I switched teachers and worked on intermediate repertoire for about a year before advancing to harder pieces. Going into pedagogy class, I neither appreciated method books nor knew of the vast range of intermediate repertoire. Now I understand how to select repertoire or make a lesson with a method book effective (or at least that it takes careful preparation for these things!). Q. Tell us about some things you have been/are involved in musically A. In February, I had the privilege of accompanying a student on Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra for the JSYO Young Artists Competition, in which she received an honorable mention. In March, I accompanied my younger sister for SERNATS at Georgia Southern University, in which she placed second in her division. The following day, we performed for my students after their recital. Most recently, I’ve been accompanying saxophone students. Q. What do you find to be a challenge in teaching music and what do you find that helps? A. It is difficult to teach when either the student or teacher has unrealistic expectations. I often find it necessary to return to my core values: students learn to play with proficiency and artistry when they study music at the appropriate level. Students develop an understanding of music when each lesson has a clear focus. Students should learn to use their imagination through creative activities. I often take a moment to reflect on the day’s lessons before I go to bed. What was successful? What frustrated me? Why? The reason usually lies in an error of philosophy or attitude. Q. What is one of the most interesting places you've visited? A. Last Summer, I visited Italy for the InterHarmony International Music Festival. The festival is held in a little town named Acqui Terme, named for its natural hot spring and fountain plaza where families like to gather for dinner in the evenings. The town has several beautiful churches, a magnificent duomo, ruins of Roman aquaducts, and a gelateria around every corner. Many locals attended the evening festival concerts, the food and wine were delicious; a rich culture in a beautiful setting. Q. Who are some of your favorite music composers? A. I love the passion, drama, and human sensitivity manifested in the music of Franz Liszt. Coloristic harmonic changes and discriminate use of texture make for engaging narratives. I also love the music of W.A. Mozart. His music appeals to me on many fronts as it encompasses diverse styles across genres, from the drama of the baroque opera to the elegance and sophistication of the galant and classical in the piano sonatas. Some composers that I think will be new favorites for me are Norman Dello Joio, whose music uses classical forms with modern techniques and influences from earlier music like Gregorian chant, and Valerie Roth Roubos, whose pedagogical compositions are creative, clear, and concise. ___________________________________ Who Am I . . . In Music? 1. Born in 1685 in Naples in what is now Italy, I was the sixth of 10 children, and I first studied music under my father. I was known primarily as a harpsichordist, and I wrote 555 keyboard sonatas. I also composed at least 17 separate sinfonias and a harpsichord concerto. I served both Portuguese and Spanish royal families. Although my music is known to be in the Baroque era, it helped influence the development of the Classical era. 2. I was born in 1732 in the rural town of Rohrau, Austria. I became a choirboy at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna and studied music theory and composition with composer Nicola Porpora. I worked as a freelance musician in Vienna, and became the court composer for the Esterházy family. I’m known as the “Father of the Symphony” for my work in developing the symphonic musical form, and I composed over 100 symphonies. I’m also called the “father of the string quartet” from developing the form and composing over 68 string quartets. 3. I was born in Doborján, Kingdom of Hungary (today known as Raiding, Austria) in 1822. My father taught me piano lessons beginning at an early age, and I began to compose at 8 years old. My father worked for the Esterházy family in Vienna, and played cello in the court concerts. When I performed on the piano at age 9, the rich locals decided to fund my musical education. My family moved to Paris in 1823, where I continued musical studies. After I met and heard violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini perform in 1831, I wanted to compose and perform with that charismatic flair on the piano. I composed Hungarian Rhapsodies, piano concertos, and well-known compositions such as Liebestraum No. 3, Totentanz, Annees de Pelerinage, and Sonata in B minor. (Answers on Page 14) ___________________ AREA CONCERTS AND RECITALS Click on each link for a calendar of upcoming performances: The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra EventsClick on link for more information and tickets: Events | Jacksonville Symphony University of North Florida Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/events.html Florida State College at Jacksonville Click on link for more information and tickets: fine-arts-calendar.jpg (2550×3300) Friday Musicale Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://fridaymusicale.com/events/ St. Johns Cathedral Music Events Click on link for more information and tickets: https://www.jaxcathedral.org/events/ _________________________________ Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org Teachers, please take a moment to check out your information on our Find A Teacher page on the JMTA website (jaxmta.org). If you would like any changes made, or if you’re not listed yet and would like to be added, please contact Angie Holt at [email protected] with the verbiage you would like put in. This is a page that has information for prospective parents and students. __________________________________ Did You Know? Residents of Duval county, if they have a Jacksonville Library card, can use the many electronic resources from the https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/digital-library. Getting a library card is free. All that's needed is your driver's license and sign up in person at any of the 21 branches. The card allows the use of Kanopy - which has free streaming movies, documentaries, educational resources [older teens/adults]. I saw a documentary "Making the Grade" which profiled Irish students and piano teachers whose students are preparing to take the Irish Royal Academy of Music Examinations. It was funny, moving, informative, and relatable, especially seeing snippets of the teacher's lessons in action and how the students feel about piano and their teachers overall. I highly recommend members watch it (and explore the other resources available from JPL)! - JohnWillard Utuk ____________________________________ Need a Sponsor? Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Jacksonville School of Music & First Coast School of Music, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at [email protected]. His direction phone number is 904-248-1848. ____________________________________ Music Exchange Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Bring your unneeded music to any JMTA meeting. Bring home something new to you! Look for the "Free Music" spot. Music does not have to be brand new. __________________________________________________________ Have you found us on Facebook? Follow JMTA on Facebook for the latest happenings, photos, videos, and more! __________________________________ Events Calendar Please view our website for any updates or additions to these events, as well as for more details including application deadlines: www.jaxmta.org. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! Stay tuned for more events to come! High Notes is distributed on the first of the month excluding June-August and December. All submissions are due by the 20th of the month prior to distribution. Submissions may be sent to [email protected]. ______________________________ Answers to Who Am I in Music: 1. Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti (October 26, 1685 – July 23, 1757) 2. Franz Joseph Haydn (March 31, 1732 – May 31, 1809) 3. Franz Liszt (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886) |
High NotesJMTA Newsletter Categories |
RSS Feed
