MTNA Division candidates

MTNA members will be electing Division officers and directors beginning in February 2006. Included here are the nominees as recommended by the MTNA Nominating Committee. The committee nominates two candidates for each position.

MTNA members also may submit nominations for the ballot. To do so, you must send to the MTNA headquarters, a petition indicating your nominee(s) signed by one hundred (100)active members. This petition must be received no later than December 1, 2005.

In accordance with Article VI, Sec. 2 of the MTNA Bylaws, this slate of two candidates per office was prepared by the MTNA Nominating Committee. Members also may submit nominations: MTNA Bylaws, Article VI, Section 3: "Nominations for National ... offices, other than those presented by the Nominating Committee, may be added to the election ballot by petition signed by one hundred Active Members and received at the business offices of the Association no later than three (3) months prior to the scheduled date of the election."

The February/March 2006 issue of American Music Teacher will contain a ballot and voting instructions. Online voting also will be available at www.mtna.org at that time.

The nominating committee consists of Phyllis I. Pieffer, Aberdeen, Washington, chair; Marilyn Brossard, NCTM, Burlington, Washington; Geri Cheney, North Salt Lake, Utah; Carleen Graft, NCTM, Plymouth, New Hampshire; Gloria Johnson, NCTM, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Sigrid Luther, NCTM, Dayton, Tennessee; Laura Melton, Bowling Green, Ohio; Darlene Vlasek, NCTM, Rancho Palos Verdes, California; Nancy Whitman, NCTM, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Ken Williams, NCTM, Columbus, Ohio.

DIVISION CANDIDATES

EAST CENTRAL

DIRECTOR

Carmen Shaw

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Carmen Shaw, NCTM, an independent teacher from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, holds degrees from Concordia College and Illinois Wesleyan University. She is a collaborative pianist, adjudicator, presenter and church musician and has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Shaw served as local MTA president; WMTA district auditions chair, first vice president and president; and on the American Music Teacher Editorial Committee.

"I cannot imagine teaching without the benefits/support of MTNA. The opportunities to learn, grow, and serve, are invaluable. We are challenged to pursue excellence in all professional endeavors, and provided with a rich network of colleagues, ideas, and tools to help reach those goals," she says.

Lynn Singleton

Columbus, Ohio

Lynn Singleton, an independent music teacher from Columbus, Ohio, attended Bowling Green State University, where she received bachelor's and master's degrees in performance. Singleton has served as Ohio MTA president, vice president and convention coordinator and was recently named Ohio's Certified Teacher of the Year. She currently is the Certification chair for her local association.

"I value the work MTNA does on behalf of its members to promote the profession of music teaching. We are fortunate to be able to benefit from the services and programs the association provides, and I would welcome the opportunity to serve such a highly regarded organization," she says.

DIRECTOR-ELECT

Adrienne Wiley

Midland, Michigan

Adrienne Wiley, NCTM, associate professor of music at Central Michigan University, received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Kansas and a D.M.A. degree from the University of Oklahoma. She has been active at local and state levels of the Nebraska MTA and now serves Michigan MTA in several capacities. Wiley was the national MTNA Senior Competitions coordinator for four years.

"I still feel the same enthusiasm for being an MTNA member as when I joined in college. MTNA strives to serve all music teachers with its strong commitment to professionalism, and supports teachers with resources, and program to assist our growth," she says.

Karen Thickstun

Nashville, Indiana

Karen Thickstun teaches piano and piano pedagogy at Butler University and is director of the Butler Summer Piano Camps and the Butler Community Arts School. She maintains an independent studio in Nashville, Indiana, and serves on the NCKP Independent Teacher committee. Thickstun holds a B.A. degree from Duke University, an M.M. degree from Butler University and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Virginia. She is past president of the Indiana MTA and was awarded the 2002 IMTA Distinguished Service Award.

"MTNA is a vital part of the music profession--enlightening, challenging, and uplifting its members as well as our students, colleagues and communities," she says.

EASTERN

DIRECTOR

Melanie DeMent

Newark, Delaware

Melanie DeMent, NCTM, teaches studio voice and vocal pedagogy at the University of Delaware. A 15-year member of MTNA, she has served as DSMTA student activities chair and president, and chair of the Eastern Division Senior Competitions. DeMent has served on MTNA's Teacher Enrichment Grant Committee, College Faculty Forum and is currently on the AMT Editorial Committee.