Eastern Division

American Music Teacher, Oct-Nov, 2004 by Millie Eben

This month we hear about the activities in Massachusetts from its new president, Shelley Reeves, NCTM

In June, the Massachusetts MTA Board voted to adopt the Royal American Conservatory Examinations as its official state syllabus program. This will be offered in addition to MMTA's noncompetitive evaluations given in the spring.

Fitchburg State College hosted the Bay State Contest this year. Two-hundred-fifty piano, string and voice students competed, and the winners' performances and photographs are posted on the MMTA website www.mmta.net. Those who contributed to the state's scholarship funds received a CD of these performances as a thank you.

The MMTA conference will be held October 23 at Regis College in Weston. The guest speaker will be Robert Weirich, pianist, teacher of the 2001 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist and a fondly remembered columnist for Clavier magazine. The conference will feature Commissioned Composer Timothy Melbinger, who has recently released his second CD, Fleeting Visions. Attendees also will hear some of the Bay State Contest winners in recital.

Millie Eben, NCTM

Reading, Pennsylvania