South Central Division - MTNA Division News - Music Teachers National Association - Brief Article

American Music Teacher, Dec, 2001 by Melody Allen

The South Central Division News was inadvertently omitted from the October/ November column. News from that submission is included below. AMT regrets the error.

South Central Division is looking forward to its annual meeting and competitions January 26-27, 2002, at Centenary College, Hurley School of Music, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Ross Smith is the local chair. Following the Saturday afternoon division meeting, MTNA members are invited to dinner at the South Commons Dining Hall, catered by the college. Dinner reservations, at $12 per person, must be submitted to Smith by January 4, 2002. You may reach Smith by phone at (318) 869-5071, fax at (318) 869-5248 or e-mail resmith@centenary.edu.

The Louisiana Music Teachers Association (LMTA) held its 50th annual convention in October at Southeastern Louisiana University at Hammond. The convention artist was pianist Arthur Greene from the University of Michigan, assisted by his wife, violinist Solomia Greene. In an effort to increase the diversity of convention programming, LMTA invited clinicians in voice, harp and strings to supplement the usual piano offerings. The convention included a repeat of last year's successful used book and music sale, which netted $650 for the MTNA FOUNDATION. This year, each member who purchased music or books had the option of directing the proceeds to the MTNA FOUNDATION or to charities assisting those affected by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The 2001 LMTA/MTNA Commissioned Composition was Suite for Saxophone Quartet by William Price of Baton Rouge.

What a convention Texas had in Houston last June. "Mother Nature" sent a tropical storm that flooded the area and made attendance difficult. The convention hotel was without power on Saturday, and many contests and sessions were rescheduled and held in the atrium lobby, where sunlight could come through the glass roof. The understanding and cooperation of teachers, students and parents truly was beautiful and made this a memorable occasion.

Four districts in the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA) held district conventions during November. Winners of the Junior Auditions, a competitive audition for students in third through eighth grades, were featured at each district convention. Digby Bell, NCTM, professor emeritus at the University of Oklahoma, was named OMTA's 2001 Distinguished Teacher at the state convention in June.

--Melody Allen, NCTM, South Central
Division President, San Angelo, Texas