The second annual FSMTA Collegiate Convocation will be held on October 24-25, 2009 at Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City. Held in conjunction with the state level of the MTNA Competitions, the convocation has been planned to give our collegiate student members an opportunity to observe and assist with the competitions, as well as providing a number of events specifically geared for students. This convocation will feature a Saturday evening recital showcasing both student and faculty artists, presentations made by each of the college chapters, a workshop by Jennifer Donelson, DMA, and a master class on collaborative performance by Dr. Donelson.

Faculty artists participating in the recital include Dr. Rene Gonzalez, guitar and Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy, violin. Dr. Gonzalez is the Director of the Guitar Program at the University of Miami and will perform Spanish Dance no. 5 by Granados; Dr. Yanovskiy is Director of Strings at the University of West Florida and will perform the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.

Dr. Donelson is Assistant Professor of Music at Nova Southeastern University; her work in the field of piano pedagogy focuses on the development of expressive playing and interpretive skills in young students and has been featured at the Florida state and national MTNA conferences, the International Music Camp, the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, Mexico, as well as in a recent article in Clavier Companion. Dr. Donelson’s workshop will present a series of graded activities that teachers of various mediums could use to help their students become more musically independent through cultivating their ability to make compelling artistic decisions.

The convocation will conclude with a luncheon banquet Sunday afternoon with guest speaker Melodie Dickerson. Ms. Dickerson is Coordinator of Choral and Vocal Studies at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and will speak about her recent collaboration with Rex Willis in the writing of the original musical, In Ybor City!

All collegiate student members and prospective members are invited to attend the convocation—both those who belong to a collegiate chapter and those who hold individual membership. Our student members are our future, and we hope that this type of event will help our students build a bridge to their professional careers as music educators. Registration for the convocation may be made online at fmta.org; deadline is October 16, 2009. Contact Dr. Megan Walsh, Collegiate Chapter Chair at m.walsh3@umiami.edu for more details.

  Quick Links:

• Schedule
• Workshop with Dr. Jennifer Donelson
• Faculty/Student Recital
• Sunday banquet guest speaker Melodie Dickerson
• Directions to event
• Accommodations

• Florida Atlantic University - Chapter Advisor, Judith Burganger
• Lynn University - Chapter Advisor, Lisa Leonard
• State College of Florida - Chapter Advisor, Dr. Charles Turon
• University of Miami - Chapter Advisor, Dr. Megan Walsh