Workshop Presenters
Saturday, October 19, 2024
11:00 – 11:30AM
Reviving the Opera "Amalia e Carlo": Pietro Carlo Guglielmi's Napoleonic Masterpiece.
This presentation centers on the 1812 Opera "Amalia e Carlo" by Pietro Carlo Guglielmi, rediscovered in a Tuscan Castle after two centuries. This session directly supports the conference theme "Making Great Music, One Beat at a Time" by demonstrating how this opera transcends cultural, historical, and stylistic barriers to connect with modern audiences in our digital age. It explores the opera's creation during the Napoleonic rule in Naples, emphasizing its significance in a socio-political context that influenced musical expression at that time. The study employs an analysis of the original libretto and a modern adaptation of the music, showcasing how digital platforms can rejuvenate historical works for educational purposes and contemporary enjoyment. This session demonstrates how "Amalia e Carlo" enriches our understanding of past artistic expressions and illuminates their relevance in contemporary society, embodying the conference’s mission to “Make Great Music accessible One Beat at a Time”.
Barbara Salani is a distinguished pianist, educator, and author whose multi-faceted career bridges continents and cultures. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, she graduated from the Conservatory Juan Manuel Olivares. She furthered her studies in Italy and the United States, earning her Bachelor of Music from the Philadelphia University of the Arts and her master's degree in Piano Performance from Florida Atlantic University. Currently, she is an FAU Ph.D. Candidate in Comparative Studies focusing on Musicology and Italian Studies. Barbara has gained international acclaim as a soloist, performing with major orchestras and in prestigious venues worldwide. Her deep commitment to music education is evident in her role as an adjunct professor at FAU, where she has spearheaded innovative music education projects, including the "Music Module" for the Italian Program and "Teaching Dante’s Anthem," reflecting her passion for integrating music with Italian culture and language learning. She actively participates in music education initiatives internationally and serves in leadership roles within several music and cultural organizations. A prolific author, Barbara’s book "Music for Life, The Salani Brothers" has garnered six international literary awards, underscoring her ability to connect with audiences through her writings as well as her music.
Reviving the Opera "Amalia e Carlo": Pietro Carlo Guglielmi's Napoleonic Masterpiece.
This presentation centers on the 1812 Opera "Amalia e Carlo" by Pietro Carlo Guglielmi, rediscovered in a Tuscan Castle after two centuries. This session directly supports the conference theme "Making Great Music, One Beat at a Time" by demonstrating how this opera transcends cultural, historical, and stylistic barriers to connect with modern audiences in our digital age. It explores the opera's creation during the Napoleonic rule in Naples, emphasizing its significance in a socio-political context that influenced musical expression at that time. The study employs an analysis of the original libretto and a modern adaptation of the music, showcasing how digital platforms can rejuvenate historical works for educational purposes and contemporary enjoyment. This session demonstrates how "Amalia e Carlo" enriches our understanding of past artistic expressions and illuminates their relevance in contemporary society, embodying the conference’s mission to “Make Great Music accessible One Beat at a Time”.
Barbara Salani is a distinguished pianist, educator, and author whose multi-faceted career bridges continents and cultures. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, she graduated from the Conservatory Juan Manuel Olivares. She furthered her studies in Italy and the United States, earning her Bachelor of Music from the Philadelphia University of the Arts and her master's degree in Piano Performance from Florida Atlantic University. Currently, she is an FAU Ph.D. Candidate in Comparative Studies focusing on Musicology and Italian Studies. Barbara has gained international acclaim as a soloist, performing with major orchestras and in prestigious venues worldwide. Her deep commitment to music education is evident in her role as an adjunct professor at FAU, where she has spearheaded innovative music education projects, including the "Music Module" for the Italian Program and "Teaching Dante’s Anthem," reflecting her passion for integrating music with Italian culture and language learning. She actively participates in music education initiatives internationally and serves in leadership roles within several music and cultural organizations. A prolific author, Barbara’s book "Music for Life, The Salani Brothers" has garnered six international literary awards, underscoring her ability to connect with audiences through her writings as well as her music.
11:30AM – 12:00PM
Harmony in Duet: techniques for teaching and coaching piano duets and concertos for elementary and intermediate students
This presentation aims to showcase a comprehensive approach to teaching piano duets, focusing on both pedagogical and performance aspects for elementary and intermediate level students. It will explore strategies for student duets, student-teacher duets, and piano concertos accompanied by a teacher. Effective pedagogical techniques and rehearsal methods will be highlighted, emphasizing the teacher's role also as a piano partner. In concerto repertoire tips on how an "orchestra" pianist can support young soloists for optimal musical outcome will be suggested. By providing a step- by-step framework through varied/leveled repertoire selections this session aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of ensemble playing, benefiting both students and teachers.
Agnieszka Zick is a pianist and pedagogue. She maintains a keen interest in standard repertoire, promotes contemporary music, and advocates for inclusive music repertoire for students and audiences. Zick’s playing in the recent CD release “Orchard - A collection of 50 short piano pieces” by Tyler Kline (Neuma Records, 2022), was described as “incredibly sensitive, for example, and she paints beauty in sound” (Fanfare Magazine). Agnieszka Zick received her Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland, double Master’s degree in Piano Performance and Chamber Music from the University of South Florida and holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan. Dr. Zick serves as an adjudicator and presents her pedagogical research in prominent conferences including CMS International Conference in the Baltics, CMS Nations Conference, MTNA National Conference, NCKP Piano Conference in Chicago, European Piano Teacher Association - Portugal, Puerto Rico Collaborative Piano Festival, and MMTA, WVMTA, and FSMTA State Conferences. Zick formerly taught at Eckerd College, Schoolcraft College, University of South Florida, and University of Michigan. Currently she is an Adjunct Faculty at the State College of Florida Manatee - Sarasota in Bradenton, Florida.
Harmony in Duet: techniques for teaching and coaching piano duets and concertos for elementary and intermediate students
This presentation aims to showcase a comprehensive approach to teaching piano duets, focusing on both pedagogical and performance aspects for elementary and intermediate level students. It will explore strategies for student duets, student-teacher duets, and piano concertos accompanied by a teacher. Effective pedagogical techniques and rehearsal methods will be highlighted, emphasizing the teacher's role also as a piano partner. In concerto repertoire tips on how an "orchestra" pianist can support young soloists for optimal musical outcome will be suggested. By providing a step- by-step framework through varied/leveled repertoire selections this session aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of ensemble playing, benefiting both students and teachers.
Agnieszka Zick is a pianist and pedagogue. She maintains a keen interest in standard repertoire, promotes contemporary music, and advocates for inclusive music repertoire for students and audiences. Zick’s playing in the recent CD release “Orchard - A collection of 50 short piano pieces” by Tyler Kline (Neuma Records, 2022), was described as “incredibly sensitive, for example, and she paints beauty in sound” (Fanfare Magazine). Agnieszka Zick received her Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland, double Master’s degree in Piano Performance and Chamber Music from the University of South Florida and holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan. Dr. Zick serves as an adjudicator and presents her pedagogical research in prominent conferences including CMS International Conference in the Baltics, CMS Nations Conference, MTNA National Conference, NCKP Piano Conference in Chicago, European Piano Teacher Association - Portugal, Puerto Rico Collaborative Piano Festival, and MMTA, WVMTA, and FSMTA State Conferences. Zick formerly taught at Eckerd College, Schoolcraft College, University of South Florida, and University of Michigan. Currently she is an Adjunct Faculty at the State College of Florida Manatee - Sarasota in Bradenton, Florida.
Agnieszka Lasko is an international composer, pianist, educator, adjudicator, and consultant at the Art Education Center under Poland’s Ministry of Culture. She authored the piano method First Class Piano (Euterpe, Poland), praised as "Excellent" by the Polish Chamber Musicians Association and "Warmly recommended" by Piano Professional EPTA. Her work Little Stories has been lauded as "A sheer delight" by EPTA Piano Journal and "An outstanding collection" by Pianist Magazine. Lasko's compositions are featured in the ABRSM Piano Syllabus, and her piece “Autumn” is included in the anthology 22 Nocturnes for Chopin by EVC Music Publishing, UK, and was featured in International Piano. Lasko holds a master’s degree in Piano Performance from the Music Academy in Łódź, Poland, and in Piano Pedagogy from Kansas State University. In 2019, she participated in the world premiere recording of Aleksander Tansman's Piano Four Hands Music with Elżbieta Tyszecka (Acte Préalable, UK). Her students have won various piano and chamber music competitions and performed in prestigious concert series in Poland, including the National Philharmonic in Warsaw. Lasko has presented her original piano method in Poland, Serbia, Macedonia, Colombia, the UK, and the USA, including at the NCKP Piano Conference in Chicago and the World Piano Conference in Serbia.
1:30 – 2:00PM
Native American Piano Music with Roberta Rust, pianist
Featured in this lecture-performance is piano music of Connor Chee (Navajo), a composer and pianist born in 1987 and based in Phoenix, Arizona, who combines his classical piano training with his Native American heritage and Louis W. Ballard (Quapaw/Cherokee), known as the father of Native American composition. Ballard was a composer and educator, who lived most of his life (1931 - 2007) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Specific works to be discussed and performed are Ballard’s Four American Indian Preludes (1963), his Concert Fantasy: “A City of Silver” (1981), and selections from Chee’s “Navajo Vocables” (2014) and “Scenes from Dinétah” (2020).
Pianist Dr. Roberta Rust has concertized to critical acclaim, collaborating with many of today’s leading ensembles and appearing in recital at prestigious concert halls worldwide. Her artistry has been enthusiastically hailed for recordings on the Navona, Centaur, and Protone labels. Dr. Rust serves as head of the piano department at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music and during the summers she has taught at the Adamant Music School and the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival. She has given master classes throughout the Americas and Asia
including at Northwestern University, the San Francisco Conservatory, the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, the Yong- Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, and the Shanghai and Beijing Conservatories. Rust is also a widely respected adjudicator and has served on the juries of several noted competitions. Roberta was born in Houston, Texas, makes her home in South Florida, and is a Lakota descendant. For more information, please visit www.robertarust.com.
Native American Piano Music with Roberta Rust, pianist
Featured in this lecture-performance is piano music of Connor Chee (Navajo), a composer and pianist born in 1987 and based in Phoenix, Arizona, who combines his classical piano training with his Native American heritage and Louis W. Ballard (Quapaw/Cherokee), known as the father of Native American composition. Ballard was a composer and educator, who lived most of his life (1931 - 2007) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Specific works to be discussed and performed are Ballard’s Four American Indian Preludes (1963), his Concert Fantasy: “A City of Silver” (1981), and selections from Chee’s “Navajo Vocables” (2014) and “Scenes from Dinétah” (2020).
Pianist Dr. Roberta Rust has concertized to critical acclaim, collaborating with many of today’s leading ensembles and appearing in recital at prestigious concert halls worldwide. Her artistry has been enthusiastically hailed for recordings on the Navona, Centaur, and Protone labels. Dr. Rust serves as head of the piano department at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music and during the summers she has taught at the Adamant Music School and the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival. She has given master classes throughout the Americas and Asia
including at Northwestern University, the San Francisco Conservatory, the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, the Yong- Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, and the Shanghai and Beijing Conservatories. Rust is also a widely respected adjudicator and has served on the juries of several noted competitions. Roberta was born in Houston, Texas, makes her home in South Florida, and is a Lakota descendant. For more information, please visit www.robertarust.com.
2:00 – 2:30PM
Marching to a Different Drum
This presentation focuses on teaching music students who fall outside the typical learning parameters. Often this means students with unique physical, behavioral, or learning needs, which create barriers to learning. Music is a wonderful asset from which students of all abilities can benefit. So, the goal of this session is to equip teachers with skills to recognize students who may need a different approach. Attendees will also learn to build a support team, find valuable resources, learn specialized teaching methods, and apply practical adaptations. The presenter desires to empower music educators to confidently embrace and nurture non-traditional students. Join us as we learn to set both teacher and student up for success. We hope you are inspired to create a more diverse, inclusive music studio.
Natalie Whittington, NCTM, is a piano teacher in Tampa, Florida. She is a Piano Performance graduate of Samford University in Alabama. As an active member of her District and Local MTA organizations, she has served in various board and committee positions. Her students compete in performance events, and she has served as the Event Chair for the MSMTA Music Festival for 3 years. She is an FSMTA Certified Judge and received the Steinway Top Piano Teacher Award for 2021 and 2022. Natalie has
worked in various positions such as Church Music Director, Children's Ministry Director, Pianist, Choir Director, and Private Teacher over the past 30 years. She has moved her music studio 14 times to follow her military husband's career around the world. This has afforded her a unique perspective on music education. As a 27-year special needs parent, she champions the voice of those who are different, and has been exposed to students of many varied abilities. She loves to see students achieve what they thought was beyond their reach and enjoys the creative thinking and problem solving that it takes to help students overcome challenges.
Marching to a Different Drum
This presentation focuses on teaching music students who fall outside the typical learning parameters. Often this means students with unique physical, behavioral, or learning needs, which create barriers to learning. Music is a wonderful asset from which students of all abilities can benefit. So, the goal of this session is to equip teachers with skills to recognize students who may need a different approach. Attendees will also learn to build a support team, find valuable resources, learn specialized teaching methods, and apply practical adaptations. The presenter desires to empower music educators to confidently embrace and nurture non-traditional students. Join us as we learn to set both teacher and student up for success. We hope you are inspired to create a more diverse, inclusive music studio.
Natalie Whittington, NCTM, is a piano teacher in Tampa, Florida. She is a Piano Performance graduate of Samford University in Alabama. As an active member of her District and Local MTA organizations, she has served in various board and committee positions. Her students compete in performance events, and she has served as the Event Chair for the MSMTA Music Festival for 3 years. She is an FSMTA Certified Judge and received the Steinway Top Piano Teacher Award for 2021 and 2022. Natalie has
worked in various positions such as Church Music Director, Children's Ministry Director, Pianist, Choir Director, and Private Teacher over the past 30 years. She has moved her music studio 14 times to follow her military husband's career around the world. This has afforded her a unique perspective on music education. As a 27-year special needs parent, she champions the voice of those who are different, and has been exposed to students of many varied abilities. She loves to see students achieve what they thought was beyond their reach and enjoys the creative thinking and problem solving that it takes to help students overcome challenges.
2:30 – 3:00PM
Introducing Music Composition in Your Teaching Studio
For any teacher who says, “but I’m not a composer so how can I teach composition?” This is a jumpstart on how to introduce composition in your teaching and what to expect along the way. In this session, I will cover the benefits of exploring creativity through composition with students. I will also talk about the challenges, specifically communication and technology. I will give teachers guidance on what tools are available to them (materials, programs, etc.). I will also talk about the composition opportunities that are available to them (contests, recitals, etc.) and how that can be motivational and educational for students and teachers alike. Student composition examples will be included.
Dan McCurry is a Piano and Music Composition teacher based in Charleston, SC. He has a B.A. in Music Theory & Composition from College of Charleston where he studied under Dr. David Maves and Dr. Edward Hart. He is an active member of South Carolina Music Teachers Association where he currently serves as the Creativity In Music Chair. In this role he has helped the organization launch a statewide composition and songwriting competition and recital as well as companion workshops featuring composers such as Wynn-Anne Rossi and Mike Springer and songwriter Michael Flynn (of Slow Runner). His students have received local, statewide, regional, and national recognition for their compositions with MTNA, NFMC, Piano Guild, Piano Inspires Kids Magazine, Piano Explorer Magazine, and Charleston Sonatina Festival. His students have been accepted into music composition summer camps such as Brevard, Interlochen, and UNCSA with merit scholarships as well as music composition programs at Peabody, Winthrop, and College of Charleston with music scholarships.
Introducing Music Composition in Your Teaching Studio
For any teacher who says, “but I’m not a composer so how can I teach composition?” This is a jumpstart on how to introduce composition in your teaching and what to expect along the way. In this session, I will cover the benefits of exploring creativity through composition with students. I will also talk about the challenges, specifically communication and technology. I will give teachers guidance on what tools are available to them (materials, programs, etc.). I will also talk about the composition opportunities that are available to them (contests, recitals, etc.) and how that can be motivational and educational for students and teachers alike. Student composition examples will be included.
Dan McCurry is a Piano and Music Composition teacher based in Charleston, SC. He has a B.A. in Music Theory & Composition from College of Charleston where he studied under Dr. David Maves and Dr. Edward Hart. He is an active member of South Carolina Music Teachers Association where he currently serves as the Creativity In Music Chair. In this role he has helped the organization launch a statewide composition and songwriting competition and recital as well as companion workshops featuring composers such as Wynn-Anne Rossi and Mike Springer and songwriter Michael Flynn (of Slow Runner). His students have received local, statewide, regional, and national recognition for their compositions with MTNA, NFMC, Piano Guild, Piano Inspires Kids Magazine, Piano Explorer Magazine, and Charleston Sonatina Festival. His students have been accepted into music composition summer camps such as Brevard, Interlochen, and UNCSA with merit scholarships as well as music composition programs at Peabody, Winthrop, and College of Charleston with music scholarships.
3:00 – 3:30PM
Embracing new and unfamiliar classical music: A guide to understanding modern musical language
Teaching and learning modern classical music can be intriguing but sometimes students might find it overwhelming. 20th and 21st century music encompasses a variety of genres and categories including impressionism, expressionism, jazz and world fusion, neo-classicism and neo-romanticism, and minimalism. Some of these styles are more accessible than others, but how can we systematically introduce them to our students one beat at a time?
In this presentation, the first portion will reveal five important components of modern classical music through the adjudicator’s perspective, followed by a summary sequence on introducing modern classical music to students. The second portion will be a live demonstration of how to dissect, understand, practice, and interpret modern music from a concert pianist’s perspective. Attendees will walk away with more confidence and a better understanding of teaching and performing modern classical music.
A scholar-pianist and an enthusiastic educator, Dr. Jackie Yong holds a Doctor of Music in Piano Performance alongside three specialized certificates in Piano Pedagogy, Music Theory Pedagogy, and College Teaching from Florida State University. As a pianist, Dr. Yong has won top prizes in piano competitions including Rockwood Piano Competition, Asia-Open International Piano Competition, Charleston International Piano Competition, ASWARA International Piano Competition, and Young Person's Piano Competition. He has been actively performing and presenting at MTNA national conferences and symposiums, CMS national and regional conferences, NCKP, and FSTMA conferences. As a scholar, he was twice awarded the David Z. Kushner Student Paper Award in CMS Conference. His doctoral research was awarded a dissertation grant from FSU Graduate School. As an MTNA-certified adjudicator, he has judged numerous piano competitions and festivals. Dr. Yong is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Piano and keyboard area coordinator at the Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Embracing new and unfamiliar classical music: A guide to understanding modern musical language
Teaching and learning modern classical music can be intriguing but sometimes students might find it overwhelming. 20th and 21st century music encompasses a variety of genres and categories including impressionism, expressionism, jazz and world fusion, neo-classicism and neo-romanticism, and minimalism. Some of these styles are more accessible than others, but how can we systematically introduce them to our students one beat at a time?
In this presentation, the first portion will reveal five important components of modern classical music through the adjudicator’s perspective, followed by a summary sequence on introducing modern classical music to students. The second portion will be a live demonstration of how to dissect, understand, practice, and interpret modern music from a concert pianist’s perspective. Attendees will walk away with more confidence and a better understanding of teaching and performing modern classical music.
A scholar-pianist and an enthusiastic educator, Dr. Jackie Yong holds a Doctor of Music in Piano Performance alongside three specialized certificates in Piano Pedagogy, Music Theory Pedagogy, and College Teaching from Florida State University. As a pianist, Dr. Yong has won top prizes in piano competitions including Rockwood Piano Competition, Asia-Open International Piano Competition, Charleston International Piano Competition, ASWARA International Piano Competition, and Young Person's Piano Competition. He has been actively performing and presenting at MTNA national conferences and symposiums, CMS national and regional conferences, NCKP, and FSTMA conferences. As a scholar, he was twice awarded the David Z. Kushner Student Paper Award in CMS Conference. His doctoral research was awarded a dissertation grant from FSU Graduate School. As an MTNA-certified adjudicator, he has judged numerous piano competitions and festivals. Dr. Yong is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Piano and keyboard area coordinator at the Palm Beach Atlantic University.
3:30 – 4:00PM
Korean Art Songs and the Folk Song Arirang
The term ‘Hanguk Gakok’ (Korean art song) has been used since the 1920s, with modern Korean art songs developing as a new vocal genre. Through invasions by various countries in the past, the era of Japanese rule, and the 6.25 war, Koreans have gone through suffering, poverty, sorrow, love, and nostalgia in their lives. All of these sentiments are categorized with Korean terms. “Jeong” means ‘warm affection’, “Han” means ‘sorrow, heartache, or bitterness’, and ‘Heung’ means ‘excitement, joy, or delight’. These national emotions, ‘Jeong,’ ‘Han,’ and ‘Heung’ are beautifully demonstrated in Korean modern art songs. Through Korean modern art songs and folk songs, versions of Arirangs, the unique musical characteristics and beauty of Korean art songs are represented.
Soprano Sunny (Kyeongseon) Choi is a recognized Lyric Coloratura Soprano and recording artist for her artistry and captivating stage presence sharing her passion for the musical heritage from South Korea. Choi has been continuously making her efforts to collect Korean Art Songs and various versions of Arirang from different regions of South Korea and presenting them with classical and modern musical language by working closely with contemporary composers and arrangers in South Korea. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees at Chung-Ang University in South Korea and her music pedagogy certificate from Vienna Civic Conservatory in Austria. Choi is currently a doctoral ABD for her Doctoral of Musical Arts in Voice Performance and Pedagogy degree from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where she earned her Master of Church Music degree. She has served as a former voice faculty member at Chung-Ang University in South Korea, Midwest Music Conservatory in Missouri and South Korea Campus, and as a visiting faculty member at Trinity Music Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is currently teaching at the Africa Institute of Music. Besides being the 1st winner of the N.A.T.S voice competition in Dallas, TX, and the semi-finalist of the International Music Competition Grin Prix, Choi received numerous awards and honors for her excellent performances and teachings from various organizations. She also has internationally performed various opera roles of Magic Flute, Cosi fan Tutte, and Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, L’elisir D’amore by Donizetti, I Puritani by Bellini, La Boheme and Gianni Schicchi by Puccini, La Traviata, Rigoletto, and Un Ballo in Maschera y Verdi, Susannah by Floyd, and Rake Progress by Stravinsky. Currently serving as the founder and president of Arcoiris Classical Ensemble and Songs of New Singers, Choi has been as an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, North Florida, Society for Christian Scholarship in Music (SCSM), and a board member of Bold City Opera.
Korean Art Songs and the Folk Song Arirang
The term ‘Hanguk Gakok’ (Korean art song) has been used since the 1920s, with modern Korean art songs developing as a new vocal genre. Through invasions by various countries in the past, the era of Japanese rule, and the 6.25 war, Koreans have gone through suffering, poverty, sorrow, love, and nostalgia in their lives. All of these sentiments are categorized with Korean terms. “Jeong” means ‘warm affection’, “Han” means ‘sorrow, heartache, or bitterness’, and ‘Heung’ means ‘excitement, joy, or delight’. These national emotions, ‘Jeong,’ ‘Han,’ and ‘Heung’ are beautifully demonstrated in Korean modern art songs. Through Korean modern art songs and folk songs, versions of Arirangs, the unique musical characteristics and beauty of Korean art songs are represented.
Soprano Sunny (Kyeongseon) Choi is a recognized Lyric Coloratura Soprano and recording artist for her artistry and captivating stage presence sharing her passion for the musical heritage from South Korea. Choi has been continuously making her efforts to collect Korean Art Songs and various versions of Arirang from different regions of South Korea and presenting them with classical and modern musical language by working closely with contemporary composers and arrangers in South Korea. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees at Chung-Ang University in South Korea and her music pedagogy certificate from Vienna Civic Conservatory in Austria. Choi is currently a doctoral ABD for her Doctoral of Musical Arts in Voice Performance and Pedagogy degree from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where she earned her Master of Church Music degree. She has served as a former voice faculty member at Chung-Ang University in South Korea, Midwest Music Conservatory in Missouri and South Korea Campus, and as a visiting faculty member at Trinity Music Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is currently teaching at the Africa Institute of Music. Besides being the 1st winner of the N.A.T.S voice competition in Dallas, TX, and the semi-finalist of the International Music Competition Grin Prix, Choi received numerous awards and honors for her excellent performances and teachings from various organizations. She also has internationally performed various opera roles of Magic Flute, Cosi fan Tutte, and Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, L’elisir D’amore by Donizetti, I Puritani by Bellini, La Boheme and Gianni Schicchi by Puccini, La Traviata, Rigoletto, and Un Ballo in Maschera y Verdi, Susannah by Floyd, and Rake Progress by Stravinsky. Currently serving as the founder and president of Arcoiris Classical Ensemble and Songs of New Singers, Choi has been as an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, North Florida, Society for Christian Scholarship in Music (SCSM), and a board member of Bold City Opera.
Dr. Rachel Park is an Associate Professor of Piano at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Have given more than a thousand concerts and recitals with various soloists, ensembles, and orchestras throughout the States and overseas, including performing in Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium in New York, the Crystal Cathedral in California, and at the Embassy of Korea in Washington D.C. She dedicated herself to piano performance and music education with practical applications and insight gained through her wide performance experience. Park received her Doctoral of Musical Arts in Church Music and Piano Performance degree from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX where she earned her Master of Music degree. She graduated from the Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea with a Bachelor of Music degree. She had her debut recital in Carnegie Hall in 2023 and has received many awards throughout her career including the 2023 American Prize in Professional Piano Solo Performance. Park was also named as an honorary ambassador for nonprofit international organizations such as Food for the Hungry International, the Africa Future Foundation in South Korea, and Good Neighbors in the USA. Besides five CD recordings with the Pilgrim Ensemble and King’s Brass, Park released her piano solo album The Love and My Songs with her own arrangements. Currently serving Alabama Music Teachers Association as the President, Park is also an active member of the MTNA, ASCAP, and Asian Society of Music in New York.
PROGRAM
- Azalea (진달래꽃)........................................................Dongjin Kim (1913-2009) Soweol Kim, Lyrics
- May Arirang (메이 아리랑).............................................Wonjoo Lee (b.1979) Traditional
- Jeongseon Arari (정선 아라리)........................................Junhui Lim (b. 1959) Traditional
- Milyang Arirang (밀양 아리랑)........................................Kyuyoun Jin (b. 1967)Traditional
- Arirang (Korean Folk Song with Amazing Grace).............Arr. By Rachel K. Park (b.1981)
4:00 – 4:30PM
Creating a Stress-Free Studio: Balancing a Fulfilling life as a Private Teacher
Join performer, educator, and coach Laura Sinclair as we dive into the world of creating a dream teaching studio. During this session, we will explore aspects of studio design that embrace the needs of an artist’s lifestyle. Laura will share insights and tips on creating a functional and inspiring teaching studio that will enhance your students' learning experience without burning you out. Establishing a teaching studio can be daunting to any musician, particularly if you have the desire to balance a performance career. In this session, current and future educators will explore various contexts in which one could teach. We will discuss common pitfalls of studio development, studio structure, policies, and how to build community. Participants will receive resources and action steps they can implement immediately to increase their income, enjoy their teaching, and still have time to practice. Topics covered will include: Myths around teaching and performing; Intentional program design; Business systems; Attracting the right students. Through conscientious studio creation, educators can explore what kind of studio teaching model will light them up and help them to create a future of artistic and financial fulfillment. There is a teacher out there for every child, and this process allows us to create high-value offerings, while also building in opportunities for equitable access for all.
Laura Sinclair is an active performer and Suzuki teacher. She can be found on the concert stage with ensembles like the Naples Philharmonic, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, and Boca Symphonia, in the pit with National Broadway tours, and at private events with Elan Artists. A former Title I public school strings director, she is the music curriculum director for the Volta Foundation, providing educational training and support to their teachers and developing a diverse repertoire sequence. Laura firmly believes that music can be a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and building good citizens of the world. As a self-proclaimed Suzuki fanatic, Laura is registered through Book 10, in addition to many supplemental
courses in Pre-Twinkle, Group Class, Suzuki in the Schools, Spiccato, Priority Teaching, and Energy work. She blends high-level teaching with her interest in neuroscience and attachment parenting. She shares this with her vibrant home studio, and parents and teachers worldwide. As a studio owner, Laura is passionate about helping other teachers develop smart business practices and enjoys teaching to its fullest, through her signature program Stress-Free Studio. This bespoke program helps creatives take their teaching from idea to reality. You can hear her speak more about this on Tales from the Lane with Kate Kayaian, Time to Practice with Christine Goodner and Tech Conversations at FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator with guest host Neil Ramsey. Learn more at https://linktr.ee/lauraksinclair
Creating a Stress-Free Studio: Balancing a Fulfilling life as a Private Teacher
Join performer, educator, and coach Laura Sinclair as we dive into the world of creating a dream teaching studio. During this session, we will explore aspects of studio design that embrace the needs of an artist’s lifestyle. Laura will share insights and tips on creating a functional and inspiring teaching studio that will enhance your students' learning experience without burning you out. Establishing a teaching studio can be daunting to any musician, particularly if you have the desire to balance a performance career. In this session, current and future educators will explore various contexts in which one could teach. We will discuss common pitfalls of studio development, studio structure, policies, and how to build community. Participants will receive resources and action steps they can implement immediately to increase their income, enjoy their teaching, and still have time to practice. Topics covered will include: Myths around teaching and performing; Intentional program design; Business systems; Attracting the right students. Through conscientious studio creation, educators can explore what kind of studio teaching model will light them up and help them to create a future of artistic and financial fulfillment. There is a teacher out there for every child, and this process allows us to create high-value offerings, while also building in opportunities for equitable access for all.
Laura Sinclair is an active performer and Suzuki teacher. She can be found on the concert stage with ensembles like the Naples Philharmonic, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, and Boca Symphonia, in the pit with National Broadway tours, and at private events with Elan Artists. A former Title I public school strings director, she is the music curriculum director for the Volta Foundation, providing educational training and support to their teachers and developing a diverse repertoire sequence. Laura firmly believes that music can be a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and building good citizens of the world. As a self-proclaimed Suzuki fanatic, Laura is registered through Book 10, in addition to many supplemental
courses in Pre-Twinkle, Group Class, Suzuki in the Schools, Spiccato, Priority Teaching, and Energy work. She blends high-level teaching with her interest in neuroscience and attachment parenting. She shares this with her vibrant home studio, and parents and teachers worldwide. As a studio owner, Laura is passionate about helping other teachers develop smart business practices and enjoys teaching to its fullest, through her signature program Stress-Free Studio. This bespoke program helps creatives take their teaching from idea to reality. You can hear her speak more about this on Tales from the Lane with Kate Kayaian, Time to Practice with Christine Goodner and Tech Conversations at FIU's Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator with guest host Neil Ramsey. Learn more at https://linktr.ee/lauraksinclair