About CAMTA

WHO WE ARE

If you are an independent music teacher in Chicago, then the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association (CAMTA) is for you!

CAMTA exists to serve the needs of independent music teachers of all instruments, their students, and parents in the Chicagoland area. Our organization aims to promote high standards of teaching, performance, and professionalism in the music community.

CAMTA is a direct descendant of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), which was founded in 1876. CAMTA is also an affiliate of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA).

We run a private group on Facebook that members are welcome to join. Check it out often for the latest news regarding CAMTA events and other things! Contact an admin to request to join (your CAMTA membership must be current).

Also, we now have a CAMTA Programs YouTube channel where members can rewatch or catch up on presentations. Please stay tuned as an announcement will be made in our Newsletter as well as our Facebook group.

Join us for our members’ meetings, held on the 2nd Friday of every month (September through June). This year, meetings will be held at PianoForte Chicago, except for September, December, January, February, and March, which will be held over Zoom. The Zoom meeting ID number and passcodes are published in the CAMTA Newsletters and on the CAMTA private group on Facebook. We hope to see you there!

 2026 CAMTA MEMBERS OF THE YEAR

Ellena Chen & Karen Szczech

Ellena Chen

Ellena Chen, NCTM, has been teaching piano for over 30 years and joined CAMTA in 2002 when she moved to Chicago. Over the years, she has served as publicity chair, membership chair, and hospitality chair, as well as serving in various committees—AIM committee, professional development grant committee, advertising approval committee, website committee, financial audit committee, and by-law revision committee. Her students have participated in CAMTA AIM and Sonata-Sonatina Festivals. Ellena is always inspired by CAMTA teachers for their passion and love for teaching. She is very proud to be a CAMTA member!

Karen Szczech

Karen Szczech is a violinist, active performer, and educator in the Chicago area. She joined CAMTA in 2024 and has been serving as Publicity Chair, overseeing email announcements, the closed/member-only CAMTA Facebook group, and expanding CAMTA’s social media presence through a public Facebook page. She also created and organized the CAMTA Summer Chamber Music Event in 2025. Since joining CAMTA, Karen has come to appreciate what a wonderful resource the organization is for music teachers throughout the Chicago area.

In Memoriam:

Hannah Voigt, August 14, 1937 - March 7, 2025

Laura Voigt, Hannah's daughter, asked me to share this sad news with you.  Hannah was loved by so many and she especially loved CAMTA.  In 2021 she was awarded ISMTA Teacher of the Year.  Here is her bio as it appeared in the 2021 ISMTA conference booklet:

Hannah Voigt, keyboard collaborator, vocal coach, and organist teaches piano in River Forest, Illinois.  She holds a B.S. from Crane and an M.M. from Eastman, subsequently serving on the faculties of both schools upon graduation.  She also spent a summer in France studying with Nadia Boulanger, and Robert and Jean Casadesus.  In Chicago after 1963, Hannah joined the CSO Chorus where she was selected by Margaret Hillis to teach theory to her singers.  At piano pedagogy workshops fellow teachers introduced her to Chicago Area Music Teachers Association, its monthly programs, and its "Syllabus" examinations. She has been a promoter of Syllabus ever since, not only serving for decades as its coordinator for CAMTA but contributing to the replacement of the old "Syllabus" curriculum with the new "Achievement in Music" program.  She created many of the harmonizations in the current curriculum.  Most of her students are graduates of the AIM program.

A Little ABOUT Our Past

Contact US

Interested in learning more about CAMTA?

Visit our How to Join CAMTA page, or fill out the form to contact Membership Chair, Alessandra Odazaki Rodriguez.