Calendar of Events 2026–27
CAMTA Meeting & Program (October 2026)
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
“Bach French Suites with Dr. Svetlana Belsky”
The French Suites are singular among Bach's works -- they were not written for either performance or publication, but as a gift to his young bride Anna Magdalena, as some combination of teaching aid and love letter. The music is filled with love and humor, as well as the grief of a recent widower. The emotional range of the Suites is astonishingly wide, from the tortured sonorities on Suite No. 1 in D minor to the unclouded joy of the ever-popular G Major Suite No. 5.
In our teaching and performance, therefore, we should strive to create an interpretation that is beautifully expressive – but within the bounds of historically informed performance practices. This talk will introduce the dances as they were understood by Bach and his contemporaries and suggest keyboard techniques to make them come to life. We will also discuss the changed understanding of rhythmic notation, dynamics, phrasing and articulation, as well as the various versions and editions.
Critically acclaimed as “a passionate pianist and scholar,” Svetlana Belsky is a highly regarded performer, noted for her remarkable rapport with audiences and stylistic versatility. Her recent albums, Into Darkness: Piano Music of 1910-1920 (Sheridan Music Studio, 2021) and Ferruccio Busoni: The Late Works (Ravello, 2019) were selected by Spotify for its Best New Releases list, and received rave reviews from Fanfare, American Record Guide, Whole Note Magazine, and others, and has been heard on radio stations around the world.
Born in Ukraine, Belsky received most of her education in the United States, first as a student of Emilio Del Rosario in Chicago, receiving her Bachelor’s (summa cum laude) and Master degrees at the Peabody Conservatory in the studio of Ann Schein and her Doctorate at the Manhattan School of Music with Nina Svetlanova. Dr. Belsky served as the Director of Piano Studies at the University of Chicago for fifteen years, and is in great demand as a lecturer, masterclass guest teacher, and competition adjudicator.
Read Dr. Belsky’s full biography here:
CAMTA Meeting & Program (November 2026) - Hybrid
9:00 a.m. Pre-Meeting Topic
ISMTA CAMTA AIM Program: Theory volunteers and Judges
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
10:45 a.m. Professional Development Program
Cacie Miller
“Introducing the 2027 Savler Competition Repertoire”
I will provide a short overview of each piece selected for this year's Robert Savler Contest, which has a theme of works by Beethoven, in commemoration of 200 years since the composer's death. Presentation will include playing examples, teaching suggestions, and with musical excerpts, teaching pointers.
BIOGRAPHY
From Cacie’s website: https://caciemiller.com/about/
Cacie Miller has relied on the sounds and repertoire of the piano to help her make sense of the world around her since a young age. She is drawn to compositions packed with colorful storytelling and especially those that seem to push through the edges of reality. She relishes these qualities in the music of time honored composers such as Beethoven, Liszt, Debussy and Bartok, and in contemporary composers such as Lera Auerbach and Reena Esmail. Sometimes Cacie improvises and composes on her instrument.
Cacie is a passionate chamber musician, and enjoys chamber parties, improv, and more formal arrangements. She is a founding member of the Ferrer Miller Duo and the Helia Trio.
Cacie’s musicianship was fostered by several teachers throughout her university studies. She studied piano with William Heiles, Rebecca Penneys, and Robert Glover, theory with Steve Laitz, and harpsichord with Charlotte Mattax Moersch. She holds degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (DMA in Performance and Literature), the Eastman School of Music (MA in theory pedagogy), Houghton University (MM in piano), and the University of Southern Maine (BM in piano). These studies informed Cacie’s playing and her own teaching through work on body/emotion integration at the piano, use of analytical practices to inform interpretive decisions, and practicing intentional listening to prepare communicative performances.
With hope of working toward sustainable cultural practices, Cacie has been actively working on the project Composing Our Climate, which began during her doctoral research. This project focuses on performer-driven commissioned chamber works written to work through emotional reckonings with the climate crisis. In Fall 2023, the first recital took place, with works by Shi-An Costello and Sam Sharp, two Chicago composers. In 2024-5, Cacie worked with Missing Piece to commission and present music by Scott Rubin, Alissa Voth and Ben Zucker.
Cacie enjoys making music in many places, at festivals in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico, and through the Chicago area, including Constellation, Elastic Arts, Fourth Presbyterian Church, the Nineteenth Century Club, PianoForte Studios, and several area churches, including United Lutheran Church, where she is director of music. Cacie is a member of New Music Chicago, Musicians Club of Women Chicago, and MTNA's CAMTA chapter.
Jazz Festival
The purpose of the Jazz Festival is to instill an appreciation of the jazz genre by exposing students to blues, boogie, ragtime, standards, and other jazz styles using composed pieces, original arrangements, and improvisation. This event provides an exciting opportunity for your student to perform and hear others play in the Jazz style. They will also hear a short program by outstanding professional jazz musicians.
AIM Theory Exams (Levels 3-12)
The Achievement in Music (AIM) examinations is a program of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) based on a syllabus revised in 2014.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (December 2026) - ZOOM
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Adam Schumaker, Director of Education, Gilmore Piano Festival
Money in Music: Building Financial Confidence Beyond the Studio
Whether you teach privately, perform, accompany, compose, or juggle multiple income streams, managing your finances can feel overwhelming. This practical session will explore simple systems for tracking income and expenses, preparing for tax season throughout the year, and creating a realistic budget that supports both your personal and professional goals. You'll leave with actionable tools and strategies to reduce financial stress, stay organized, and make informed financial decisions so you can spend more time focusing on what matters most—making music.
BIOGRAPHY
Adam Schumaker is the Director of Education at the Gilmore Piano Festival, where he leads educational programs and builds partnerships to expand access to music education across Southwest Michigan. With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit administration and strategic planning, Adam has successfully grown educational initiatives, secured significant funding, and developed community-focused programs. He also serves as a Visiting Professor of Music and Entrepreneurship at Kalamazoo College, where he teaches music theory, composition, and arts entrepreneurship. A W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow (Class 3), Adam is committed to fostering inclusive leadership and advancing nonprofit impact. He holds a Master of Music in Composition from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Principia College. Adam is also active in arts advocacy through board service, grant panel work, and thought leadership in nonprofit management.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (January 2027) - ZOOM
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Louie Hehman, Visiting Professor at the Conservatory of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)
“Introduction to Teaching Jazz”
Program Description Forthcoming
BIOGRAPHY
Louie Hehman is a Kentucky-born pianist and educator who specializes in both jazz and classical styles. He earned his D.M.A. at the University of South Carolina and is currently assistant professor of music at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. He has presented at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP); the MTNA National Conference; and the Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina Music Teachers Association state conferences. An active adjudicator, Hehman served as the 2019 Chair of the Young Jury for the Arthur Frasier International Piano Competition and has also adjudicated for the Louisville Orchestra's Young Artist Competition. Former students have been accepted to study at the South Carolina and Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS), Interlochen's summer camp, and advanced graduate study at the University of Louisville. He has served as president of the Greater Louisville Music Teachers Association (GLMTA).
In 2018, Hehman spent a summer studying in Vienna under acclaimed Schubert interpreter Hafez Babashahi; in the same year, he participated in the South Carolina premiere of Leonard Bernstein's MASS. Important teachers have included Charles Fugo, Kate Boyd, Meme Tunnell, and Bert Ligon; pedagogy mentors have included Sara Ernst, Scott Price, and Karen Thickstun. Hehman is a two-time recipient of the Steinway and Sons Top Teacher Award, and in 2021 he was awarded a gold medal in the Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition. In spring 2024, he released his debut solo EP, Daydreams, which has been featured on 90.5 WUOL and other classical music stations.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (February 2027) - ZOOM
9:00 a.m. Pre-Meeting
AIM Performance Volunteers and Judges’ Meeting
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Alex McDonald, Founding Director, McDonald Music Studios, Artistic Director, Basically Beethoven Music Festival
Program Details Forthcoming
BIOGRAPHY
Since his orchestral debut at age 11, pianist Alex McDonald has soloed with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Mexico, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the Utah Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has performed across the United States as well as in Israel, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and South Korea; additionally, he has been a featured performer on PBS, WRR, NPR, and WQXR. Awards and fellowships include second prize at the 2007 New Orleans International Piano Competition and second prize at the 2001 Gina Bachauer International Young Artist Piano Competition. In 2008, he was named a Harvey Fellow by the Mustard Seed Foundation. He was a participant in the 2013 Van Cliburn Competition. Active as a chamber musician, McDonald’s recent program "Music for Animals" (collaborating with Cathy Lysinger and Andrey Ponochevny) was hailed by Theater Jones as one of its "Concerts of the Year" for 2016.
Dr. McDonald is currently the festival director for Basically Beethoven, a thriving summer concert series in downtown Dallas’ Arts District. He has taught at Texas Woman’s University, Richland College as well as at the Juilliard School, where he also was a Teaching Fellow for both the Literature and Materials and Piano Minor departments. Additionally, his private piano students have been admitted to Juilliard and Eastman, and have performed at Carnegie's Weill Hall and on WRR. Texas Music Teacher’s Association recently awarded him the 2017 Outstanding Achievement Award in teaching. Deeply concerned about a healthy integration of life with music, he has actively pursued community formation both as an R.A. in the Juilliard residence hall and as president of Juilliard Christian Fellowship.
Dr. McDonald received his pre-college training under Lois Nielson, his bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory with Academic Honors and Distinction in Performance under Russell Sherman, and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Juilliard under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin. His doctoral document, a source study on manuscripts and editions for Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor, has been cited in the most recent edition of the sonata by Alfred Publishers, edited by Nancy Bricard.
Alex McDonald and his wife Rachel sometimes play chamber music together, and their artistic collaboration also includes a really cute little boy named Micah, who has his mother's eyes and his daddy's hair, and Ella Joy McDonald… who also has his mother’s eyes and his daddy’s hair.
AIM Performance Exams (Levels 1-12) & Theory Exams (Levels 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2)
The Achievement in Music (AIM) examinations is a program of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) based on a syllabus revised in 2014.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (March 2027) - HYBRID
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Dr. Michael Finlay Instructor of Piano at Depaul Community Music School and Interlochen Arts Camp
“No Finger Is an Island: An Integrated Approach to Piano Technique and Injury Prevention”
This session presents an integrated approach to piano technique that synthesizes elements from three influential traditions in modern pedagogy: the teaching of leading Canadian pedagogue Marc Durand; the Russian School (as described in the writings of Anna Artobolevskaya and Heinrich Neuhaus); and the Taubman Approach. Marc Durand emphasized the integration of the entire body for freedom and power at the piano, the Russian School stresses the use of the whole arm in the cultivation of a rich, singing tone, and the Taubman Approach provides precise tools for forearm, hand, and finger choreography at the keyboard. Together, they form a complete system of movement that flows from the center of the body to the fingertips. Participants will leave with a practical framework for developing a facile, adaptive technique in their students, a clear understanding of the root causes of playing-related back pain, shoulder tension, tendonitis, and nerve compression, and a troubleshooting guide matching specific injuries to their likely technical causes.
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Finlay is a distinguished concert pianist and chamber musician, and a recipient of The American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award. Acclaimed for his “profound expressive depth” and “impressive technical command”, he maintains an active international schedule with recent performances in Catania (Italy), Montreal, Toronto, Austin, San Antonio, Denver, and Atlanta. His concerts have been featured on classical radio stations in Austin, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Montreal.
A frequent concerto soloist, Finlay has appeared with the musicians of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, the Harper Symphony Orchestra, and Corda Harmonia. As a passionate chamber musician, he has collaborated with members of the Cleveland, Chicago, and Montreal Symphony Orchestras, as well as with artists from the Catalyst, Kontras, and Koerner quartets.
Upcoming projects include Pocket Concertos, his initiative to present major concertos in smaller spaces with chamber ensemble. This year he performed Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto in several chamber venues, and next year he is planning a special commission of Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto for string quintet and piano. He is also preparing a solo album featuring Liszt’s Sonata in B minor.
In addition to his performing career, Finlay is an active educator. He serves on the faculties of the Interlochen Arts Camp, DePaul University,North Park University, Northeastern Illinois University, and the Reinhardt Piano Festival and Academy. He is also co-founder of the North Park Piano Academy, an intensive summer program for young pianists that will debut in 2027.
Finlay is also an in-demand clinician and presenter, having shared his pedagogical work and artistic insights at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, Chapman University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He began his studies with Kathryn Mishell in Austin, Texas, and at age 15 left home to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy on full scholarship. He earned his Bachelor’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Paul Schenly, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Kathryn Brown; a Master’s at the Peabody Conservatory with Yong Hi Moon; and a Doctorate at the University of Montreal under Marc Durand.
Browning Performathon
Students performing will be sharing their talent, dedication and enthusiasm to raise funds for the MTNA Foundation in honor of William Browning, revered Chicago pianist and teacher.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (April 2027) - HYBRID
9:00 a.m. AIM PREMEETING
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
Slate of Board officer candidates announced
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Kate Boyd, Professor of Music, Butler University
“The Piano Works of Fanny Mendelssohn: A Journey Through Her Musical Legacy”
In this session, you will learn about the life and piano compositions of Fanny Hensel, who was long overshadowed by her brother, Felix Mendelssohn.
This session includes an introduction to Hensel’s artistic life, examining the historical and societal constraints that limited her participation in public musical life.
Attendees will learn about Hensel's most significant piano pieces, with a focus on shorter works suitable for intermediate and upper-intermediate students. The session will conclude with a brief introduction to her cycle "Das Jahr," which was first discovered in 1989 and has emerged as a major solo piano work of the 19th century.
BIOGRAPHY
Pianist Kate Boyd is a recital soloist, chamber musician, and educator whose concerts and presentations have taken her throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia, including New York’s Carnegie Hall. She performs repertoire ranging from the 17th to the 21st century, with a particular commitment to works by women composers and new music.
Boyd’s recordings include John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano, and Music for the End of Winter, featuring premiere recordings of solo piano works by American composers. Her third recording, of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel's Das Jahr, will be released in the spring of 2027.
Boyd has given lectures and workshops at state, regional, national, and international conferences, including the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, the MTNA National Conference, the European Piano Teachers Association Conference, and the International John Cage Conference in Malaysia. She frequently presents masterclasses for teacher organizations and universities, working with students of all ages.
Boyd serves as Professor of Piano at Butler University in Indianapolis, where she received the 2017 Outstanding Professor of the Year award. She was named 2019 Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Music Teachers Association, and she taught for eleven summers at the internationally renowned Interlochen Arts Camp in northern Michigan. Earlier this summer, she was on the faculty of the inaugural Chroma International Music Festival in Miskolc, Hungary. Her educational YouTube channel, “The Piano Prof,” reaches more than 38,000 subscribers worldwide.
Savler Piano Contest
The Savler Contest is an annual piano contest that attracts students from the greater Chicago area who compete for trophies and a performance opportunity.
Savler Winners Recital
The Savler Contest is an annual piano contest that attracts students from the greater Chicago area who compete for trophies and a performance opportunity.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (May 2027) - HYBRID
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
New Board officers announced
Election for Member of the Year
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Nick Phillips, Professor of Piano, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
"Norwegian Romantic: The Piano Music of Agathe Grøndahl”
Agathe Grøndahl (1847-1907) was a concert pianist and prolific composer of works for piano. She wrote in many of the popular genres of the Romantic era – etudes, fantasy pieces, character pieces, and works that drew on Norwegian folk music. This presentation will introduce many wonderful intermediate and early-advanced level works that teachers and their students will enjoy learning.
BIOGRAPHY
Described by the New York Times as a “talented and entrepreneurial pianist” and an “able and persuasive advocate” of new music, Nicholas Phillips’ playing has been praised for its “bejeweled accuracy” (Fanfare) and as “razor-sharp yet wonderfully spirited” (American Records Guide). He is active as a soloist and collaborative artist, having performed all across the United States. He has also given solo recitals and performances in Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.
Phillips has given lecture-recitals and presentations at conferences in the U.S., Argentina, Croatia, England, Finland, South Africa, and South Korea. He is the author of “Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words Revisited: Culture, Gender, Literature, and the Role of Domestic Piano Music in Victorian England,” published by VDM Verlag. In 2011 he released two CDs on Albany Records; Portals and Passages, which features the piano music of American composer Ethan Wickman, and Boris Papandopulo: Piano Music. Recent releases include American Vernacular: New Music for Solo Piano (New Focus Recordings, 2014), featuring commissioned works written for him on that theme by 10 American composers, and Impressions (Blue Griffin Records, 2016), a collection of 21st century character pieces by living American composers. His newest release, Shift (Panoramic Recordings, 2019), features world premiere recordings of works by eight living women composers.
He holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Phillips is a Yamaha Artist. For more information, please visit www.nicholasphillips.net.
Composition Festival - Forum and Recital
This festival is to encourage students to write their own music and enjoy the creative process including the opportunity for a forum and public performance.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (September) HYBRID
9:00 a.m. Pre-Program Topic
ISMTA CAMTA AIM Program: Introduction to AIM
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Cristina Capparelli Gerling, Professor of Music, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
“Memorization for music performance: The importance of conceptual memory”
Soloists in the Western art music tradition often perform from memory, yet the possibility of memory failure is always present. Can memorization processes be taught and systematically implemented? Can psychology provide a foundation for developing effective memorization strategies? Or is talent the only prerequisite for successful memorization?
This presentation examines different approaches to musical memorization and introduces a protocol through which memorization processes can be structured and adapted to the individual needs of musicians, regardless of their level of development. By drawing on psychological research, the presentation proposes practical strategies for making memorization more reliable, systematic, and effective.
BIOGRAPHY
Cristina Capparelli Gerling has built an international reputation as a pianist whose artistry is inseparable from a lifelong commitment to scholarship and pedagogy. Known for performances that combine expressive refinement, structural clarity, and deep stylistic insight, she has become one of Brazil’s most respected interpreters and advocates of Latin American piano repertoire. Her career reflects more than five decades of concert activity across the Americas and Europe, an influential body of research, and a distinguished record as an educator and mentor.
Gerling’s early musical formation took place in Porto Alegre under the guidance of Isabel Mourão, Daisy de Lucca, Dirce Knijnik, and Benedicta Fritz—teachers who shaped the technical foundation and disciplined musicianship that continue to inform her interpretations. Awarded a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory, she studied piano with Victor Rosenbaum, engaged deeply with chamber music under the coaching of Benjamin Zander, Patricia Zander, Eric Rosenblith, and Larry Lesser, and completed her Master of Music degree with honors. She later earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University, studying with Béla Nagy through a Fulbright scholarship that marked the first of several awarded to her throughout her career.
Equally at home as soloist, chamber musician, recitalist, and guest teacher, Gerling has appeared in festivals, concert halls, and universities throughout Brazil, the United States, Canada, England, Germany, France, and Portugal. She co-founded the Trio Panamericano with violinist Fredi Gerling and cellist Mark Churchill, an ensemble dedicated to promoting chamber repertoire of the Americas. Her collaborations have brought her into close contact with leading composers and performers, with many works dedicated to or premiered by her.
Gerling’s discography documents her commitment to the piano literature of Brazil and Latin America. Her recordings include the solo piano works of Bruno Kiefer; the complete works of Camargo Guarnieri for cello and piano with Tania Lisboa (Meridian Records); music by Alda Oliveira and Jamary Oliveira; Wagner Cunha’s Mahavidas with Ney Fialkow; and selected works of Ney Rosauro with percussionist David Johnson. She has also contributed performances of two Sonatinas and the monumental Piano Sonata by Guarnieri to a collaborative UFRGS faculty recording. Her recent Sonatina Project, recognized with the 2022 TeMA Prize from Brazil’s Association for Theory and Musical Analysis, highlights her continuing leadership in performance-based research.
A prizewinner of the Anne and Aaron Richmond Piano Competition, Gerling has served as Professor of Music at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) since 1985. She played a central role in establishing the university’s respected Graduate Program in Music, fostering an environment in which performance, analysis, and research coexist as complementary modes of inquiry. Her former students—now active as performers, scholars, and educators—hold positions across Brazil and internationally, reflecting her profound impact on multiple generations of musicians.
Cristina Capparelli Gerling continues to perform, record, publish, and lecture widely, contributing significantly to the evolving understanding of Latin American piano literature and to the broadening of performance studies in Brazil and beyond.
Composition Festival - Forum and Recital
This festival is to encourage students to write their own music and enjoy the creative process including the opportunity for a forum and public performance.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (May 2026) - HYBRID
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
New Board officers announced
Election for Member of the Year
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Alexander Wasserman, Associate Professor of Music, Reinhardt University
"I Played it Perfectly at Home... Or did I?" Aligning Expectations with Results in Performance
This presentation equips pianists of all levels with strategies to accurately predict concert-stage performance. Self-assessment techniques will be discussed to align expectations with results, thus mitigating performance anxiety, optimizing practice efficiency, and boosting confidence and artistry.
BIOGRAPHY
Described as a "pianist of real firework" - (Giorgio Koukl, EarRelevant), Dr. Alexander
Wasserman enjoys a distinguished career on both the concert stage and in the teaching studio.
Recent solo recitals include concerts in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, and other cultural
centers throughout the United States.
As a concerto soloist, Dr. Wasserman has appeared with the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra,
Thousand Oaks Philharmonic (CA), the New Valley Symphony (CA), the Suburban Symphony
(OH), The Santa Barbara Choral Society and Orchestra (CA), The DeKalb Symphony (GA), The
Rome Symphony (GA), The Reinhardt Symphony (GA), The Atlanta Community Symphony
Orchestra, and the Parma Symphony (OH) in concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt,
Grieg, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky.
As a chamber musician, he frequently collaborates with members of the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and
others. Recent chamber music engagements include performances on the Atlanta Symphony
“Pre-Concert Chamber Music Series” at Atlanta Symphony Hall. He is also a regular performer
at Festival Mozaic, in San Luis Obispo, California. His CD of solo and chamber French music,
in collaboration with Atlanta Symphony principal oboist, Elizabeth Tiscione, and St. Paul
Chamber Orchestra principal bassoonist, Andrew Brady, was released on Centaur Records in
2023. Andrew Desaderio of Fanfare Magazine writes: “Pianist Alexander Wasserman gives a
beautiful performance of the original Sonatine, with keen attention to Ravel’s elegantly veiled
classicism…has remarkable balance and precision that illuminates Ravel’s shimmering
harmonies and textural shadings. Wasserman’s playing sounds effortless and graceful.”
Equally dedicated to the education of emerging talent, Dr. Wasserman is Assistant Professor of
Piano at Reinhardt University (GA). He also served as Professor of Piano at Youngstown State
University (OH) shortly before moving to Atlanta. In addition, he serves as Founder and Artistic
Director of the Reinhardt Piano Festival and Academy – an intensive one-week summer piano
festival held at Reinhardt University. Dr. Wasserman also maintains a private piano studio; his
students have been prize winners in the GMEA All-State Competition, GMTA Romantic and
Impressionistic Competition, GMTA Piano Competition, MTNA Competition, Nashville
International Piano Competition, Rising Stars Competition, Osaka International Competition,
Emory Young Artists Competition, Kennesaw State University Young Artists Competition,
Rome Symphony Concerto Competition, Atlanta Community Symphony Concerto Competition,
and more. He frequently serves as a judge of national and international piano competitions.
Alexander Wasserman, a native of Los Angeles, began formal piano studies with Suzanne Julian.
He went on to receive degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Southern
California’s Thornton School of Music (BM), the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM), and the
Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University (GPD). He completed his Doctor of Musical
Arts program in Piano Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2011. His primary
teachers include Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Yong-Hi Moon, Daniel Shapiro, and Antoinette Perry.
Additional study with Paul Schenly and Sergei Babayan has also been of tremendous influence.
Dr. Wasserman currently resides in Marietta, GA with his wife, Jessica Oudin, a member of the
Atlanta Symphony viola section, and their son, Bradley.
Alexander Wasserman is a Shigeru Kawai Artist.
Savler Winners Recital
The Savler Contest is an annual piano contest that attracts students from the greater Chicago area who compete for trophies and a performance opportunity.
Savler Piano Contest
The Savler Contest is an annual piano contest that attracts students from the greater Chicago area who compete for trophies and a performance opportunity.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (April 2026) - HYBRID
9:00 a.m. CAMTA PREMEETING
Aubrey Faith-Slaker & Emi Murata, CAMTA Members
The April pre meeting will feature technology. Do you have a friend in France and would like to talk to them on the phone? WhatsApp will do this free of charge. Discussion of WhatsApp at the meeting and help if you would like to put this App on your phone.
Would you like to give a presentation and need more information on how to use pictures, videos and PowerPoint in a talk? This will be the main part of the pre meeting presentation.
Consider the topic you would like to present and questions adding pictures/videos/PowerPoint to make a seamless presentation. Ahead of the meeting work in PowerPoint and uploading pictures/videos.
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
Slate of Board officer candidates announced
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Michael Fritsch, Pianist/Teacher
“The Impressionistic Piano Works of Charles T. Griffes”
Charles Tomlinson (1884-1920) is recognized as one of the most brilliant composers of the turn of the 19th century. His earlier works were influenced by German Romanticism. His second period was highly influenced by the French Impressionist composers and by Russian composers. His third period style was more severe, as one sees in the magnificent Sonata for piano, written from 1917 to 1919.
This presentation concerns itself with the Three Tone Pictures, Op. 5, Fantasy Pieces, Op. 6, and Roman Sketches, Op. 7, all influenced by Impressionism, but all in Griffes' distinctive voice. Much of the music will be performed. Emphasis will be place on the features that create the composer's individual style. and on approaches to teaching this repertoire.
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Fritsch received degrees in piano performance from Wheaton College, the University of Cincinnati, and from Northwestern University, from which he was awarded the Doctor of Music degree. At Northwestern he was a piano student of Donald Isaak and a pedagogy student of Frances Larimer. At Northwestern he was elected to the music honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda.
In addition to being an independent music teacher, Dr. Fritsch has taught piano and music theory at Wheaton College, and private and class piano at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. He has given presntations on the piano music of Clementi, MacDowell, Mozart, and Griffes for numerous local associations of ISMTA, and is past president of West Suburban Music Teachers' Association He is frequently called upon to be an ajudicator for contests.
A long-time church musician, Dr. Fritsch has been organist, choir director, or pianist at several churches. He is currently organist/pianist at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove.
Dr. Fritsch and his wife, Janis reside in Wheaton with their very active Border Collie, Andy.
Browning Performathon
Students performing will be sharing their talent, dedication and enthusiasm to raise funds for the MTNA Foundation in honor of William Browning, revered Chicago pianist and teacher.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (March 2026) - HYBRID
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Frank Huang, Associate Professor of Piano, Miami University (Ohio)
“Rediscovering Nikolai Medtner: A Forgotten Master of Russian Romanticism”
Nikolai Medtner was a prolific composer for the piano, writing an astounding nine albums’ worth of music for the instrument. Despite this significant contribution, the Russian Romantic composer remains virtually unknown to the public. In this lecture-recital, I will explore why Medtner’s music has been forgotten, share selections from my recording project of his complete solo piano works, and introduce teaching pieces suitable for students.
BIOGRAPHY
Frank Huang is a Steinway Artist and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Piano at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Previously, he was a faculty member at The College of Wooster and The Cleveland Institute of Music.
Described by New York Concert Review as a “thoughtful and accomplished performer” and that his playing was “impressive for its maturity and refinement,” Mr. Huang has gained international recognition for his artistry and technical command. Others have also acknowledged his talents, as the Chopin Foundation of the United States, Northwest Chapter has commented that “Huang plays with authority and panache” while El Comerico of Lima, Peru praised his interpretation of Mozart’s Piano Concerto, K.482 “with the utmost sensitivity.” Mr. Huang’s performances have led him throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Such notable venues include Weill Hall, Carnegie Hall, Benaroya Hall (Seattle), US Embassy in Warsaw, Zelazowa Wola (Warsaw), Gijon International Piano Festival (Spain), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Holland Music Sessions, Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Dame Myra Recital Series at Chicago’s Cultural Center, Lincoln Center in New York, and St. Martin in the Fields, London, UK. Mr. Huang’s concerts have also been featured on radio and television broadcasts in various cities across the United States and Europe. An avid chamber musician, he has collaborated with eminent artists such as Cho-Liang Lin, Ben Hong--as well as members of the Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in recitals.
Huang’s creative interests consist of promoting lesser-known works and music of our time. To that end, Huang is currently recording the complete solo piano works of the neglected Russian Romantic composer, Nikolai Medtner. He released the second installment of the nine-disc project in February 2025. His previous Medtner albums were met with positive reviews as Gramophone described that “Huang and Medtner are made for one another” and that “Huang can hold his own next to Marc-André Hamelin.”
Other albums can be found on the Centaur Records, Nimbus Alliance, and Blue Griffin labels that include a chamber music disc featuring living women composers, an all-Brahms solo CD, and works by Jack Gallagher. These discs have received rave reviews as critics have described Huang’s performances as “thrilling” (The Classical Reviewer) and that “Huang deserves kudos for his sparkling and sensitive playing, and that better performances of these works would be well-nigh impossible to come by.” (Fanfare) Huang has also performed and recorded music of Mark Applebaum, Augusta Read Thomas, Lera Auerbach, and Jennifer Higdon. Recently, he has been performing Frederic Rzewski’s monumental work, “The People United Will Never be Defeated!” in recitals.
Equally dedicated as a music educator, Dr. Huang feels privileged to share his knowledge with students who are passionate about music. At Miami University, he teaches piano, chamber music, and various literature courses. He is also committed to continuing education and has contributed guest articles to UK’s popular magazines: Pianist, Gramophone, and International Piano. He has also produced tutorial videos for G. Henle Verlag’s Urtext Score Reader app.
A native of Seattle, WA, Frank Huang studied extensively with Willard Schultz at the Academy of Music Northwest before obtaining Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, where he continued his studies with Julian Martin. Following his training at Juilliard, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The Cleveland Institute of Music under the direction of Antonio Pompa-Baldi.
AIM Performance Exams (Levels 1-12) & Theory Exams (Levels 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2)
The Achievement in Music (AIM) examinations is a program of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) based on a syllabus revised in 2014.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (February 2026) - ZOOM
9:00 a.m. Pre-Meeting
AIM Performance Volunteers and Judges’ Meeting
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Tina Chong, Associate Professor of Music, San Diego State University
“Inclusive Keyboard Design”
In piano product design, the female body is severely underserved. The key size of the piano was standardized to fit large (male) hands, and as a result, the experience of being a woman pianist centers around avoiding injury. My presentation aims to address this inequity through a look at inclusive keyboard design and a fundamental shift in interpreting the written score.
BIOGRAPHY
Hailed as “… a deity of elegance” by the New Brunswick Beacon, Dr. Tina Chong is an international award-winning pianist and teaching artist. A native of Banff, Canada, Tina has been described as, “…mature and yet fresh, imbued with tradition and yet inhabited by individuality, the marks of an artist” (The Herald Times).
She currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at San Diego State University. Tina’s recital career has brought her to such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and Sala Chopin in Mexico City. She has been featured in La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest, the Portland International Summer Festival, and the WFMT Series of Chicago. Under the management of Jeunesses Musicales of Canada, Tina has gone on extensive concert tours throughout Canada. She is the prizewinner of several international competitions, including the Montreal International Musical Competition and the Jacques Klein Piano Competition in Brazil.
An artist of great versatility, Tina performs regularly in a wide range of genres such as classical, pop, Broadway, and film music with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Her chamber music collaborations have included performances with Rachel Barton Pine, Inon Barnaton, Anthony McGill, Stefan Jackiw, and Tyler Duncan. She is an active clinician throughout North America, giving frequent guest lectures, masterclasses, and adjudications. This breadth of creative activity continues to inspire Tina’s engagement and cross-pollination with a wide community of musicians and audiences.
Tina earned her Doctor of Music degree at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music with a major in piano performance and minors in music education and historical performance practice. Her mentors were Arnaldo Cohen and Elisabeth Wright. Tina is also a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she studied with Angela Cheng. Tina is a Yamaha artist.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (January 2026) - ZOOM
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Tian Tian, Associate Professor of Music
“Technique Development Through Scales and Arpeggios”
Scales and arpeggios are fundamental and essential to a pianist’s technical development. Passageworks can be “categorized” as either scales that contain adjacent movement or arpeggios that require positions changes. This lecture will focus on patterns, explain challenges that they present, and discuss ways to solve them.
BIOGRAPHY
Pianist Tian Tian began her training at the age of four in her native China. Upon arriving in the United States, she quickly began amassing top prizes at national and international competitions. She received degrees from the Juilliard School and Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of renowned pedagogues such as Robert McDonald, Nelita True and Logan Skelton. Tian has presented solo concerts across the US, Canada and China. She has also appeared in music festivals such as Piano Texas, the Gilmore Festival, and Summer Courses with Arie Vardi (Germany). An avid chamber musician, Tian has performed with the Juilliard Quartet, Imani Winds and toured in the US, China, and Korea as a member of the Studzinsky Trio. Tian currently serves on the faculty of Oakland University as Associate Professor of Piano and Area Coordinator. Her in depth analysis of technique and charismatic teaching style have made her a frequent guest speaker at numerous teachers’ groups and earned her the title of Honorary Professor at ten different universities in China.
CAMTA Meeting & Program (December 2025) - ZOOM
10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Derek Kealii Polischuk, Professor of Piano and Director of Piano Pedagogy, Michigan State University
"The Sound of Understanding: Piano Teaching and Neurodivergent Brilliance"
The Sound of Understanding explores the transformative potential of piano teaching for students with autism, drawing on real-world experiences and research-based strategies. Dr. Derek Polischuk shares insights from his work with neurodivergent pianists, illustrating how musical instruction can become a vehicle for connection, self-expression, and growth. This session offers practical tools for piano teachers seeking to create inclusive, responsive studios where students with autism can thrive. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of autism, an appreciation for diverse ways of learning and communicating, and new approaches to teaching that honor the individuality of every pianist.
BIOGRAPHY
Derek Kealii Polischuk is professor of piano and director of piano pedagogy at the Michigan State University College of Music. Originally from San Diego, Polischuk studied with Krzysztof Brzuza before attending the University of Southern California, where he received the Doctor of Music Arts degree in Piano Performance with distinction under the tutelage of Daniel Pollack.
Polischuk’s 2013 solo piano recording “Terra Incognita” for the Blue Griffin label has received international critical acclaim. Colin Clark of Fanfare Magazine wrote, “The Schubert receives an excellent performance from Polischuk. Shadings are perfectly judged, and Schubert’s sense of timelessness is superbly judged, finding the pianist testing the boundaries of what constitutes too much without actually transgressing. The playful F-Minor offers pure joy.” Lawrence Consentino wrote, “Polischuk hits every chord with a sweet weight. Every now and then, a set of notes tumbles down like flecks of snow breezed from a crow’s nest, with no evident human touch. With a warm but not ingratiating touch, he lets the music resound as if it were coming from inside your mind… ‘Terra Incognita’ is a thought-provoking mix of sensual pleasure and deep reflection.” Of Polischuk’s recording “Latin American Music for 2 Pianos” with pianist Sarkis Baltaian, James Harrington of American Record Guide wrote, “I cannot imagine anyone listening to this and not being drawn in.”
An enthusiastic supporter of the education of musicians at every age, ability and background, Polischuk has been a clinician at conferences around the world, including the Music Teachers National Association, the National Group Piano and Pedagogy Conference, the Multidisciplinary Research in Music Pedagogy Conference, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, the DOCTRID Conference in Ireland, the ABLE Assembly at Berklee College, and at universities and conservatories across China. Polischuk serves on the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy’s Committee for Teaching Students with Special Needs, the Advisory Board of the Orange County School of the Arts Pianist Program, the Board of Directors of the San Diego Musical Merit Foundation, and is President of the Michigan Music Teachers Association.
Polischuk is a founder and director of the “Celebrating the Spectrum” Piano Festival for advanced pianists on the Autism Spectrum. Polischuk’s book “Transformational Piano Teaching,” described by Dr. Alice M. Hammel of James Madison University as “a world of piano pedagogy where anyone and everyone is welcome and included in the art and joy of playing the piano” and Stewart Gordon of the University of Southern California as “a landmark in the field of piano pedagogy” is available from Oxford University Press. At Michigan State University, Polischuk has been the recipient of the Curricular Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Award, the MSU College of Music Excellence in Diversity Award, and the Teacher-Scholar Award, given in recognition of exceptional skill in teaching.
AIM Theory Exams (Levels 3-12)
The Achievement in Music (AIM) examinations is a program of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) based on a syllabus revised in 2014.