We are enjoying many accomplishments in our 25th anniversary year! We are very proud of receiving the MTNA Achievement Award, and enjoyed a successful convention meeting new teachers and coordinators who are eager to join us in reaching promising students in need through MusicLink.

How far have we come with our list of goals to reach in our Silver Anniversary year? This issue of eLINK shares our accomplishments thus far. Join in the celebration!

MTNA Awards the 2017 Achievement
Award to the MusicLink Foundation

Andrea Shore, Sue Wege,
Joanne (holding award) and William Haroutounian


Andrea Shore and Peggy Newhall
at MusicLink Foundation Booth

We had a glorious presence at the 2017 MTNA Convention in Baltimore, MD. Our MusicLink Foundation booth was festooned with silver balloons and had a constant stream of teachers interested in either teaching or serving as a coordinator for the organization. We were pleased to add a number of Canadian teachers and coordinators to the roster. We enjoyed a breakfast with MusicLink teachers from across the country who shared their experiences.

We were especially proud to be awarded the 2017 MTNA Achievement Award at its awards brunch on March 29th. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to music and music teaching. The MusicLink Foundation is only the second organization to receive this award in its 27 year history.

In a letter from Executive Director, Gary L. Ingle, he notes that "it was obvious to me that MusicLink was one of the most important programs in music teaching. The partnership we forged between MTNA and MusicLink to expand its influence nationally was exactly right at the time. It has been such a pleasure to watch the program grow under your vision and leadership and to see it benefit thousands of at-risk and needy children across the country."

MusicLink Breakfast at MTNA

Silver Anniversary Campaign

Our initial goal of raising $25,000 in online donations easily overflowed to $50,000 by the end of January 2017. The MusicLink Board of Directors chose to continue the campaign through the calendar year with a goal to reach $100,000. We currently have a total of $62,000. You can contribute to our Silver Anniversary Campaign online (www.musiclinkfoundation.org) or through a check mailed to MusicLink Foundation, 1043 N. McKinley Rd., Arlington, VA. 22205. JOIN US!

Great Non Profits Awards MusicLink
Foundation a 2017 Top-Rated Status

Volunteer. Donate. Review.

Our thanks to those who helped us reach our goal of 25 five-star reviews on www.greatnonprofits.org. Here is a review by Lillie Imm, a young MusicLink Ambassador who is pictured with Sue Wege, our National Director of Coordinators. Do look over all of the wonderful reviews we have received and write your own! JOIN US!

Since a very young age, I have loved to sing. I have had many wonderful private instructors throughout my years of lessons. When looking back at the lessons I've learned, I realize that the value isn't just the actual vocal, piano or guitar lessons I've learned. It's the life lessons. Through my years of studying music privately, I have learned goal-setting, perseverance, self-discipline, problem solving, math and reading skills and much more. These lessons are invaluable. Through the MusicLink Foundation, thousands of children have been able to take private lessons. They are creating more than musicians one student at a time. They are creating well-rounded and successful young adults. As a Minnesota MusicLink Ambassador, I am honored to be part of an organization that makes a difference in children's lives every day. Thank you MusicLink Foundation for letting me be a part of your organization and for being dedicated to enriching the lives of your students.

Our 25th MusicLink student in
our Silver Anniversary Year

Rose Ake Modesto, pictured here with her piano teacher, Amy Vanacore, was the 25th student registered for MusicLink in 2017, MusicLink's 25th anniversary year! Rose is a seventh grader in Portland, Oregon. Rose received a special 25th anniversary MusicLink tote bag, pin, and a $50 Visa gift card.

If you are a teacher already teaching a student at a reduced rate (50% or less of normal fee) but haven't registered this student, you could be the 25th new teacher in 2017 to receive a group of pedagogy books by Joanne Haroutounian, MusicLink Foundation's Executive Director. So sign up the student online here:

MusicLink Student Performs
at NY Senator's Inauguration

Julie Wegener, Marisol Alcantara,
Anmy Paulino Collado, and her mom

Anmy Paulino Collado, age 10, piano student of Julie Wegener, performed at the inauguration of New York State Senator Marisol Alcantara on February 5, 2017 at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

Anmy has been a ML student since age 8, after writing a personal email to the MusicLink Foundation, inquiring about free piano lessons.

"Anmy's sweet, delightful personality jumped right out of her email and I knew immediately that I would happily accept her as my student," states Julie Wegener, ML coordinator for NYC (Manhattan). Julie's friend spoke by phone with Anmy's mother in Spanish to make the arrangements and in just a little over a week, Anmy had her first piano lesson.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Anmy moved to NYC at age 18 months, where she lives with her mother and attends 5th grade.

Legacy Partners and Camp Sponsors

Legacy Partners Joanne and William Haroutounian

If you are seeking a way to personally establish a lasting contribution to the MusicLink Foundation, consider becoming a MusicLink Legacy Partner or Camp Sponsor. Legacy Partners provide ongoing support to the organization through annual contributions of $5,000 (Bravo) or $10,000 or more (Encore). Read about the Haroutounians on our home page, www.musiclinkfoundation.org. If interested in joining us as a Legacy Partner, sign up on www.FundMusicLink.com.

Our Camp Sponsorship program provides a way to personally support a specific MusicLink student or group of students with a designated donation of $250 or more. The MusicLink Foundation will provide the name of the student and camp that he/she will attend to personalize the donation. Donors should specify Music Camp Sponsorship Program when they contribute online or with a check in the mail. For details, refer to www.FundMusicLink.com.

Individuals who wish to sponsor one of our more advanced students may wish to make a contribution of $1,000 or more to help these students attend the more prestigious camp programs that last for multiple weeks and can often cost $5,000 or more. Contact the national office at 703-534-9490 or info@musiclinkfoundation.org.

New MusicLink Teachers

Eighteen new MusicLink Teachers have joined in 2017. The names below include six teachers from 2016 who were not featured in an eLINK:

AR: Donayle Cardenas; CA: Kirsten Hoeft; FL: Mysti Dye, Stephanie Selph; KS: Judith Naillon; MD: Sylvie Beaudoin; ME: Jacqueline Savage; MN: Lindsey Bordner, Angela Kaso; OH: John C Carpenter, Suzanne Carpenter; OK: Kristin Denker, Cheryl Layfield; OR: Sarah Barker Ball, Rebecca Bogardus, Tamara Gebhardt, Mary Ann Guenther, Nancy Stone, Jeremy Waterman; RI: Phoebe Madden, Marilyn Rollo; SK: Lisa Frederick; TX: Lorena Gonzalez Brougher, Sharon Burkett.

MusicLink Business Partners:
Making Progress Toward our Goal

Nora Martin
(Southeast MusicLink Regional Coordinator)
with Don and Sam Bennet of PianoWorks (GA)

The MusicLink Foundation set a goal of adding 25 new business partners to our roster during 2017. Thus far we have added 10 new businesses who assist in offering discount instruments, music and lessons as well as supporting fund-raising efforts.

These businesses truly make a difference by working with teachers in their community to extend MusicLink opportunities to students in need. Welcome to our new business partners:

PianoWorks (GA); Epstein & Co. (MA); Strata Piano (MI); Jordan Kitts (GA, MD); Inspiration Performing Arts Center (MN-Alliance Partner); Chamber Music Northwest (OR); One Eye Publications (Ontario); Curious Piano Teachers (London); Music Teachers Helper (National internet).

MusicLink Fund-Raising Events
Raise over $12,000 and
Showcase Student Performances

We are pleased to see our Playathons, Promise to Practice events and benefit concerts growing across the country thanks to teachers and organizations inspired by our eLINK newsletters and the MusicLink Foundation’s mission. If you are curious about what you can do to bring a fundraiser to your community or studio, refer to www.FundMusicLink.com.

OK: On January 21st, the SAI Oklahoma City chapter (Alpha Zeta Chapter) held "Province Day," an event where all the SAIs in the Zeta B province come together and celebrate the establishment of the province. SAI member and pianist Sandy Coursey described the event as "a day to celebrate sisterhood and the presence of women in music!"

Each year the province fundraises for a different organization, and this year's recipient was the MusicLink Foundation. Sandy stated that MusicLink was chosen because "it is a great embodiment of our values as an organization." The event was held at Oklahoma City University and hosted multiple speakers, activities, and a musicale.

Stillwater local coordinator Katie Duncan and State Coordinator Charlotte Dumesnil had the privilege of speaking to the students, teachers, and donors present for Province Day. It was a wonderful opportunity to answer many questions and spread the word about the mission of the MusicLink Foundation. At the end of the event, the contributors of Province Day raised $166 for the foundation.

Minnesota Playathon Performances

MN: To celebrate MusicLink Foundation's 25th Anniversary of bringing musical instruction to low income children, Minnesota set a goal to make this year's playathon at the Mall of America the biggest and best Playathon ever and MMTA teachers responded. A record 53 teachers sent over 260 students to perform and the playathon raised over $12,000—a new Playathon high!

Their third Popular Styles Hour had the place rockin' with 14 students performing either piano solos or opting to perform with "The Katzen Jammers", a live band led by Doug Rohde on the keyboard with James Towns on bass and Beth Varela on drums. Special thanks to Doug for coordinating and emceeing this special hour. What a treat for these students to have this opportunity!

From Sue Wege, coordinator of the event and MusicLink Foundation's National Director of Coordinators: I owe a great debt of thanks to all my wonderful volunteers. MMTA teachers who gave of their time: Kirsten Levorson, Emily Feld, Doug Rohde, Mitch Grussing, Karen Stiles, Linda Seime, Sara Diedrich, Kathryn Karg, Kim Nichols, Suzanne Greer and Cindy Nelson. I also had a lot of help from the Minnesota royalty who volunteered at the desk and emceed: Madeline Van Ert, the reigning Miss Minnesota, Rachel Weyandt, 2015 Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen and Michelle Bergh, Intn'l Miss Midwest Teen 2016. Other guest emcees included singer/songwriter, Joe Filipovich and Lillie Imm, my MusicLink Ambassador. Thanks also to Hilary Imm and Gary Wege, my faithful photographer.

I would also like to recognize with thanks the 3 top fundraising studios: Kathryn Karg with 26 students: $1,092; Kim Nichols with 18 students: $945; Rory Thompson with himself & 1 student: $755

Many thanks to Schmitt Music for providing us with a beautiful Boston grand piano, to the MMTA office for helping with online registration and publicity, to the Mall of America for hosting our event and to all MMTA teachers who participated by sending students. The money raised at this event will go a long way in providing more lessons, music, instruments and other musical opportunities to students in need.

The photos below show students who raised $100 or more for the Playathon. Those students who raised $250 or more received either a Target gift card or a wireless bluetooth speaker.

Minnesota MusicLink Playathon

$250 or more in Donations:

Isabel Brand	Coleton Elgard
Lillie Imm	Julia & Jennifer Meles
Elijah Ndosi	Soumya Raman with brother
Stella Scharber	Rory Thompson and Deb Jorgens
Cassie Wagener

$100 or more in Donations:

Michelle Bergh	Sahana Bhatia
Noah Clark	Tianna Dahlin
Derrick Damjanovic	Emily Dress
Sydney Lohse	Ekaterina Morse
Lillian Pearson	Nicole Ramsey
Jackie Sheehan	Joe Taylor
Ellerie Ulfers