Thanks for a Successful
25th Anniversary Celebration

The teachers, coordinators and students of the MusicLink Foundation want to thank everyone who made our Silver Anniversary celebration a success! We exceeded our goal of raising $100,000 to help us reach more students with ongoing lessons and we added new business partners, recruited more teachers and generally saw our organization grow in ways we could not have imagined decades ago when MusicLink first began.

MusicLink relies on the dedication and caring support of our MusicLink teachers. This Hall of Fame issue celebrates these teachers and shares their stories which extend to 20 years of service bringing music into the lives of children. What better way to celebrate our accomplishments than to highlight these wonderful teachers!

25th Anniversary Survey
and Strategic Plan

Thanks to all those who completed the short survey that provided information for a strategic planning session held through a video conference on February 3rd. Conference participants represented coordinators at regional, state and local levels as well as board members and the national office. We gathered information to formulate a two-year strategic plan that will be in place in the next few months. If you would like to donate to our cause, please click on the "Donate Now!" button:

Minnesota - Silver Anniversary
State Recognition

One of the 25th anniversary goals was to recognize the state that added the most MusicLink teachers and students during 2017. We are not surprised that Minnesota led the group with 10 new teachers (413 total overall) and 29 new students (1,558 total overall) added to their roster in 2017. The teachers and coordinators have long been models for others to follow, with Sue Wege, our National Director of Coordinators, at the helm. Over the years, the state has raised over $96,000 through its annual playathon at the Mall of America. The state established the Ruth Stenson MusicLink Award that honors an outstanding senior MusicLink student each year with a $1000 scholarship. The organization works closely with alliance partners to assist with instruments and join forces with bikers in their Pedaling for Pianos event. The Minnesota Music Teachers Association waives state event fees and offers discounts on educational materials for MusicLink students, again offering a model for other states to follow. We applaud all of these wonderful teachers who have brought a total of 1,558 students into the program statewide over the past 25 years. A well-deserved BRAVO to this wonderful MusicLink state!

Holiday Events raise $4,181
for the MusicLink Foundation

IL: Bringing Music to the Community was the theme of the 2017 Clavinova Festival, held on December 9, 2017, in conjunction with the Fourth Annual Christmas Tree Walk at The Beacon, in Waterloo, IL. The event featured performances by 58 students from six participating teachers: Grace Reuter of Freeburg, LeAnn Halvorson of Columbia, Sheri Jones of Waterloo, Catherine Burge of Greenville, Gillian Cerbin of Belleville, and Deborah Meier of Collinsville. A total of $2181 was collected from pledges to benefit MusicLink students in paying for practice instruments, piano moving and tuning, instrument repair, and expense reimbursement for teachers as well as summer music camp scholarships for students.

Students participating in the Clavinova festival received a t-shirt, certificate, and a goodie bag containing treats, a lanyard and pen. Each student was entered into the grand prize drawing for a Yamaha digital piano (P-115). Lydia DeFossett, student of LeAnn Halvorson, was the lucky winner. She is 14 years old and has been studying piano at Halvorson Music Studio with LeAnn Halvorson for one year.

A big thank you to Yamaha and Piano Distributors for sponsoring and helping organize this successful event! Steven Trawford, manager of Piano Distributors, plans to continue this yearly event. We appreciate his willingness to collaborate with MusicLink through Gateway Arch East Music Teachers Association and Illinois MusicLink Coordinator, Deborah Meier. It is a fun event that keeps kids interested in piano and working hard.

The following students raised over $100 in the MusicLink Clavinova Festival:

Gwen Wright - $155	Maggie Wright - $155
Michael Swenson - $115	Chloe Severs - $1001

Fairfax Loudon Bell Choir


Fairfax Loudon Students

VA: Fairfax-Loudoun Music Fellowship participated in another outstanding fundraiser at the beautiful Lansdowne Resort throughout the month of December. They had a total of 183 students and 12 teachers participating and raised $2000 for MusicLink this year. This is their 8th annual MusicLink fundraiser and they look forward to hosting many more fundraising events in the future in hopes of raising more money for this wonderful foundation. FLMF wants to support the MusicLink Foundation as much as possible in hopes of reaching the community and giving back to those in need who deserve to have the gift of music in their lives!

New Business Partners

Daeon Lynch (NY) enjoys a new cello
donated by Day Violins (VA).

We are pleased to welcome the following new MusicLink business partners to our roster: WA: Artisan Piano Services, Bellevue, provides discounts on tuning for ML students; ProPiano Move moves pianos for MusicLink students at a discounted rate. VA: Day Violins provides discounts on string instruments for MusicLink students.

MusicLink Students Perform with Dancers

Piano Students and Dancers

In October, MusicLink piano students, Erika Amarkhuu and Raylen Tang performed with The Bowen McCauley Dance Company at the First Stage in Vienna VA. The dancers choreographed their dances to the student compositions which was a unique experience.

Memorial Funds

From 1964 to 2013, Gerald Christoff composed more than 100 works of classical music. Although he wrote large symphonic, chamber and choral works, including a commissioned oratorio on the life of St. Francis, Gerald was one of the few contemporary composers to write extensively for solo piano. He recorded his piano music on five albums for Legacy Records from 2011 to 2013. A donation of $2,500 in memory of Gerald Christoff was donated by Rosemary Christoff Dolan, Christoff's sister, to assist MusicLink students in New York State with camp scholarships and instruments.

Seybourn Draper

Seybourn Draper was a natural musician. His greatest love was keyboards but he could play any instrument he picked up. Music was in his DNA, his heart and soul. Seybourn died in early January. He had just turned 57. Seybourn inspired many people with his music and anyone who had the privilege to be around his talent will never forget the experience. His music was beautiful and there was always something a little miraculous about the way it poured out of him. His family is celebrating Seybourn's memory by asking friends if they wish to make a donation to aid the excellent work of the MusicLink Foundation to help provide instruments for students in need, scholarships for students to attend music camps, and lessons for talented young musicians.

We remember with love and gratitude long-time MusicLink teacher, Michelle Porter, who passed away on December 10th. Michelle taught many MusicLink students and served as a local coordinator for several years in the south Minneapolis area. She was a great gift to the many students she reached out to share her gift of music and she will be missed by many.

Spotlight YOUR Student!

Have you seen our student spotlight feature on the MusicLink website and Facebook page? So far we have featured five outstanding MusicLink students. On our home page click on NEWS and then Spotlight Archives to view past student spotlights. If YOU have a student who deserves some time in the spotlight, please email us your nomination at Andrea@musiclinkfoundation.org.

Hall of Fame Recognition

MusicLink relies on the dedication and generosity of our MusicLink teachers who reach out to deserving students and share their love for music for many years through ongoing lessons. These teachers represent the finest examples of caring music teachers who truly make a difference in the lives of MusicLink students.

Teacher Laureate - 20 Years

MusicLink is proud to honor our newest Teacher Laureate, Sally Ritchie of Shiocton, Wisconsin. Sally is only the second MusicLink teacher to reach this 20-year milestone!

Growing up, Sally was the oldest of five children in a family that could not afford piano lessons. Her mother taught her how to read music, and with the help of some old music books from her cousins, Sally began learning how to play the piano. In the fourth grade, she joined the school band and began her formal musical education and learned to play several other instruments. Sally didn't have her first real piano lesson until after completing her college degree and getting married.

Luckily for us, Sally met Sue Wege, MusicLink Director of Coordinators, while at a music conference in Minnesota over 20 years ago. Sally had already been giving free or reduced lessons for many years to students that had little or no ability to pay but had a great desire to learn and a love of music. Over the last 20 years she has had 24 students in this program and they have received discounts and music from the foundation and the businesses that support it. Many of her former students have gone on to pursue careers in music or have continued with music as a large part of their lives. Just last year one of her MusicLink students graduated from Lawrence University and is now teaching music in an elementary school. Another is working on her graduate degree in collaborative music at UW Madison. Sally said, "I have never regretted a minute of my decision to become a member of MusicLink. It is a wonderful group of caring individuals that have come together to help some very deserving music students. I love the looks on their faces when I give them music that I have gotten from ML! Whether it is new or used, it is precious to them."

Sally has been teaching since 1969. In addition to her MusicLink students, Sally teaches 55 students at her local public school. She also accompanies the choirs at the school as well as playing for the elementary music programs. She has a strong instrumental background so she works with the band and choral students for their competitions. In addition to her piano students, Sally also teaches guitar and even started a "rock" group called Black Sand. They played together for many years and performed gigs for about 6 years. And if that doesn't keep her busy enough, she is also the head organist, choir director, and music director at her church.

Sally holds a patent on a music education system and started a company called Whirligig LLP which produced music theory games and teaching aids. A few years ago, she entered into a collaboration with Keys to Imagination and Michelle Sisler. They work together on developing new music teaching aids and innovative ways of teaching music theory and inspiring teachers and students.

Sally is married with four children: two sons and two daughters and a foreign exchange German daughter who is definitely a part of their family. She has 10 grandchildren in American and one German granddaughter. She said, "the thing I do best is being a Grandmother!" Teachers like Sally Ritchie epitomize the mission of the MusicLink Foundation. We are so glad she found us!

Teachers of Distinction with Honors
15-20 Years

Teachers who have taught 15+ years through MusicLink are recognized as MusicLink Teachers of Distinction with Honors. We recognize and thank the following three teachers, who have devoted all of these years to help MusicLink students thrive through musical training.

Brandy Pancoast and her family

Brandy Pancoast is from Kettle Falls, Washington, located about 80 miles north of Spokane and about 45 minutes from Idaho and Canada. The closest town has a population of 1,660 and yet she has a full program in this rural American community.

Brandy started teaching piano when she was 13 after being asked to teach her cousin and 29 years later, she is still going strong. She loves what she does and loves to share her music. She has had many MusicLink students since moving to Washington in 2000 and first learning about the program. She was even a MusicLink Coordinator for a while. Brandy believes that music is a gift for a lifetime and is something to be shared. She teaches the Musikgarten early childhood program, piano classes and private piano lessons.

Each week, Brandy teaches about 70 students ranging in age from 1 through early 60s, and ten of whom are current MusicLink students. She regularly has students who choose to continue their education in music at the collegiate level. Brandy says one of her favorite things is when she makes discoveries about her students' musical activities, such as one student who has been accompanying at church for the last two years and Brandy didn't even know it. "I then know that I have succeeded in my goal to create ‘Music For A Lifetime' for my students," she said.

Brandy is certified with MTNA and WSMTA in piano as well as licensed as a Musikgarten teacher. She has been active in MTNA both in Colorado prior to her move to Washington and in Washington since she arrived by serving in whatever leadership role she was needed for...workshop chair, treasurer, etc. Currently, she is taking a step back out of MTNA leadership while she home schools her children (eight at home and one in college) while maintaining her studio. Brandy expects to be back in a more active role when her children are ready for her to do that. Meanwhile she is a Center Representative for the Royal Conservatory Piano & Theory Exams and participates in their examinations with her students.

Cora Lee Khambatta of Arlington, Virginia, has been teaching music in the Arlington Public Schools and in her private piano studio for more than 45 years. One of the first MusicLink students she worked with is now scheduling college piano auditions for his desired piano major. She said, "MusicLink has provided a vehicle for my music students to envision musical progress, success and fulfillment. Reluctant parents of these students were hesitant to engage in piano lessons before I introduced MusicLink to them." She credits the families who have made the commitment to get their children to every lesson as being instrumental in the progress that their young musicians have made. And the musical progress of her students has been nothing less than inspirational.

After majoring in piano at Grinnell College, Cora Lee studied piano with Beth Miller Harrod from Julliard, Rio Nardi (Conservatorio de Firenze, Italy), and Claude Gonvierre of Long Island. Cora Lee' s piano students have received scholarships to piano camps as Vermont's Sonatina and Piano Institute of Ithaca. Her students have placed in the Marriott Piano Competition, Lyons' Music Competiton, NVMTA's Healy/Ford Competition and the National Piano Guild Auditions. She continues as the chairperson for National Piano Guild Auditions in Washington, DC, and the recital chairperson for the DC Federation of Music Teachers.

Verna Wagner is a devoted piano teacher in Spokane, Washington. She has had 8 MusicLink students in her 15 years with us and is highly regarded by other music teachers. She holds a BA in piano performance from Eastern Washington University. Verna has also played with the Minstrals, a group of musicians and singers over age 50 who perform in a variety show as part of Project Joy (an organization that provides entertainment for care centers, assisted living facilities, retirement complexes, schools, and special events in Spokane).

Teachers of Distinction - 10-14 Years

MusicLink Teachers of Distinction are those that are actively teaching now and have taught through MusicLink for 10 to 14 years. We recognize the service of the 12 teachers in this category and show the total number of students taught.

Anne Beamer VA - 8 students	Pauline Eidemiller OR - 6 students
Ellie Fregni MN - 45 students	Lydia Holsten MN - 4 students
Rene Johnson VA - 6 students	Linda Judiesch IA - 2 students
Priscilla Keogh ND - 4 students	Marjorie Lee VA - 6 students
Helen Marie Plourde MN - 6 students	Nancy Van Kampan MN - 25 students
Julie Wegener NY - 9 students	LeeAnna Xanthos-McQueen VA - 3 students

Hall of Fame Teachers - 5-9 Years

Teachers reach the MusicLink Hall of Fame when they have taught for five to nine years. We are honored to recognize 17 teachers for reaching this category - with our thanks for their dedication to teaching deserving students through MusicLink:

New Teachers

We added 15 new teachers to the MusicLink Foundation over the past three months, equaling 310 active teachers and 2,791 teachers overall.

CA: Elizabeth Erickson; MA: Dave White; MI: Rosalie Baxter; MN: Zachary Briscoe, Emily Ireland, Caroline Povolny, Sue Ruby, Emily Sasik; NC: Cathy Pesevich Kreplin returning, OR: Terry Taylor; SA: Yan Hei Yiu; VA: Kristin White; WA: Jessica Andrews, GraceAnn Cumming. Note: Ellen Pickell (WA) was inadvertently left off our active teacher list in the Annual Report.