When we look at the title, "upbeats" we realize how difficult it is to be upbeat at a time like we are experiencing now. We realize our MusicLink teachers and students are being challenged each day, with lessons transitioned to online if there is an available computer for students, and teachers trying their best to reach out to students in need through lessons. Once lessons return to normal, we encourage all of our teachers and students to be diligent about wearing masks and sitting far enough away to allow social distancing. The important thing is that we are sharing music with one another, which is needed during these trying times.

The MusicLink Foundation is continuing to offer camp scholarships; however, many camps will not be holding sessions. Additionally, the foundation offers teacher reimbursement grants for music and materials up to $150 and Grass Roots Grants for new projects up to $300 that may be started in response to the pandemic situation. The deadline for our $1000 Senior Awards is June 15th this year. These include the MusicLink Senior Achievement Award and the Ruth Stenson MusicLink Award. We trust that some of these offerings will help our teachers and students.

This issue applauds the Minnesota MusicLink Playathon as the last event this school year that envisions what MusicLink is all about – a supportive public and marvelous performances by area students of all ages bringing music to the community. We look at these playathon photos with greater appreciation of the value of sharing the love of music with others now that these experiences are not as accessible.

Minnesota Playathon Raises Over
$10,000 for the MusicLink Foundation

The 2020 MusicLink Playathon took place in Macy's Court at the Mall of America on the weekend of February 8th & 9th and was another great success. Even though numbers were a bit lower with 180 performances this year, over $10,000 was raised to help children in need get the opportunity to have affordable lessons.

Despite another Sunday morning snowstorm this year, there were virtually no absences and the show went on as planned. Many thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers who worked the desk and emceed, including MMTA teachers Sara Diedrich, Kathryn Karg, Kim Nichols and Rachel Weyandt. Guest emcees included singer/songwriter, Michelle Rose, Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen, Rachel Luchsinger, singer/songwriter, Hailey James and Miss St. Croix Valley's Outstanding Teen, Lillie Imm.

The 3 top fundraising studios were Kathryn Karg ($2,615), Kim Nichols ($1,255) and Sara Diedrich ($715). Top individual fundraisers were Debbie Jorgans ($325), Rory Thompson ($330) and Jennifer Meles ($300). 14 performers were gift card winners with donations of $250 or more.

Many thanks to all of our wonderful performers, their teachers and our many donors!

Our thanks to National Director of Coordinators, Sue Wege and the MMTA volunteers for doing a wonderful job in organizing and running the event. Photos of donors of $100 or more to the event are at the end of this eLINK issue.

Diane Perett – Teacher Laureate

Diane Perett

The MusicLink Foundation recognized Diane Perett as a Teacher Laureate in the March eLINK, having taught through MusicLink for over 20 years. She proudly shows the crystal award she received and again explains, "What a joy it has been teaching my MusicLink students!"

Online Teaching for MusicLink

Many of our MusicLink teachers are experiencing what it is like teaching online for the first time. We encourage you to take advantage of business partners that offer online educational materials that perfectly match these needs. Refer to your MusicLink Discount List and connect with these business partners who are there to help you. They offer educational tools for theory, composition, and multiple methods. The discount list is available for all active MusicLink teachers by providing your Teacher ID number – contact Assistant Director, Andrea Shore andrea@musiclinkfoundation.org.

Did you know that we now have a list of 321 teachers who are willing to teach MusicLink students through online lessons? Now may be a time when you may want to join that list, realizing that taking on one MusicLink student online provides a needed "link" that can reach across the country, thanks to the internet. Interested? Contact National Director of Coordinators, Sue Wege, swege71@comcast.net.

Fairfax-Loudon Music
Fellowship Benefit Event

Our March eLink recognized some of the MusicLink Benefit events over the holiday season. This didn't include the MusicLink Benefit concert held by the Fairfax-Loudon Music Fellowship. Teachers of the Fairfax-Loudoun Music Fellowship performed holiday music at the Dulles Town Center in December 2019. The event was held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 6, 7, and 8 in front of Macy's Department Store. The event provided wonderful, holiday music entertainment for the community, while also raising $1000 for the MusicLink Foundation.

MusicLink Student
Performs in Competition

Sarahy Bautista

Sarahy Bautista was selected as a finalist for the first annual Ten Grands Youth Piano Competition. She performed the Chopin Waltz in A Minor at the Grand Finals event on March 8, 2020, at 2pm, at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon.

Sarahy Bautista is a ninth grader at Clackamas High School in Clackamas, Oregon, and has been studying piano for four years. When she first started playing, she taught herself pieces—mainly movie themes—by ear. Then she took lessons at Ethos Music Center, a community-based music school in North Portland, and later began studying with Amy Vanacore. She has competed twice and was awarded a blue ribbon once in the Lutheran Elementary School Tournament (LEST), an arts, athletic, and academic competition for students from schools all over the western U.S. For the past two years, Sarahy has performed in the lobby of Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall before the annual Ten Grands concert, and she played at Michael Allen Harrison's birthday party before the Ten Grands on the Diamond concert in 2018. She also recently participated in a master class with Portland Piano International Rising Star Baron Fenwick.

Already Preparing to Pay it Forward
By Nkoyo Iyamba for MusicLink

Zoé Malaiteke

I sat in a Northern Virginia church two summers ago, listening to the recital of an accomplished MusicLink alumna. At the end of her beautiful program, this college-bound pianist honored the MusicLink Foundation and its founder, Joanne Haroutounian. I marveled a bit that such an organization exists and felt that I had to meet the woman who started this incredible program with its generous teachers.

During Dr. Haroutounian's brief explanation of MusicLink and its goals, I immediately thought of two kids in my own church congregation who would benefit from MusicLink. I reached out to MusicLink and Dr. Haroutounian jumped into action — setting up both kids from my church congregation with keyboards and music teachers. One of those kids is 9 year old Maryland student, Zoé Malaiteke.

"I was shocked!" Zoé said when the piano first arrived at his house. "I almost fainted."

His whole family helped to assemble the keyboard. Afterwards, he found songs on YouTube to learn. "And all of these keys, when I play one of them, it sounds so cool." Zoé said, as he played and almost missed dinner. "I just want to play it forever."

Zoé said he can't wait to ‘pay forward' the gift of music he has received from MusicLink. "I'm going to teach my little brothers how to play," Zoé said. "I think they're really going to like it too."

I'm grateful to Joanne Haroutounian, MusicLink, and its generous teachers for this gift to my friends in my church congregation. But Zoé's gratitude goes much deeper. "Thank you to MusicLink for bringing me this piano," said Zoé. "I love it so much." For Zoé, his gratitude remains a lifelong dream come true. "I think it's very great and I really love it," said Zoé. "And I think that everyday when I wake up it's going to brighten my morning." Zoé's mother says that his language at home now is piano, piano, piano, encouraging him to come to bed at 12:45 in the morning – he wanted to sleep beside the "piano."

New MusicLink Teachers

The following teachers joined MusicLink over the past 3 months – with current total teachers = 329 and an overall teacher total = 3,645. AL: Allison Upshaw; CA: Lily Diehl, Theresa Franks, Phyllis Pan, Anne Rainwater; FL: Lacy Magre; GA: Marion Compton, Katherine Cook; MA: Skylar Gann, Robin Raisch; MD: Fon Silvers; MI--Lynn Zwinck; MN: Lara Dietrich, Charlotte Grantier (returning), Daniel Keeler, Samuel Rudy; MO: Courtney Friday; NC: Christine Lee; OR: Julia Lee; RI: Nathaniel Zhu; SC: Marty Krencik; WA: John Guffey.

MusicLink Alumni Spotlight
– Sun Chang

Sun Chang

We are shining our MusicLink Alumni Spotlight on Sun Chang. She said, "Since graduating from Northwestern University with BMus in Piano in 2017 and from the Royal Academy of Music in London with MA in Harpsichord in 2019, I've been trying to live my best life!" Some highlights from her short career so far have been working with Trevor Pinnock and Royal Academy students on St. Matthew Passion, soloing with Utah Symphony, Camerata Chicago, and Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, co-founding a London-based baroque ensemble, Judith Collective, which focuses on sharing music by underrepresented composers from before 1800. Between degrees and during the summer she also played for Lincoln Center Stage which is a piano quintet "residency" on a Holland America line cruise ship. Sun also said, "Much gratitude to the MusicLink Foundation, and my wonderful teacher Dr. Peter Mack, who supported my education and still supports me in so many ways! I truly feel that I was loved into being and I consider it a great privilege to be able to do what I love." You can find more information and music on her website: sunchangmusic.com.

MusicLink Alumni Group

The MusicLink Foundation sent an email to almost 1300 MusicLink alumni to gather information about their current lives and establish a MusicLink Alumni Group to share stories on Facebook and help raise funds to establish a MusicLink Alumni Award. Please contact David Kim, the chair of the MusicLink Alumni Group to join MusicLink colleagues across the country – MusicLinkAlumni@gmail.com.

Our Appreciation to
Major MusicLink Donors

Every year we see a growing number of donors who contribute a significant amount to the MusicLink Foundation. We would like to recognize them in this issue realizing that their generous donations truly provide solid support to guarantee the continuation of lessons for MusicLink students across the country.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a MusicLink Legacy Partner, (Bravo $5,000, Encore $10,000 annual donation) or establishing an Endowment Fund or Camp Scholarship Fund, please contact the national office, musiclink.foundation@gmail.com, 703-534-9490.

Our thanks to:

• Richard Mattlin: $1,000
• Hanss Family Fund: $2,000
• Louise P. Zanar Fund: $4,000 (for DC youth)
• Kanter Kallman Foundation: $6,000 (for NYC MusicLink)
• Rosemary Christoff Dolan: $7,500 (for Gerald Christoff Endowment Fund)
• Bill & Brigid Brakefield: $10,000 (Legacy Partner - Encore Level)
• William & Joanne Haroutounian: $10,000 (Legacy Partner - Encore Level)

MusicLink Endowment Funds:

• Arline & Russell Bridge - sponsor of annual $1000 Senior Achievement Award
• Gerald Christoff - supports New York MusicLink
• Dorothy B. and Mel Kurzen - provides $1000 camp scholarship annually

Minnesota Playathon Donors:

$100 - $250
Michelle Bergh	Thaniel & Meghan Bentz
Sydney Birk	Eli Braun
Laura Braun	Boede Halverson with Teacher, Rachel Luchsinger
Rachel Luchsinger
Lizze Peterson with Teacher, Sarah Dietrich	Reid Nelson
Jake Slater	Nicole Ramsey
$250 and More
Berkley Boardman	Lillie Imm
Mark Hamilton with Teacher, Sara Diedrich
Debbie Jorgans	Eesha Kondam
Jennifer Meles	Henry Peterson
Luke Smith	Rory Thompson
Ellerie Ulfers	Piya Vlach
Jovi Wangsness	Rachel Weyandt
Dehlia Woltman

Background Check Updates Needed

We are proud of the fact that the MusicLink Foundation abides by careful oversight of student financial eligibility as well as teacher legitimacy through background checks. MusicLink teachers and coordinators are required to have a basic criminal background check upon initial sign up. These background checks must be updated every five years, so our Assistant Director, Andrea Shore, will be reaching out to those of you who need a new background check. She will need a current physical address (not a PO Box), your date of birth and your social security number. Once the background check has been completed, we do not keep any of this information on file. Your timely cooperation with this important requirement is extremely helpful.

In Memoriam – Sonja Myklebust

Sonja Myklebust was a MusicLink teacher since 2016, with an impressive background in cello as well as promoting the arts. She believed in the importance of reaching people from diverse backgrounds and in teaching low income students at Holy Redeemer Catholic School. She had a thriving Suzuki cello studio and founded the Meany Center's MusicLink Program, bringing free live performances to schools and other spaces in Seattle. She will be sorely missed by countless students, music communities, colleagues and friends in Portland, Seattle, and the Bay area. Sonja finally lost her battle with brain cancer on January 23, 2020.Fearless, generous, funny, beautiful, intelligent and loving, Sonja taught those lucky enough to know her how to live honestly and to the fullest.