We begin a new school year with an emphasis on celebrating our milestone of reaching 30 years of "creating musicians, one student at a time." Thanks to all our donors!

MusicLink has set a goal to reach a total of 8000 students this school year, hopefully by the end of 2022. We are VERY close to reaching that total, with 7,868 students as of September 25th - only 132 to go. We have sent emails to all MTNA state and local organizations encouraging members to register students they are currently teaching at a discount (50% or less of normal fee) so they can take advantage of MusicLink discounts, teacher reimbursement, and student camp scholarships. We know there are many teachers across the country who have been teaching some students at a discount because they share our MusicLink philosophy of bringing music lessons to students who normally cannot afford lessons because of financial need. Please spread the word, and if you are reading this and realize "that's me," join us! Here is the link for you to register:

30th Anniversary Videos
and Commemorative Book

MusicLink is celebrating its 30th year by broadcasting online videos of teachers, students, and alumni who have been part of MusicLink for many years. Hopefully you find these short glimpses and performances enjoyable. We encourage any MusicLink teacher to share a short student performance or a personal tribute through video. Send videos or personal stories to musiclink.foundation@gmail.com.

Current videos include a testimonial by Tatyana Hearne (VA), a MusicLink teacher in the program since 2005 and performances by two of her students, Richard and Raylen Tang.

In addition, we have had the pleasure of compiling 30 years of MusicLink photos and memorable events into a book – MusicLink Foundation – 30 Years of Creating Musicians, One Student at a Time. The volume contains memories starting with the early years of the MusicLink program in Virginia, its growth to the national level through its partnership with MTNA, and the emergence of the MusicLink Foundation as a non-profit organization reaching thousands of students across the country. The book includes photos of our Teacher Laureates (20 years) and all MusicLink Senior Achievement Award and Ruth Stenson Award winners. We include memorable events, such as receiving MTNA's Achievement Award in 2017 recognizing the MusicLink Foundation's significant and lasting contribution to music and music teaching.

Donors who support the MusicLink Foundation with a contribution of $500 or more will receive this commemorative volume with our thanks.

30th MusicLink Teacher in 2022

As part of our 30th Anniversary celebration, we recognize our 30th new active teacher of 2022. Welcome to Laura Geissler, a piano teacher from Stanton MN who registered a student for MusicLink in August. Laura is a registered Suzuki instructor for violin. Her hope is that her students develop a life-long love of music and their violin, along with friendships that extend far beyond the violin studio. Laura received three levels of Chamber Music Sampler, a set of piano trios edited by Joanne Haroutounian.

Other 30th Anniversary Goals:

• The state that adds the largest number of students in 2022 will be recognized with an article in an upcoming eLINK.
• Goal of reaching 1.3 K followers on our Facebook page (currently 1.2 K)
• Goal of reaching $100,000 in donations by the end of 2022 ($55,000 to go)

Graduating Senior

Chavah Kurasz, from Loyal, Wisconsin has been studying music for 8 years. At 10 years old, she began violin lessons with Joanna Johnson and added piano lessons with Valorie Brecht at age 14. Along with playing the piano and violin, she added the clarinet and saxophone for high school band, pep band, Polka band and Jazz band. MusicLink has given her family the opportunity to afford the music lessons for piano and violin, allowing her love for music to blossom. She has won multiple awards and recognitions from her music performances in vocal and instrumental categories, not only locally but on the state level. Her love for music and her teacher's encouragement has inspired her to continue her music education. She will be continuing at Stevens Point this fall to earn a teaching degree in music.

MusicLink Camp Scholarships

We were pleased to help send MusicLink students to camp this summer. The MusicLink Summer Camp Scholarship program offers camp scholarships to any student who has taken lessons through the program for at least six months and has been accepted into a camp prior to applying for the scholarship of up to $250. This year's scholarships were given to 16 students who attended summer programs in Virginia, Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina.

Callie Wood (standing)


Taylor Wood (center)

Taylor and Callie Wood, students of Sherry Frush (TX), shared their experiences at the Abilene Performing Arts Music Theatre Production Camp:

"We want to thank you so much for the scholarship opportunity for music theatre camp this summer. Our camp was three weeks long and at the end of camp we performed Disney's "Newsies Jr." We learned so much! We got to do a lot of singing and dancing, which made this show so fun! Learning to sing the harmonies was great. One of the best parts of camp was having the opportunity to perform on the stage of the historic Paramount Theatre in Abilene, Texas. We loved every minute of it."

Malik Muhammad and Liber Cuervos

Malik Mohammad, a MusicLink violin student of Phyllis Calderon, received the Dorothy B. and Mel Kurzen Camp Scholarship of $1000. Malik spent three weeks at the Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Music Camp in Michigan. He performed in the Intermediate Concert Orchestra under Orchestra Director Liber Cuervos. He notes "the repertoire that we went over were the most difficult pieces I have ever played. The camp helped me learn to sightread and I improved in my posture. Aside from music, the experience of walking freely on campus was almost like a college. I met a variety of people from all over the world at all different levels of proficiency who are serious about their musical studies. Going to Interlochen is something I would recommend to every musician and is something I intend on going to next year."

In Memoriam

Roger Hinchliffe is remembered by his sister Sally MacMillan with a donation to provide music and materials for a Maine MusicLink student for a year. Roger was a talented baritone and performed throughout Sweden and Europe with his beloved Mäster Olofs Choir. More recently, he was known as "Señor H" to Portland area school children. He was as proud to lead the performances of these school children as he was once to tour with Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Arturo Sandoval.

Grand Pianos for MusicLink

This summer turned out to be the summer for piano donations through the MusicLink Foundation and three out of the four were grand pianos! There were many happy children, parents and teachers celebrating the deliveries of these new instruments in Minnesota and California.

Photos of these happy students are proof positive of the value of an instrument in the home of MusicLink students. Thanks to the coordinators, movers, and donors who helped provide these instruments for our students. To donate a piano or other instrument, go to Musiclink Foundation or Fund Musiclink and click on "Donate an Instrument."

Special thanks go to Schmitt Music in Minnesota for going above and beyond in arranging and donating two of the grand piano placements - even going so far as to putting one on their truck to Fargo ND and dropping the piano off in outstate Minnesota on the way. Thank you, Schmitt Music and to all the generous donors who made this all possible!

Miller Family (MN) - Grand Piano


Hung Family (MN) - Grand Piano


Fong Family (CA) - Grand Piano

My name is Emily Fong, one of the students you gifted a baby grand piano to. I would like to say thank you for this amazing gift that makes my music sound clearer and much more dynamic. Because of you, my music for CM testing will sound nicer to the people that evaluate my pieces, and my family is able to hear wonderful melodies in my playing. Without you, I wouldn't have a real piano because my family wouldn't have been able to afford it in the first place. I've always wanted a real piano, and you made my wishes come true, thank you.

Sincerely,
Emily Fong

Emily Fong Video

Josias Fong Video

Camp Sponsorship Program

Many donors like the idea of personalizing their donations. The MusicLink Camp Sponsorship program affords that opportunity to designate a donation of $250 or more for a specific student to attend camp. These young musicians appreciate this connection, as seen by this thank you note to donors, Marilyn and Peter Haase (VA):

Dear Marilyn and Peter Haase,

Thank you for donating $250 for my camp. It really means a lot to me, since I really want to go to this camp! I've done a lot of hard work to get this far and I didn't want it to be for nothing. You are really kind and awesome people and have really made my day. This is going to change my life, all thanks to you. You are my heroes.

With gratitude,
Isabella Tello

MusicLink Business Partners

We welcome a new partner, Piano Prodigies by Elizabeth Borowsky.

Laura and Lucy Chu

E-Z Notes has been a MusicLink Business Partner for several decades. Joanne Haroutounian would always hug Lucy Chu – a special friend to music teachers through the products she developed - as soon as she entered the MTNA exhibit hall. Here are a few words from Laura Chu Stokes, Lucy's daughter:

Lucy Chu, creator of E-Z Notes music learning tools, and her daughter, Laura Chu Stokes, have been supporters of MusicLink for many years. Since 1989, E-Z Notes hands-on tools have helped thousands of educators and students worldwide. As E-Z Notes approaches its final year in business, all MusicLink teachers and students are eligible for a 50% discount on every product on its site, using code "Musiclink50". Check out their youtube channel for the most popular teaching tools!

Thanks for your willingness to share E-Z Notes with the MusicLink family, Laura Chu Stokes, NCTM.

Amazon Smile and Facebook Donations

  

There is a simple way to support MusicLink with every purchase you make on Amazon or choose the MusicLink Foundation in connection with a Facebook donation. Simply log onto Amazon Smile (smile.amazon.com) and choose MusicLink Foundation as a designated charity and shop as usual! We receive a small donation with EACH purchase made on Amazon. In the same way, you can designate the MusicLink Foundation with a few clicks on Facebook if you have an event or celebration done through Facebook. Of course, you can also contribute directly on our website. THANKS for any support you can provide.

Great Nonprofits Badge

The MusicLink Foundation prides itself on the many positive reviews it receives on GreatNonprofits.org. The Foundation has received their Top-Rated Nonprofit badge for the last eight consecutive years. The deadline of October 30th looms to reach 10 5-star reviews in order to be awarded the 2022 badge. We hope you can take a few moments to add your comments about MusicLink on their website:

New MusicLink Teachers

We welcome the following 23 teachers who became active MusicLink teachers over the past few months. This brings the total of active teachers to 215 with our overall total being 4387.

• CA: Nancy Brown, Mary Burroughs, Christine Rosander;
• CO: Larry Baldwin;
• FL: Joe Sullivan;
• GA: Lois Simon (returning);
• MI: Leslie Hess;
• MN: Siri Calverdt (returning), Laura Geissler, Ellen Jepson, Chloe Knott, Rachel Lonetti (returning), Tara Meade, Christina Misso, Jennifer Parker, Carolyn Towler, Elizabeth Westlund;
• ND: Janice Eckworth;
• OR: Claudia Reinsch
• PA: Cassie Rumbough;
• TX: Regina Graham, Gladys Scott;
• WA: Louise Nedela Greene, Dana Moffett, Yimo Zhang.