KCMTA September Newsletter

School is back in session! Your KCMTA Executive Board has been working very hard to create excellent programming for 2026-27. Please visit kcmta.org frequently for all of the up-to-date information throughout the year!

We begin the year with Dr. Catharine Lysinger in Master Lessons October 2nd-4th. Please join us on Sunday, October 4th at 1:30pm (KC Piano) for a wonderful Master Class. Registration for Master Lessons with Dr. Lysinger closes September 14th.

Fall Festival 2026: Celebrating Music of the Classical Era is fast approaching – October 17th-18th. Registration is now open through September 12th. For more information, visit kcmta.org

Registration for Multi-Piano 2027: Around the World in 88 Keys will close September 30th. Please visit this link for more information.

November 10th will find us “Unlocking South American Rhythms” with Naren Palomino Pardo and Daniel Corredor Silva. Some of us were lucky enough to see this presentation at MTNA National Conference and can’t wait for everyone to hear this duo.

On December 12th, we find ourselves at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art celebrating Music of the Holidays. If your studio is interested in participating in this event, please contact Doris Mattingly (mattinglystudio@mac.com) beginning September 1st. Spaces are limited.

I am truly privileged to be surrounded by such great teachers in the KC area and am looking forward to a great year!

Melissa Falkner, NCTM

President, KCMTA

KCMTA Fall Festival

Celebrating the Classical Period

Saturday & Sunday, October 17-18, 2026

Mid-America Nazarene University Bell Cultural Events Center

Registration Dates: August 22 - September 12

***Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $22 per student***

Registration for the 2027 Multi-Piano Concert opens August 1! See what veteran teachers say about this fun duet opportunity with multiple grand pianos on stage:

“It builds a sense of belonging within my studio, as students work together on pieces. 90% of the students in my studio who participate want to come back and do it again next year. Because we are playing duets, I always see improvements in students’ understanding and execution of rhythm as well.” Deana Haines

“It's an orchestra or band experience for the ‘lonely’ pianist who mostly has solo events. It teaches listening, adjusting to others, the joy of making music together, fun repertoire, and a social experience. It is non-threatening because other pianos carry parts that might be missed and students relax and enjoy the experience. SO many benefits!” Betty Smith

“The students love playing fun music, and they benefit enormously from having to listen to others while playing, working under a conductor, and follow the tempo someone else has chosen. No memorization and performing in a beautiful, large venue with family and friends present is also a plus. Pretty spectacular!” Mary Baehr

The 2027 Multi-Piano Concert will be held Sunday, January 10, 2027 at MidAmerica Nazarene University Bell Cultural Events Center. Students, teachers, family members and friends are invited to play together as we dance, fiesta, parade and voyage to many continents in our “Around the World in 88 Keys” concert for piano duets!

Enrollment begins August 1 - please plan now to participate in this great opportunity for your students to experience an orchestra of pianos, with multiple grand pianos on stage lead by our wonderful Multi-Piano conductor, Chad Reed. The repertoire list is attached, and can be found at Shining Light Music in Lee’s Summit, and all locations of Meyer Music. More information is available at www.kcmta.org/multi-piano-concert.

Heather Lewis

VP Multi Piano

(913) 485-2739

mom4casey@yahoo.com

ENROLLMENT: Tuesday, September 1: Holiday Program at the Kemper Museum Registration Begins

DEADLINE: Saturday, September 12: Fall Festival Registration Closes

DEADLINE: Monday, September 14: Master Lessons Registration Closes

DEADLINE: Wednesday, September 30: Multi-Piano Registration Closes

Fri. - Sun, October 2-4: Master Lessons with Dr. Catharine Lysinger | Kansas City Piano

Sunday, October 4: Master Class with Dr. Catharine Lysinger | 1:30 PM | Kansas City Piano

Sat. & Sun, October 17-18: Fall Festival Celebrating the Classical Period | Mid-America Nazarene University Bell Cultural Events Center

Tuesday, November 10: "Unlocking South American Rhythms" Workshop with Naren Palomino Pardo and Daniel Corredor Silva

Saturday, November 14: Multi-Piano Rehearsal | Kawai Piano Gallery

Saturday, December 12: Holiday Program at the Kemper Museum

The Missouri MTA District III auditions will be held on September 19th at the Kansas City Piano store. Please visit on the MMTA website: https://missourimta.org/mmta-auditions/

If you have any questions, contact District III Audition Chair: Eva Peng: yevapeng@yahoo.com

Calling pianists of all ages! Play for feedback in a low-stress environment at William Jewell College's Keyboard Comments Day on Saturday, September 19th, 2026. No need for teachers to volunteer for the event, just have students register and perform 1-2 pieces of their choice. Memory is not required and there is no age limit. Can't attend in person? There is an online submission option as well. Check out the flyer for more details. Questions? Contact Dr. Jessica Koebbe at koebbej@william.jewell.edu

**KMTA District Auditions Registration Deadline is MONDAY, SEPT. 7th by 11:59 pm**

Please get your enrollments in before then.

Registration Form: Click Here.
District Audition Teacher's Volunteer Form: KMTA Teacher's volunteer form (required for all teachers participating)

2026 KMTA District Auditions

ATTENTION Piano and Strings Teachers: Mark your calendars! The Kansas Music Teachers Association District One Auditions will be held this Fall on Saturday, October 3rd at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS.

About the event: Students from elementary ages through high school play for an one-on-one adjudicated audition and receive written comments and a rating. *Don't forget: Amateur Adults category included! (will only compete at State)* Playing at District on Oct. 3rd is the first step in a competitive audition - students receiving a Superior rating will be able to proceed to the competitive Kansas State auditions on October 31st at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Piano students, Strings students, and Chamber groups (including piano duets) are all encouraged to participate. For more info regarding the requirements, categories, audition plans, etc., please visit https://ksmta.org/student-programs/auditions-pages-auditions/pre-college-auditions/

Enrollment Deadline: September 7, 2026 (Enrollment link will be open on the KMTA website in August)

District Auditions: Saturday, October 3, 2026 at MNU in Olathe

State Auditions: Saturday, October 31, 2026 KMTA Pre-college, Amateur Adults, and MTNA JR and SR Competitions

(MTNA Young Artist and KMTA Collegiate Competitions will be held Sunday, November 1, 2026 )

Location: Murphy Hall on the KU campus in Lawrence

*New increase this year: Entry fee is $35 per student solo entry ($40 per duet entry, and $20 per student in chamber groups). Impending information re: District Auditions will be included in forthcoming KCMTA newsletters.

If you have any questions, please email Linda Chen at lindaychen@aol.com.

We're looking forward to seeing your enrollments this Fall!

--Dr. Linda Chen

KMTA District 1 President

***APPLICATION DATE EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 4***

We are pleased to share the 2026–27 dates for our piano festivals at Northwest Missouri State University, and we hope you will consider sending students again this year.

Bach Family Festival

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2026

Guest Artist: Ian Pritchard

Sonatina–Sonata Festival

Date: Sunday, January 31, 2027

Guest Artist: Shun Lin Chou

Both festivals continue to offer students meaningful performance opportunities, masterclasses, and exposure to guest artist teaching and performance. We especially encourage collaborative participation, including piano ensemble, chamber music, and mixed instrumental and vocal projects where appropriate.

More information about each festival, including registration details, repertoire guidelines, and past highlights, can be found on our Piano Festivals page: https://www.nwmissouri.edu/finearts/music/piano-festivals/index.htm

October 30-November 1, 2026

Kirksville, MO

Truman State University is excited to offer the 44th Annual Piano Festival and Piano Fellowship Competition for performers, scholars, and future music educators, taking place in Fall 2026. Piano students aged 14-26 are eligible, and the competition will be divided into age groups. Performance and educational opportunities include playing in masterclass for the Guest Artist, playing in the Winners' Recital (involving being professionally recorded), and having a lesson with Dr. Elizabeth Crecca. The Fall 2026 Guest Artist is Dr. Yi-Yang Chen, Associate Professor of Piano at DePaul University.

Applications will be accepted through October 14, 2026, and should include recordings of two memorized pieces in contrasting styles. The Festival is tuition-free for all participants. For students interested in furthering their music education at the college level, full and partial scholarships to Truman State University will be available. Students interested in the scholarships should apply for admission to Truman State University by October 6, 2026.

Please visit music.truman.edu/piano and click on the Piano Festival link, or email Dr. Elizabeth Crecca at ecrecca.truman.edu for more information.

News to post? Reminders to send? Any and all submissions are welcome for the monthly KCMTA newsletter! If you have a submission in need of posting, please send it to Emma Wohlgemuth - e.m.wohlgemuth@gmail.com - by the 25th of each month. Your submission will then be posted on the 1st of the following month. Emergency news will be sent out as needed.

Website: kcmta.org

Contact Email: e.m.wohlgemuth@gmail.com