BNMTA Past Years’ Events
BNMTA 2022-2023 Schedule:
September 3, 2022, 9am
Business Meeting
Via Zoom
September 23, 2022, 11am
Presentation: "How to Read and Play from Lead Sheets."
Eric Sutz, Music Institute of Chicago
via Zoom
October, 2022
Fifth Annual Piano Master Class
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
November: Presentation
January 14, 2023, 9am - noon
Sixth Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
January 21, 2023, 9am - noon
Fifth Annual AIM Theory Exams
February 5, 2023, 2pm
Fifth Annual Members’ Student Recital
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, May 6, 9am - noon
Second Annual Spring Festival
Presser Hall
Illinois State University
Saturday, May 20, 2023 9am - noon
Fifth Annual AIM Performance Exams
Friday, May 12, 2023
End of Year Business Meeting
BNMTA 2021-2022 Schedule:
Saturday, September 25, 2021, 2pm
Emotional Challenges in Music Performance:
How to Overcome Them
Dr. Alessandra Feris
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, October 9, 2021 4:00-5:30pm
Fourth Annual Piano Master Class
Dr. Daniel Shapiro,
Cleveland Institute of Music
Center for the Performing Arts
Illinois State University
Saturday, November 13, 2pm
BNMTA Business Meeting via Zoom
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Fifth Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
January 22, 2022
Fourth Annual AIM (Achievement in Music) Theory Exams
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Fourth Annual BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, March 12, 2022 2pm
How to teach students to arrange their own music
Stacy Fahrion
Whimsically Macabre, Denver, Colorado
Presented on Zoom
Saturday, April 30, 2022
1st Annual Spring Festival!
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Fourth Annual AIM (Achievement in Music) Performance Exams
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
May 13, 2022, 11:00am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Business Meeting
Via Zoom
September 23, 2022, 11am
Presentation: "How to Read and Play from Lead Sheets."
Eric Sutz, Music Institute of Chicago
via Zoom
October, 2022
Fifth Annual Piano Master Class
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
November: Presentation
January 14, 2023, 9am - noon
Sixth Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
January 21, 2023, 9am - noon
Fifth Annual AIM Theory Exams
February 5, 2023, 2pm
Fifth Annual Members’ Student Recital
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, May 6, 9am - noon
Second Annual Spring Festival
Presser Hall
Illinois State University
Saturday, May 20, 2023 9am - noon
Fifth Annual AIM Performance Exams
Friday, May 12, 2023
End of Year Business Meeting
BNMTA 2021-2022 Schedule:
Saturday, September 25, 2021, 2pm
Emotional Challenges in Music Performance:
How to Overcome Them
Dr. Alessandra Feris
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, October 9, 2021 4:00-5:30pm
Fourth Annual Piano Master Class
Dr. Daniel Shapiro,
Cleveland Institute of Music
Center for the Performing Arts
Illinois State University
Saturday, November 13, 2pm
BNMTA Business Meeting via Zoom
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Fifth Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
January 22, 2022
Fourth Annual AIM (Achievement in Music) Theory Exams
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Fourth Annual BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, March 12, 2022 2pm
How to teach students to arrange their own music
Stacy Fahrion
Whimsically Macabre, Denver, Colorado
Presented on Zoom
Saturday, April 30, 2022
1st Annual Spring Festival!
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Fourth Annual AIM (Achievement in Music) Performance Exams
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
May 13, 2022, 11:00am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
BNMTA 2020-2021 Schedule:
Monday, September 21, 12:00pm
Stretching Exercises for Pianists
Dr. Solee Lee-Clark,
Monmouth College
Presented via Zoom
Thursday, October 15, 2020, 10:00am
Jazz Improv for Classical Teachers
Dr. Eric Sutz, Music Institute of Chicago
Presented via Zoom
Saturday, December 4, 2020
Third Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Recordings, Registration Forms, Photo Release Forms, and Checks
due by Saturday, Dec 4
January, 2021
AIM (Achievement in Music) Theory Exams
Via Zoom or FaceTime
During the week of January 23 to January 30
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Third Annual BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Presented via Zoom
Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 10:00am
Piano Maintenance Explained
Barb Richmond,
Certified Piano Technician
Presented via Zoom
May, 2021
AIM (Achievement in Music) PerformanceExams*
Via Zoom or FaceTime
During the week of May 15 to May 22
May 7, 2021, 11:00am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Via Zoom
Stretching Exercises for Pianists
Dr. Solee Lee-Clark,
Monmouth College
Presented via Zoom
Thursday, October 15, 2020, 10:00am
Jazz Improv for Classical Teachers
Dr. Eric Sutz, Music Institute of Chicago
Presented via Zoom
Saturday, December 4, 2020
Third Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Recordings, Registration Forms, Photo Release Forms, and Checks
due by Saturday, Dec 4
January, 2021
AIM (Achievement in Music) Theory Exams
Via Zoom or FaceTime
During the week of January 23 to January 30
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Third Annual BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Presented via Zoom
Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 10:00am
Piano Maintenance Explained
Barb Richmond,
Certified Piano Technician
Presented via Zoom
May, 2021
AIM (Achievement in Music) PerformanceExams*
Via Zoom or FaceTime
During the week of May 15 to May 22
May 7, 2021, 11:00am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Via Zoom
BNMTA 2019-2020 Schedule:
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Third Annual BNMTA Master Class
Clinician Svetlana Belsky,
University of Chicago Coordinator, Piano Studies
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Sunday, October 20, 2019, 1:00pm
Alexander Technique
Stasia Siena
Presser Hall, Room 161
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, November, 8, 2019, 11:00am
Arm Weight vs. Finger Method
Dr. Solee Lee-Clark
Kemp Recital Hall, Centennial East,
Illinois State University
Saturday, December 14, 2019, 9am-noon
Second Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
(To be Followed by End of Semester Business Meeting)
Saturday, January 25, 2020, 8:00am-noon*
AIM (Achievement in Music) Theory Exams
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
Sunday, February 2, 2020, 1:00pm
Second Annual BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, March 27, 2020, 10:00am
Piano Maintenance Explained
-POSTPONED-
Barb Richmond,
Certified Piano Technician
Presser Hall, Room 161
Illinois Wesleyan University
Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 9am
The History of Piano Pedagogy
-POSTPONED-
Dr. R. Kent Cook
308 Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, May 8, 11:00am
Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room,
Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, May 9, 2020, 9am-noon
AIM (Achievement in Music) PerformanceExams*
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
Third Annual BNMTA Master Class
Clinician Svetlana Belsky,
University of Chicago Coordinator, Piano Studies
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Sunday, October 20, 2019, 1:00pm
Alexander Technique
Stasia Siena
Presser Hall, Room 161
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, November, 8, 2019, 11:00am
Arm Weight vs. Finger Method
Dr. Solee Lee-Clark
Kemp Recital Hall, Centennial East,
Illinois State University
Saturday, December 14, 2019, 9am-noon
Second Annual Sonata/Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
(To be Followed by End of Semester Business Meeting)
Saturday, January 25, 2020, 8:00am-noon*
AIM (Achievement in Music) Theory Exams
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
Sunday, February 2, 2020, 1:00pm
Second Annual BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, March 27, 2020, 10:00am
Piano Maintenance Explained
-POSTPONED-
Barb Richmond,
Certified Piano Technician
Presser Hall, Room 161
Illinois Wesleyan University
Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 9am
The History of Piano Pedagogy
-POSTPONED-
Dr. R. Kent Cook
308 Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
Friday, May 8, 11:00am
Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room,
Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saturday, May 9, 2020, 9am-noon
AIM (Achievement in Music) PerformanceExams*
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
BNMTA 2018-2019 Schedule:
August 23, 2018, 9 AM
BNMTA Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
September 30, 2018, 2-6 PM
Dr. Maria Horvath
Presentation, Performance, and Master Class
for ISU students on her piano forte
Kemp Recital Hall,
Illinois State University
Reception for the event provided by BNMTA
October 25-26
ISMTA Conference
Northern Illinois University
November 15, 2018, 9 AM
BNMTA Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
November 29, 2018, 9 AM
Preparing Students for College Auditions
Renee Chernick (ISU),
Dr. Geoffrey Duce (ISU),
Dr. Ilia Radoslavov, (IWU)
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
December 8, 2018, 9 AM-12PM
Sonata Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
December 14, 2018, 11:30 AM
BNMTA Business Meeting / Luncheon
January 27, 2019, 2 PM
BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
February 9, 9 AM to 12 PM
AIM (Achievement in Music)
Theory Exams
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
March 26, 2019, 9 AM
Renee Chernick
Pedagogy Presentation:
Moving on from Piano Method Books
Presser Hall, Room 16,
Illinois Wesleyan University
April 13, 2019, 2 PM
Nancy Liley, ISMTA AIM Coordinator
AIM (Achievement in Music) Presentation
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
April 27, 2019, 2 PM
BNMTA Second Annual Master Class
Clinician Dr. Christos Tsitsaros
Students playing his original music
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
May 4, 2019, 9 AM to 12 PM
AIM (Achievement in Music)
Performance Exams
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
May 10, 2019, 10:30am
Afrim Shabani:
An Integrated Approach to Royal
Conservatory Methods in the Piano Studio
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
(followed by a BNMTA Business Meeting)
BNMTA 2017-2018 Schedule:
August 29, 2017, 9am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
September 26, 2017, 9am
Dr. Geoffrey Duce (ISU)
Playing Between the Dots:
Discovering Freedom in Performance through Early Recordings
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
October 24, 2017, 9am
Jane Schurter Smolen
Teaching the Individual:
Differentiation as a Teaching
Strategy in the Private Studio
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
November 28, 2017, 9am
Dr. Chee-Hyeon Choi
(Bradley University)
Teaching Culturally Diverse Students
ISU University Galleries,
11 Uptown Circle, #103,
Normal, IL
December, 2017
Member Holiday Gathering
January 23, 2018, 8pm
Member Recital,
Featuring Music Faculty of
Illinois State University and
Illinois Wesleyan University:
Kent Cook, IWU,
Geoffrey Duce, ISU,
Eva Ferguson, IWU,
Ilia Radoslavov, IWU
Tuyen Tonnu, ISU
Westbrook Auditorium,
Illinois Wesleyan University
February 24, 2018, 2pm
Master Class
Clinician Dr. Silvan Negrutiu
(Millikin University)
Kemp Recital Hall, Centennial East,
Illinois State University
March 8, 2018, 9am
BNMTA Business meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
March 27, 2018, 9am
Lorene Parsons
Opportunities through the
National Federation of Music Clubs
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
April 24, 2018, 9am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
May 11, 2018 11:30 AM
BNMTA Luncheon
BNMTA Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
September 30, 2018, 2-6 PM
Dr. Maria Horvath
Presentation, Performance, and Master Class
for ISU students on her piano forte
Kemp Recital Hall,
Illinois State University
Reception for the event provided by BNMTA
October 25-26
ISMTA Conference
Northern Illinois University
November 15, 2018, 9 AM
BNMTA Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
November 29, 2018, 9 AM
Preparing Students for College Auditions
Renee Chernick (ISU),
Dr. Geoffrey Duce (ISU),
Dr. Ilia Radoslavov, (IWU)
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
December 8, 2018, 9 AM-12PM
Sonata Sonatina Festival
Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
December 14, 2018, 11:30 AM
BNMTA Business Meeting / Luncheon
January 27, 2019, 2 PM
BNMTA Members’ Student Recital
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
February 9, 9 AM to 12 PM
AIM (Achievement in Music)
Theory Exams
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
March 26, 2019, 9 AM
Renee Chernick
Pedagogy Presentation:
Moving on from Piano Method Books
Presser Hall, Room 16,
Illinois Wesleyan University
April 13, 2019, 2 PM
Nancy Liley, ISMTA AIM Coordinator
AIM (Achievement in Music) Presentation
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
April 27, 2019, 2 PM
BNMTA Second Annual Master Class
Clinician Dr. Christos Tsitsaros
Students playing his original music
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
May 4, 2019, 9 AM to 12 PM
AIM (Achievement in Music)
Performance Exams
Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University
May 10, 2019, 10:30am
Afrim Shabani:
An Integrated Approach to Royal
Conservatory Methods in the Piano Studio
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
(followed by a BNMTA Business Meeting)
BNMTA 2017-2018 Schedule:
August 29, 2017, 9am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
September 26, 2017, 9am
Dr. Geoffrey Duce (ISU)
Playing Between the Dots:
Discovering Freedom in Performance through Early Recordings
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
October 24, 2017, 9am
Jane Schurter Smolen
Teaching the Individual:
Differentiation as a Teaching
Strategy in the Private Studio
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
November 28, 2017, 9am
Dr. Chee-Hyeon Choi
(Bradley University)
Teaching Culturally Diverse Students
ISU University Galleries,
11 Uptown Circle, #103,
Normal, IL
December, 2017
Member Holiday Gathering
January 23, 2018, 8pm
Member Recital,
Featuring Music Faculty of
Illinois State University and
Illinois Wesleyan University:
Kent Cook, IWU,
Geoffrey Duce, ISU,
Eva Ferguson, IWU,
Ilia Radoslavov, IWU
Tuyen Tonnu, ISU
Westbrook Auditorium,
Illinois Wesleyan University
February 24, 2018, 2pm
Master Class
Clinician Dr. Silvan Negrutiu
(Millikin University)
Kemp Recital Hall, Centennial East,
Illinois State University
March 8, 2018, 9am
BNMTA Business meeting
Smith Reception Room, Presser Hall,
Illinois Wesleyan University
March 27, 2018, 9am
Lorene Parsons
Opportunities through the
National Federation of Music Clubs
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
April 24, 2018, 9am
BNMTA Business Meeting
Presser Hall, Room 161,
Illinois Wesleyan University
May 11, 2018 11:30 AM
BNMTA Luncheon
