March 17-20: MTNA National Conference

On March 17-20, six C of O piano students and our piano professor Dr. Clara Christian were able to attend the MTNA national conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference featured many informative sessions as well as live performances. Students Laura Berthold, Zach Bryngelson, Kaylen Draschil, TJ Gozé, Brian Hofmann, and Monica Humrichouse participated in the trip.

Dr. Christian said that “the MTNA national conference was as inspiring as ever: it occurs in different parts of the country every year, and I haven't been to one since 2014 (when it was in Chicago). In 2012, I did a poster session while I was still a graduate student. But it was a lot of fun to be able to take C of O college students who had never been to one of these conferences before.”

Some of the conference highlights included performances by the national composition and performance competition winners (some of whom were only in fifth or sixth grade), the piano masterclass with Pavlina Dokovska, and workshops on subjects such as duet playing, performance practice on period instruments, and helping young professionals achieve success. It was thought provoking and encouraging to see so many topics and teaching styles represented.