Newsletter
September 2017
In This Issue
President's Greetings
Fall Speaker Series
Teachers' Exchange
Master Class
Music Sale
Reminders and Deadlines
Newsletter
Changes to Member News
NETPA Facebook
2017-2018 Program Booklet
Parking Details
Presidential Luncheon
Volunteer Thank Yous
UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, Sept. 25
Meeting 9:30AM

CATHERINE KAUTSKY

"Teaching Debussy:  A Gateway to Story-Telling, Pedaling, Coloration, and Imaginative Listening"


The First Parish Watertown 

NEPTA Music Sale
9:00AM 

***

Monday, October 23
Meeting 9:30AM

GABRIEL CHODOS
"Some Thoughts on Schubert's Piano Music"


The First Parish Watertown

NEPTA Music Sale
9:00AM

***

Monday, November 13
Meeting 9:30AM

TEACHERS' EXCHANGE
JEAN STACKHOUSE
 
"Musical Musings"

Refreshments Served
Committee Chair, Dianne Impallaria

Wellesley Free Library
530 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA

***

Monday, December 4
Meeting 9:30AM
 
TEACHERS' 
MASTER CLASS
PHYLLIS LEHRER

Fundraiser for Susan B. Demb Teacher Enrichment Grant Fund

Donations Accepted

The First Parish Watertown





PRESIDENT'S GREETINGS

 
Dear NEPTA Members,
 
As President of NEPTA, I would like to welcome you to the 2017-2018 season!  I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing summer.  For this coming season, NEPTA  continues its dedication to providing  opportunities to  its  members with  a  series of inspiring events, including the Speaker Series, Teachers' Exchange, Teachers' Master Class, Student Recitals, Student Competitions, Students' Master Class, and Awards Recital.  Please don't miss out on these wonderful programs.  All program information is in the 2017-2018 Program Booklet (which you should have received in the mail), as well as on our website.  I am looking forward to meeting you all at our upcoming events - starting with the first Speaker Series on Monday, September 25th!  If you are a new member, please introduce yourself so I may personally welcome you.

It is an honor and privilege to begin my term as president of NEPTA.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Ranko Konishi-Houston
NEPTA President 
FALL SPEAKER SERIES EVENTS
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for our fall Speaker Series events:
"Teaching Debussy:  A Gateway to Story-Telling, Pedaling, Coloration,
and Imaginative Listening"
 
Lecture by Catherine Kautsky
Monday, September 25, 2017, 9:30am-12:00pm
Click here for Ms. Kautsky's biography
 

 "Some Thoughts on Schubert's Piano Music"
Lecture by Gabriel Chodos
Monday, October 23, 2017, 9:30am-12:00pm
Click here for Mr. Chodos' biography

All Speaker Series events take place at the First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St, Watertown, MA 02472

For more detailed information, check the 2017-2018 program booklet or the NEPTA website. 
NOVEMBER 13: FALL TEACHERS' EXCHANGE
 
The Teachers' exchange is an opportunity for members to learn from each other, either through a special topic demonstration, or through question and answer sessions. 
Honorary member and past NEPTA president, Jean Stackhouse, was scheduled to participate in last Spring's Teachers' Exchange with Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee and A. Ram รณ n Rivera, but was unable to attend. 
We are thrilled that she was able to reschedule for this Fall. Jean has been an admired and respected mentor to many teachers. She was Chair of the NEC Preparatory School piano faculty, and worked with the Piano Pedagogy program of the college. Please make an effort to come and listen to the "Musical Musings" of this wonderful teacher, and bring your questions to share with Jean. There will be coffee and snacks at 9:30, with time to meet and greet new members.

Monday, November 13, 2017, 9:30am-12:00pm
Wellesley Free Library  530 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 (free parking in garage below the library)

TEACHERS' MASTER CLASS: PHYLLIS LEHRER

NEPTA is pleased to present this master class with Phyllis Lehrer as a benefit for teacher educational enrichment.  Donations are welcome!  Your donation will go toward NEPTA's Susan B. Demb Teacher Enrichment Grants.  Donate online at www.nepta.info, or make a cash donation at the master class meeting.  

NEPTA members interested in performing should contact Robert Finley, [email protected]

Monday, December 4, 2017, 9:30am - 12:00 pm
First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St, Watertown, MA 02472
MUSIC SALE  

The NEPTA music sale will take place on September 25 and October 23 at the First Parish starting at 9:00 am.

Take this opportunity to acquire music at a very reasonable price.  You may even find some rare music that you've been looking for.

If you have inquiries regarding the music sale, contact Ruth Ross:  [email protected]
REMINDERS AND DEADLINES

NEPTA Dues Renewal
This is a reminder that members who want to enter students in the 2018 NEPTA recitals and/or competitions must pay their dues by September 30, 2017.  A $20 late fee applies.  If you are not comfortable renewing your dues online, Diana Tetzlaff and Barbara Lieurance will help guide you through the process.
Diana Tetzlaff:  [email protected] or 617-816-1777
Barbara Lieurance:  [email protected] or 617-437-7718

Miriam Pizer Award 
Deadline is October 15th.  Established in memory of Miriam Pizer.  A $250 award to a student in Grades K-5 who are in need of assistance for lesson tuition or other essential expenses.  A teacher may submit no more than one student's name.  The winner will be selected during the October NEPTA meeting. The teacher will be notified but the student's name will be kept private.  Submit your name along with your student's name by email to Ranko Konishi-Houston:  [email protected]

Grants-in-Aid
Eight awards in the amount of $125 are available to students in need.  To apply, send a brief note from the teacher (email is acceptable) stating the family's need and reasons for financial assistance to Carol Chaffee, Scholarship Chair:  [email protected]

Recitals & Competitions 
O nline applications will be available on the NEPTA website after October 15th.
NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE CHANGES

You will receive three newsletters this year, arriving in September, December and March.   New this year: m ember news is not included in the Newsletters (more details on this below).
MEMBER NEWS

You will now receive Members News in a separate email, also arriving in September, December and March. For submission guidelines, click here, or go to the NEPTA the homepage, hover your cursor over the "MEMBERS" tab, then click "Member News Guidelines."

Please note the new deadlines for submission and make sure to submit in time for inclusion in the next member news. 
NEPTA'S FACEBOOK PAGE  
 
Post your news on NEPTA's facebook page
including pictures, videos and recordings.  You can post concert listings and other items, and see the latest news from fellow NEPTA members.

NEPTA's Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/NEPTAPiano/, or go to NETPA's website and follow the Facebook link. 

2017-2018 PROGRAM BOOKLET AND DIRECTORY

You should have received the 2017-2018 Program Booklet and Members' Directory in the mail.  If you have not received your copies, please contact Janna Bruene, chair of membership:  [email protected]

PARKING ANNOUNCEMENTS
car-sales-lot2.jpg

Please do not park in The Watertown Savings Bank parking lot for NEPTA events.
There is a metered parking lot adjacent to the church.  Blue colored meters accept coins up to a maximum of 8 hours.

PAST PRESIDENTS


The annual NEPTA Presidential Luncheon was held this past June at The Cottage Chestnut Hill. This year's attendees were Donna Gross Javel (2015-2017), Lydia Reed-Guertin (2009-2011), Barbara Jones (2005-2007), Shann Wood (2003-2005), Miriam Gargarian (2001-2003), Carol Chaffee (1991-1993), and Joan Collins (1981-1983).  Thank you to all the past presidents including those who were unable to attend this time.  I am especially grateful to Donna Gross Javel for her continuous guidance and her wise counsel.   Our organization is blooming today because of their past work and sacrifices. 
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR NEPTA VOLUNTEERS

Many of our volunteers have worked through the summer.  I am fortunate and grateful to work with the group of dedicated, experienced volunteers listed below.  You may not know all these volunteers, but I encourage you to take a moment and meet them.  Please express your gratitude for their commitment to running this organization.  Thank you.

Board of Directors:  Diana Tetzlaff (VP), Caroline Ly Germanys (Executive Secretary), Natacha Rist (Recording Secretary), Janice Spillane (Treasurer), and Board Members Barbara Engel, Marianne Jensen, Barbara Lieurance, Irina Baghdasaryan, Tong Liu, Eleanor Perrone, Christina Guibas, Valerie Ross, and Jia Shi

Awards Committee :  Kathryn Rosenbach, Cindy Null, Colleen Campbell, Diana Tetzlaff, and Janice P. Zaganjori
 
Competition Committee:  Michal Harris, Jia Shi, and Diana Tetzlaff
 
Selection, Post-1950 Repertoire Committee:  Deborah Yardley Beers (chair), Elaine Rombola Aveni, Sivan Etedgee, and Donna Gross Javel
 
Donations Committee:  Carol Chaffee and Lydia Reed-Guertin
 
Email Communications:  Eleanor Perrone
 
Facebook Committee:   Donna Gross Javel (chair) and Caroline Ly Germeys
 
Help Desk for Online Registration Committee:  Diana Tetzlaff and Barbara Lieurance
 
Investment Committee:  Catherine Costello Hirata (chair), Cindy Null, Lydia Reed-Guertin, Shizue Sano, and Janice Spillane
 
Luncheon:  Nina Grimaldi
 
Master Class Committee:  Janet Ainsworth and Robert Finley
 
Membership Committee:  Janna Bruene (chair) and  Lydia Reed-Guertin
 
Mentoring:  Elizabeth Reed
 
Music Librarian:  Ruth Ross
 
Newsletter Committee:  Valerie Ross, Eleanor Perrone, and Tanya Schwartzman
 
Nominating Committee:  Lydia Reed-Guertin (chair), Janna Bruene, and Colleen Campbell
 
Program Committee:  Colleen Campbell (Chair), Janna Bruene, Miriam Gargarian, Irina Gelman, Donna Gross Javel, Barbara Jones, and Lydia Reed-Guertin
 
Teachers' Exchange:  Dianne Impallaria
 
Website Coordinator & Tech Support:  Caroline Ly Germeys
 
Recital Committee:  Marianne Jensen (Junior I chair), Alia Mavroforos, Tong Liu (Junior II chair), Valerie Henkin, Karin Kydland (Intermediate I chair), Lyubov Shlain (Intermediate II chair), Natalia Harlap, Selma Ramic, Niva Fried (Senior chair), Janet Ainsworth, Christina Guibas (20th/21st Century chair), Diane Anderson (Composition, Jazz & Pop chair), Nina Grimaldi (Ensemble chair), Elizabeth Landman, Tong Liu, Irina Baghdasaryan (Adult, chair), and Dianne Impallaria

Thank you to all the volunteers!
 
If you would like to help and share your talent in our organization, please contact NEPTA president Ranko Konishi-Houston:  [email protected]