Spring Festival 2025
As we all know, the weather in Vermont can be challenging at almost any time of the year. On Saturday, March 29, 2025 – the day of Spring Festival – much of Vermont was walloped by a nor’easter.
Each year, Lilly Ramsey, chair of the VMTA Spring Festival, generously devotes many hours to organizing this event, and that includes the complicated scheduling of students and judges, which is no easy feat in good weather. The hazardous road conditions generated by that nor’easter prevented a number of teachers, judges and students from traveling to the Festival. Thankfully, with generous help from teachers already at the site, Lilly was able to arrange for some of the absent students to submit video recordings of their performances. Additionally, many teachers there volunteered their entire day to cover for those judges who were unable to attend. The result? Spring Festival 2025 was a huge success!
This type of collaboration, of working together, is the heart of VMTA. We have wonderful teachers who donate their time and expertise to make this organization a thriving one. VMTA is an organization dedicated to music education in Vermont. This is your VMTA, and that means that if you are so inclined, why not sign up to help at an upcoming event? Or join the board of directors? Or chair one of our musical events? Vermont is a small state with a small population, but VMTA manages to present many events similar to those the larger states with larger memberships do. Again, this is your VMTA, so get involved in its activities. We welcome your energy and your input!
-Laurel Ann Maurer
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VMTA CALENDAR
Quad State Conference
October 18, 2025
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From the Spring Festival Chair
The VMTA held its annual Spring Festival on Saturday, March 28th, 2025, at Trinity Baptist Church in Williston. 52 students from the studios of Patty Bergeron, Linda Buermeyer, Hiromi Fukuda, Lisa Goodrich, Marie Johnson, Petr Kepka, Lilly Ramsey, Michael Sitton, Jina Smith and Melissa Towle registered.
Thank you to member teachers Patty Bergeron, Linda Buermeyer, Ed Darling, Hiromi Fukuda, Lisa Goodrich, Sarah Griffith, Susan Nicholas, Lilly Ramsey, Michael Sitton, Jina Smith and Melissa Towle for judging. Because of challenging weather, several teachers and students outside of Chittenden County were not able to make it. We would like to thank Ed Darling, Hiromi Fukuda, Melissa Towle and Jina Smith for extending their days. Also, special thanks to alumni pianist now professional actor and musician Tommy Bergeron for jumping in to help. All students were still able to be judged by two judges. Students outside of Chittenden County unable to get to the event were able to submit their programs by video. Special thanks to Susan Nicholas, Linda Buermeyer, Michael Sitton and Art DeQuasie for listening to these students. Thanks to all for this tremendous team effort!
Participation numbers were up for 2025 with 52 students registered. This is an increase from 37 students in 2024 and 33 students in 2023. We hope to have still more participants in 2026.
-Lilly Ramsey
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VMTA Chat Space
We have made some progress on setting up a virtual chat space for our members. WHATSAPP is currently being reviewed by the Board of Directors to develop clear installation procedures and to determine when to invite all members. You are not required to accept the invitation when it arrives, but if you do, you can at least ‘listen in’ on discussions of other members. It is possible that it will be used as a supplement to the Newsletter, to share offers that we get in the VMTA email account. If you don’t already have it, the app is easy to install on a smartphone or tablet. Technical support will be available as needed. Any member who wishes to serve as administrator of this space is cordially invited to contact Sarah to make that happen.
The Board is hoping that adding this ‘perk’ to the member benefits will enhance sharing of news and ideas between members - and lead to growth of membership and virtual programs. Coming Soon!
Sarah Griffith - sarah5432@gmail.com
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Save the date: Quad State Conference – October 18
Mark your calendar for the biennial Quad State Conference, which we share with our MTNA colleagues in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, occurring this year on Saturday, October 18 and hosted by the New Hampshire Music Teachers’ Association. The date has been announced, although the specific location hasn’t yet – we’ll let you know when that is set! The registration deadline will be October 11. Here’s a link where you can check for updates and for registration information once that process opens: Quad State 2025
We look forward to hearing the premiere of a new work by our Vermont Commissioned Composer, Callum Robechek, which will be performed at the Quad State Conference along with works by composers from the other participating states.
This is a great opportunity to engage with teaching colleagues in our neighboring states, to be energized by inspiring presentations, and to hear memorable performances. Make a note of this date and please plan to attend!
-Michael Sitton
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Remember to check out MTNA eFestival opportunities!
The MTNA eFestival runs year-round. No deadlines!
For more information, Click Here
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President:
Laurel Maurer
802-881-9153
laurelannmaurer@gmail.com
Immediate Past President:
Marie Johnson
802-879-8863
President-Elect:
TBD
Secretary:
TBD
Treasurer:
Sarah Griffith
802-223-5307
sarah5432@gmail.com
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Conference Chair:
Patty Bergeron (interim)
802-878-9873
pcberg86@gmail.com
Non-Competitive Auditions:
Lilly C. Ramsey
802-879-7425
cldkramsey@comcast.net
Competitive Auditions:
Linda Buermeyer
802-439-6469
linduxbuermeyer@yahoo.com
Certification:
TBD
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Newsletter:
Yin Stewart
802-310-2110
yinmeistewart@gmail.com
Membership:
Patricia Cleary Bergeron
802-878-9873
pcberg86@gmail.com
Web Publicist:
Sarah Griffith &
Patty Bergeron
Composer Commissioning:
Michael Sitton
802-839-8336
michael.sitton1@gmail.com
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GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION!
Volunteers are needed to serve on the VMTA board! We currently need to fill the following positions:
President-Elect
Secretary
Conference Chair
Certification Chair
Come and join our wonderful group of board members and see how your organization works!
| Wanted: FRESH ENERGY for Website-Builder review and comparison so that VMTA is prepared for upcoming changes to the current plan and services. Do you have those skills? Or do you know someone who would be willing to help out? If we do nothing, we will be paying more and getting less. Can we do better for our students and teachers? | | |
SPONSORS
VMTA is always looking for new Sponsors or Donors. Anyone who cares about music education can be a Sponsor or Donor. VMTA has publicity brochures and postcards and business cards that provide contact information for prospective supporters. They are designed for distribution to students and their families, and to the public, and are suitable for display in your studio, at your recitals, or at your favorite willing public location. If you or your student families would like to help find new Sponsors or Donors by distributing these items, please ask Sarah Williams to send you a supply of the latest designs. Image files are also available on request. Suggestions for new designs are welcome. Meanwhile, these are the links for becoming a Sponsor or
making a Donation.
| | Is your newsletter getting "lost" in your spam folder? You can fix that by following these helpful hints: If yours is a GMAIL email address and this newsletter doesn’t arrive in your primary INBOX, you can adjust your Gmail settings by following the steps shown here under “Create a filter” - or contact Sarah Williams for assistance. | | Join us on Facebook! Please check out the latest VMTA programs and news on the Vermont Music Teachers Association Facebook page!” click here | | VMTA Website: vermontmta.net | | | | |
