Greetings!

Happy Spring!! Most of us are through our Festivals and probably ready for some downtime (does that ever really happen?). I hope you all had enjoyable and successful Festivals. They are long days but so worth it to see the smiles on the faces of our students.

I hope you will take a few minutes and read through the entire newsletter. There is always some good information included, and some wonderful pictures. Melody Lines is how we get the information out to all of our members so it's worth reading and opening the links. And, as always, I would LOVE getting information and/or pictures from YOU to include in this newsletter (as well as Junior Keynotes and Music Club Magazine). It's always fun and motivating to share with each other our experiences, our knowledge, our successes, and our inspiration. "A joy that's shared is a joy made double."

Along the same lines of "sharing," if you have any comments, concerns, or ideas on efficiency or "new ways of doing things," we, your WSFMC Executive Board, are always interested in hearing from you! This is not an exclusive state organization. We want everyone to feel free, and safe, to share ideas and/or concerns. Your input is valuable.

I'll end this with one of my favorite Robert Schumann quotes:


"What is the musician's calling? Is it not to send light into the 
deep recesses of the human heart?"


Know that you are touching lives with your music! You make a difference!

HAPPY READING!

Articles for Melody Lines Please send articles for Melody Lines to me at wsfmcpresident@gmail.com. Please send no later than a week before publication. Publication months are October, December, February, April, June, August.

I would LOVE to hear from all of our WSFMC Members who have news and information to share.

PLEASE click on the LINKS for valuable information. Thanks!

Sally L. Palmer

WSFMC President

e-mail: wsfmcpresident@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS WSFMC JUNIOR COMPOSERS!

There were eight entries in the WSFMC 2026 Junior Composers Contest. Here are the results:

CLASS I 
FIRST PLACE: Issac Price, 9 years old, piano composition Speed Ups 
Barbara Bergholm teacher

SECOND PLACE: David Simms, 9 years old, piano composition Jogging 
Barbara Bergholm teacher

CLASS II 
FIRST PLACE: Kaisa McOmber, 12 years old, piano composition Evergreen Mist

Barbara Bergholm teacher


SECOND PLACE: Kyler Smith, 11 years old, ensemble composition The Notes in My Head

Barbara Bergholm teacher


THIRD PLACE: Michael Kord, 11 years old, piano composition Early Morning 
Barbara Bergholm teacher

CLASS IV
FIRST PLACE: Avery Pun, 17 years old, ensemble composition Paper Petals 
Mark Salman teacher

SECOND PLACE: Kiarash Moussavi, 17 years old, piano composition The Heart Within
Benjamin Boujari teacher

THIRD PLACE: Own McOmber, 16 years old, ensemble composition Ark of Wind
Barbara Bergholm teacher

JUDGE: Ron Mallory, resides in Mulvane, Kansas; Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from California State University, Long Beach; Master's degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, Seattle.

WSFMC appreciates every entrant's submission and each teacher who encouraged their students to enter the contest!


WSFMC also appreciates Mary Kaye Owen, WSFMC JCC Chair, for all of her diligent and enthusiastic work on behalf of our young composers. Bravo Mary Kaye!

GRATITUDE and an OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE

Mary Kaye Owen, from the Puyallup Federated Music Club, has been serving as our WSFMC Junior Composers Contest chair for 10 years, and deserves a much needed rest.

Mary Kaye - thank you so much for your many years of service, for your talent and energy and enthusiasm for our young composers!! Glad you'll still be involved in some form or another in the WSFMC and PFMC!

Therefore, we are in need for a new Junior Composers Contest Chair. Mary Kaye has written out a succinct timeline of responsibilities and you'll notice about half-a-year you have "free time!" Please contact WSFMC President Sally Palmer if you would like to serve in this rewarding capacity.

CLICK HERE for timeline and responsibilities.



Yelena Balabanova and her "KEYS OF KINDNESS" students make a huge impact!




"Keys of Kindness" recently held a fundraiser to help the Sunflower Network build a pediatric hospital for Ukrainian children affected by the horrible war. The $5,000 that was raised will help buy the necessary medical equipment and deliver it to the new hospital. Thank you to all who showed their support and made a donation. Thank YOU "Keys of Kindness" for being such a great example of service for all of us!

CONGRATULATIONS ENYA ZOU!

Announcing the Washington State National Music Week Jr. Essay Contest Winner - Enya Zou! She is the student of Viktoriya Otto of the Greater Seattle Federated Music Club. Enya is a 14-year-old high school student. She plays piano and flute and has also explored trombone and guitar. She enjoys playing solo and in duets with friends in Classical, Romantic, Jazz, and other musical styles.

To read Enya's award winning essay, click here!



CONGRATULATIONS Enya! And thank-you to ALL who submitted essays. Keep up the good work students of Washington State!!!

WASHINGTON STATE TO SHINE BRIGHTER

How many of you, when you receive an NFMC magazine - Music Clubs Magazine and/or Junior Keynotes - go right to the back to see if anything has been submitted under "state news" for Washington State? It always makes me sad when there is no article for WSFMC. How can we rectify that?

I NEED YOUR HELP!

For the Junior Keynotes magazine, it would be great to submit articles related to:

• Grand and President Cup winners
• Competitions and awards that have been won by our Juniors
• Junior Club activities and achievements, including service projects
• Accolades and accomplishments from any of our Junior Counselors (teachers)

For the Music Clubs Magazine, it would be great to submit articles related to:

• What's happening in our Senior Clubs such as special programs, honors, awards, projects
• Accolades and achievements from our Student/Collegiate Division
• New Senior or Collegiate members who join your club

PICTURES can be included and enthusiastically desired.



There are only three times a year these magazines are published and it feels like a long time between submission and publication (hopefully this will be remedied when the magazines are offered online), but nonetheless, we want our state to be RECOGNIZED.

If any of our Junior Associate Clubs would like to submit something (programs, achievements, etc.) to the Junior Keynotes magazine, please do so!!

I would love to include the same information in our state newsletter, Melody Lines. Please contribute.

Submit all articles and pictures to me - Sally Palmer, WSFMC President & PR Rep. Please make sure pictures are in jpeg/jpg format. wsfmcpresident@gmail.com

Thank you!

Here are some Festival pictures shared with me this Festival season!



SYSO SUMMER MUSIC is the ultimate summer adventure for young musicians!! Whether you're just starting your orchestral journey or ready to tackle an exciting challenge, this camp is designed to inspire and elevate your playing!

Through chamber groups, string orchestra or wind ensembles, and a full orchestra experience, students build skills, boost confidence, and discover the joy of making music together. Each camp ends with a thrilling concerto for family and friends, showcasing all they've learned. Guided by Seattle's top music educator, students will explore new repertoire, sharpen their technique, and create lasting friendships in a supportive, fun-filled environment.

For more information, CLICK HERE. This link will take you directly to the SYSO Summer Music website.

An immersive orchestral summer program for advanced student musicians, where artistry meets inspiration, guided by SYSO's Music Director, Juan Felipe Molano. At Marrowstone, you'll dive into full-day rehearsals, chamber ensembles, masterclasses, and individual coaching with world-class faculty. We're thrilled to announce that Marrowstone is returning as a residential program for the first time in many years! The 2026 festival will be hosted at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA., where students will stay on campus for the duration of the intensive. Living and learning together in this vibrant university setting creates a true community experience - on filled with collaboration, creativity, and lasting friendships.

For all the details, CLICK HERE This is a wonderful opportunity!!

INTERNATIONAL CONCERTO FESTIVAL! ARE YOU INTERESTED?

• Soloist Experience: Intensive rehearsals and a public performance with a full professional orchestra.
  
• Expert Coaching: Masterclasses and individual lessons focusing on concerto repertoire and orchestral communication.
  
• Cultural Immersion: Study and perform in the heart of Europe, surrounded by the deep musical traditions of the Czech Republic.
  
• Professional Documentation: High-quality recordings of the performances to bolster students' portfolios and competition entries.

Then you would be interested in an extraordinary summer opportunity for your most talented piano students - the International Concerto Festival in Zin, Czech Republic.

From Yuchi Chou, president of the Bellevue Federated Music Club, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra conductor, and Seattle Festival Orchestra music director and conductor: " As a faculty member for this Festival, I will be working closely with the students in both a pedagogical and artistic capacity, focused on Concerto preparations. I am particularly thrilled to share that I will be conducting the final gala concert, guiding your students through the nuances of collaborative performance at the highest level.

Each year, the International Concerto Festival gives out prizes to the most outstanding performers. The winner will be awarded performance oppotunities with Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and/or Seattle Festival Orchestra. Last year, Brad Yick, a Seattle-based pianist won 2nd prize!

For more information about this fabulous opportunity, CLICK HERE for details and how to apply.

NATIONAL MUSIC WEEK

It’s time to start planning and get your students involved in

“NFMC – National Music Week!”

National Music Week: May 3rd – 10th, 2026

National Music Week has as its objective “to create an understanding and appreciation of the value of music in the home, community, nation and the world.”

National Music Week is sponsored by the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC).

Check out the website, to find out more ideas and ways to celebrate music during National Music Week. Questions? Contact: Chris VanBuskirk WSFMC – NFMC-NMW Chair

classickeys@comcast.net 253-820-4505

CLICK HERE for the ESSAY application and additional information. Happy writing!!

WE LOVE OUR JUNIOR ASSOCIATE CLUBS!!

Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra - https://www.byso.org/

Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestras - https://www.cyso.us/

Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra - https://www.mvyso.org/

Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra - https://syso.org/

Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia - https://studentorchestras.org/

Tacoma Youth Symphony Association - https://tysamusic.org/

Check out these websites for upcoming events and how you can show your support.

If you know of a group of junior age students who could benefit from being members of the Washington State Federation of Music Clubs, please contact Sally Palmer, Membership Chair.

Next Melody Lines Newsletter coming June 1st.

Please submit any announcements or articles by May 15th.

We would LOVE your contributions!!

Sally Palmer, Editor

LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE 2025 - 2026

Submitted by Dr. Yelena Balabanova, WSFMC Liability Insurance Chair



NFMC and its members are purchasing Liability Insurance only. This provides coverage to a third party for bodily injury or property damage the entity causes. You must be a member in good standing to obtain insurance!

National designated deadline to submit requests:

August 15 for events September 1 – December 31

December 1 for events January 1 – August 31



• Cost per event is $20. Add $5 extra per event if registered after the designated deadline
• Cost per event having consecutive days is $25.
• An event on a single day but at multiple sites costs $20 per site.
• No requests will be processed without an accurate address and date of event.
• If an event requires a rider of an additional insured, give the exact language required.
• Any changes requested after a certificate is issued will result in a $5 change fee.
• If you need to change an event date, and wait to inform NFMC until the original date has passed you will owe another full event fee. There is NO credit in that situation.
• A certificate verifying insurance coverage is issued only to an event that requests it. Certificates will be sent to the state liability chair and will be mailed to requested members.
• Coverage is not guaranteed until payment is received and processed by NFMC Headquarters. "No payment = No Insurance" 

WSFMC members:

Inform Insurance Chair by email in advance when you will make the payment online,

so Yelena can process the submission the same day you make the payment.

Make payment on www.nfmc-music.org/payment/

Select "Liability Insurance" under Plans

and Fill in your "Event Name, Date and Location" under Notes

Email payment receipt and forms below to YelenaBalabanova@gmail.com

2025-2026 Liability Insurance Request NFMC Liability Insurance Letter

NFMC Liability Insurance Request Form

Child Protection Policy Form