Greetings!

Happy, Happy New Year! As I sit here compiling this newsletter on a sunny winter day, I can't help but think of all the wonderful opportunities that lie ahead. Most of our students are practicing and polishing their pieces for their Federation Festival experience, and I truly hope it is an awesome experience for all involved - students, teachers, and parents. Then, before we know it, it will be end-of-the-year recital season! I love that we are all going to be immersed in some fabulous music!

It is also NFMC Competitions & Awards season! Many of the awards have deadline dates of March 1, April 1, or May 1. Jump on the NFMC website and look for the wide variety of available awards & competitions.

When I called out for some contributions to this newsletter, Yuchi Chou, president of the Bellevue Federated Music Club, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra conductor, and Seattle Festival Orchestra music director and conductor, sent me some great information about an International Concerto Festival, SYSO Summer Music, and the Marrowstone Music Festival residential camp. I know that most of us may want to skim over this great information because the majority of our teachers in Washington State focus on piano studies, but, don't skim! SHARE! Are your piano students also playing in their orchestra at school? I know a few of mine are, and that means I have some information for them that they might not hear about otherwise. Let's spread the word about these awesome opportunities! Thanks for the contributions to this newsletter, Yuchi!

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

BRAVO STUDENTS!!

Students of Yelena Balabanova (WSFMC Secretary; president of the North Sound Federated Music Club) have started a new organization called "Keys of Kindness" to bring music to those who need it most. Their activities will include performances, fundraising, education, cultural exchange, and advocating for the arts.

Their "Opus 1" was this past Sunday at the Mirabella Fairwinds Senior Residence in Seattle, performing an all Chopin program - "the music that elevates our lives and our world, and makes every day better." Kudos to the students at Ms. Balabanova's studio!

Here's YOUR opportunity to give to a community in need!

The due date is FEBRUARY 15, 2026, so you've still got time. 
This is a great opportunity!

CLICK HERE for more information & sponsor sheet

NOW is the time to start putting together the materials needed to submit applications for NFMC awards!!
There is money to be given away!

NFMC JUNIOR MUSIC COMPETITIONS

submitted by John Van Lierop, Jr., WSFMC Awards/Competitions Chair

The applications and requirements can be found on the NFMC Home page. On the menu click Competitions & Awards, then click Junior Division and finally all the Junior Division Competitions appear. Everything is now done online, including the application and payments, as well as uploading any videos.

I will briefly describe the five piano competitions that are available for 2026. I have included the new award money that has increased over last year. These increases might not be reflected yet on the present online entry forms. Make sure all applications have “August 2025” written in the lower right-hand corner of the application (and the rules and procedures paperwork. All updated forms should be online by the first of September 2025.)

CLICK HERE for the full article and the FIVE Junior Piano Awards

And there are plenty of other awards for Juniors and Seniors and Student/Collegiate. Be sure to read the Composer Contest article in this newsletter! Check out the NFMC website for all awards!

If you have any questions or need any assistance, you can contact John Van Lierop II or Sally Palmer. We are happy to help!

I have a request- Could teachers please inform me when you enter one of your students in any of these competitions? We want to recognize your students in one of our future Melody Lines, whether they are a National winner or not. Just being in the competition takes a lot of work! 

BREAKING NEWS!
This just in! I thought I should check my email one last time before sending out this newsletter and wouldn't you know? I received some GREAT news!

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. Hopefully I'll have a picture and the award-winning essay to include in the next issue of Melody Lines.

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

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.

Keeping in the loop with all things 
FEDERATION FESTIVAL!

2024-2028 NFMC ONLINE Festivals Bulletin is now available! New National Festival Chair is Debbie Wiser.


CLICK HERE for information from State Festivals Chair, Selina Chu, on accessing the Online Bulletin.

CLICK HERE to access the ONLINE Bulletin

NEW: Popular Music event – the Choice piece does NOT have to be listed in the Bulletin. Published arrangements of game/anime/movie music are acceptable for this event. Be sure to check pg. xiii of the Bulletin for specific requirements. 

NEW: Piano Duets: only one piece can come from the “required” list this year 

Festival entry fees due to the state will go up $1 this year: _____/entry. Gold and silver cup fees will also go up this year _____________/cup 

Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra
We've missed you!!

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!!

JUNIOR COMPOSERS CONTEST INFORMATION
submitted by Tom Gerou, NFMC Junior Composers Contest Chair / Mary Kaye Owen, WSFMC Chair

The portal for submissions for the Junior Composers Contest opened October 1st. To ensure a positive experience for all the young composers submitting their work, it is important to remind the students to:

1. Carefully label their score in the right hand corner (title, composer's name, age as of March 1, 2026, and Class).
   
2. Carefully label the uploaded score PDF and audio MP3 correctly (Class #, last name, first name, title of composition).
   
3. Make sure their age as of March 1, 2026 qualifies for the appropriate Class.
   
4. Register by the State's deadline (Washington State's deadline is Feb. 1, 2026).

Now, go compose!!

More Junior Composers Contest Information


State entry fee increases voted in favor of by the state board in April 2025

Class I - $30

Class II - $35

Class III - $40

Class IV - $40

When registering, the state and national fees are submitted to  nfmc-music.org/payment and the application, score, and mp3 are submitted in the same time-frame to https://forms.nfmc-music.org/forms/. 

Junior Composers Contest entry deadline is February 1, 2026. Compositions should be submitted to NFMC in January. 

Here is the link to the JCC rules https://www.nfmc-music.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/JR-7-1-3.pdf. 

I've just secured our 2026 judge: Ron Mallory, currently in Kansas, but with a UW MM degree and career work begun in the Eastside area in the '90s. He is an award-winning composer, with many works listed in J.W. Pepper catalog.

Let's get all of our students and youth orchestra members to submit a composition this year. Imagine the creativity!!

Festivals Specially Capable Musicians

Several of the WSFMC Conference attendees asked about the "Festivals Specially Capable Musicians" Form, JR 3-13. There were questions about what constituted "specially capable" and "disability." Physical disabilities and mental health issues are all considered "specially capable." So many issues our students may struggle with are not visible issues (anxiety, depression, autism, ADD, etc.), so those issues are indeed taken into consideration. When looking at the JR 3-13 "Festivals Specially Capable Musicians" form, here are things to remember:

• Teacher and parent (or adult student) must fill out and sign the form.
  
• Disability and the accommodation requested must be included in the application
  
• Form must be completed and approved by the State Chair at least one month before the Festival date
  
• Festival Chair must be informed, and the judges must be informed ahead of time
  
• Don't leave a paper trail: return applications to the parent, don't include SCM on ratings sheets or certificates, no public announcements of SCM status
  
• 
  
• A permanent application is now available as of 2026, but the teacher must submit the form every year. It's not necessary to have the permanent form "reapprove
  
• Click Here for the Festivals Specially Capable Musician Form JR 3-13

Your new 2025-2027 NFMC Festivals Team!

As always, if you have questions about Festivals, contact your Club Festivals Chair first. If that person does not have the answers, either you or they should then contact our WSFMC Festivals Chair, Selina Chu.

The following Junior Division recommendations were approved in June by the Board of Directors at the 2025 NFMC Convention held in Austin, TX:

1. Federation Cup pre-orders must be approved by the NFMC Federation Cup Chair and NFMC Executive Director.

2. The JR 3-13 Specially Capable Musician application must be approved by the local (area) and State Festivals Chairs. A one-time filing is now applicable for permanent conditions. The student’s teacher must retain the initial approval form and resubmit it each year to the Area Chair.

3. The Popular Piano Solo Event choice piece may/may not be from the required list.

4. Eliminate the class correlations/requirements for sight-singing/playing.

5. The solo correlations for the Violin Concerto event are now not mandatory; they are guidelines only.

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 April 1st.

Please submit any announcements or articles by March 15th.

We would LOVE your contributions!!

Sally Palmer, Editor

News from Deborah Freeman, NFMC President

Click Here for News

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