2006 MTNA Foundation Fellows.

The MTNA FOUNDATION FUND Fellow Program honors deserving individuals who have made significant contributions to the music world and the music teaching profession. In its seventh year, this program supports the efforts of MTNA through donations to the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND in an individual's name.

Gary Amano, of Logan, Utah, is director of piano studies at Utah State University (USU). He holds bachelor and master of music degrees from the Juilliard School in New York. Amano founded the USU Youth Conservatory, which has produced first-place or grand-prize student winners in many of the country's most prestigious piano competitions, including many MTNA competitions, and has been lauded by NASM as a national model for youth programs.

The late Diane Brimmer, NCTM, of Independence, Iowa, graduated from Sherwood Music School in Chicago, and held a state master certificate from the Iowa MTA. She was active throughout her career serving as Iowa MTA president and certification board and repertoire committee member, and Northeast Area MTA president and advisor. Brimmer also received the Iowa MTA Master Teacher Award (1971), the Iowa MTA Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award (1994) and the Iowa MTA Certified Teacher of the Year (2005, posthumous). She died in December 2004, after 56 years of teaching, composing and arranging music.

Sandra Carnes, NCTM, of East Sparta, Ohio, is professor of music at Malone College in Canton, Ohio, where she served as chair of the fine arts department from 1987 to 1997, and is currently the director of the piano preparatory program. She also teaches piano pedagogy, applied piano and directs the piano ensemble. Carnes is a graduate of Malone College and holds a master of music degree from the University of Akron. She is past president of the Ohio MTA and MTNA's East Central Division. Carnes served on the MTNA Board of Directors and holds a Master Teacher Certificate.

Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield, NCTM, of Princeton, New Jersey, is a nationally recognized teacher, clinician, pianist and author, and professor of piano and coordinator of the piano department at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. She holds a bachelor of music degree from Oberlin College and a master of music degree from the Eastman School of Music. Clarfield has given lecture-recitals, workshops and master classes in more than 100 cities across North America. She has also authored many collections for Alfred Publishing Company, including Keys to Stylistic Mastery, Books 1-3, From Mystery to Mastery and Artistic Preparation and Performance. Clarfield maintains an independent studio in Princeton, New Jersey.

Jean Fox, NCTM, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, teaches private piano lessons in her home. She is an active adjudicator and clinician. In addition to giving music education workshops throughout North America, she has presented at several state MTA conventions and the MTNA National Conference. Fox was named 1988 Pennsylvania Distinguished Teacher of the Year by the Pennsylvania MTA and in 1994, was awarded the Pennsylvania MTA Distinguished Service Award. Fox is a past president of PMTA and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of PMTA. She was president of MTNA's Eastern Division and served on the MTNA Board of Directors from 1996 to 1998. She is treasurer of the Lehigh Valley MTA.

Joyce L. Grill, NCTM, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, founded the LaCrosse Area MTA in 1980 and has been an active member of the LaCrosse Area MTA, serving as an officer or in other leadership roles. In addition, she has served as Wisconsin MTA president and held several positions in the East Central Division. She has given clinics, presentations and recitals at the local, national and international levels. Her solo and piano ensemble compositions are performed nationwide, and she is frequently a guest conductor for multi-piano festivals. Grill served on the music faculty of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Grill holds the MTNA Master Teacher Certificate.

Karen Harrington, NCTM, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she studied piano under Celia Mae Bryant, the first female president of MTNA. Harrington taught in both public schools and her home during the past 25 years. A current member of the MTNA Board of Directors, she has served as president of the Texas MTA and the Northeast District of the Oklahoma MTA, along with serving MTNA's South Central Division in many capacities including secretary, president and vice president. She has exhibited at many MTNA National Conferences, several state conventions and has presented theory programs for many local chapters.

Kathleen Hasse, of Cologne, Minnesota, graduated from Concordia College and Minnesota State University. She was director of worship arts and director of the school of music at Trinity Lutheran Church and School and maintained a piano studio in her home. She has served as the MTNA West Central Division Performance Competitions coordinator. Hasse has also served the Minnesota MTA (MMTA) as treasurer, vice president of finance and president. She has been president of the MMTA Foundation and has chaired or served on numerous MMTA committees. She was an organizing member of the West Suburban MTA and has written and developed the MMTA Graduation Standards Performance Packages.

Charlotte Heermann, NCTM, of Lincoln, Nebraska, earned a licentiate degree as a pianoforte performer from the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, a bachelor of music degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and a master's degree from Northwestern University. She has worked as an independent music teacher for more than 45 years. Heermann has been president of the Nebraska MTA and currently serves as Nebraska's MTNA Senior Competitions chair.

Betty Armstrong Hood, NCTM, of Amarillo, Texas, graduated with a bachelor of music degree from the North Texas State University before going onto graduate studies at Texas Tech University. She is a member of the Amarillo MTA, Texas MTA, MTNA (50-year member), Sigma Alpha Iota and Pi Kappa Lambda. Hood has served in all offices of the Amarillo MTA and many offices of the Texas MTA. She earned MTNA Permanent Professional Certification in piano and theory and has acted as an adjudicator in music festivals throughout Oklahoma and Texas. Hood was named Amarillo MTA Teacher of the Year in 1983 and 2002-2003.

Annette Gong Joe, NCTM, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been teaching piano and been a member of the Mississippi MTA (MMTA) for more than 40 years. She has served the Jackson MTA in almost every office and is now a certified consultant for the International Piano Teachers Foundation. Along with being a founding member and second president of the Music Forum in Jackson, Joe has served MMTA as secretary, pre-college chair, vice president and president, and also has been awarded the International Institute of Young Musicians' Outstanding Teacher plaque.

Editor's Note: This list is the first half of the 2006 MTNA FOUNDATION Fellows. The second half will be published in the August/September 2006 AMT.