Foundation fund: meet the 2005 foundation fellows.

James Johnson, of Omaha, Nebraska, maintains an active career as a concert pianist, organist-choirmaster and educator. As an organist, Johnson's career has included performances of organ concerti with Sandor Salgo, conductor of the Carmel Bach Festival, as well as many solo recitals. His inaugural recital of the Gress-Miles organ at the University of Alaska was nationally broadcast on public radio. His English organ recital tours have included performances in London, Surrey, Essex and Leicester Cathedral.

As an educator, Johnson was winner of the Award for Inspirational Teaching at the University of Alaska, where he taught for 20 years. In 2001, he was named winner of the Excellence in Teaching award at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. From among the ranks of his piano and organ students have come more than 100 winners of area, state and regional competitions. In 2002, he was awarded the Robert M. Spire endowed professorship in music at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In 2004, he was selected as the Nebraska MTA Teacher of the Year.

June Leondar, NCTM, of Fort Worth, Texas, has a bachelor of science degree in music education and a master's degree in music education from Texas Tech University. She began her career teaching music in Texas public schools, then opened an independent piano and voice studio.

From 1968 to 1998, Leondar was a faculty member at Tarrant Count College's Northeast Campus in Hurst, where she taught private piano, developed the class piano program and supervised a preparatory piano program for pre-college students.

An active MTNA member since 1957, Leondar is chair of the MTNA South Central Division competitions. In the past, she has served as president of the Texas MTA, the Midland MTA and the Fort Worth MTA, and as president-elect, secretary/treasurer and convention program chair of the Texas MTA.

Among her honors, Leondar was named Teacher of the Year by Texas MTA and received the Distinguished Service Award from the humanities division of Tarrant Count College.

Sigrid Luther, NCTM, of Dayton, Tennessee, is a professor of music at Bryan College, where she developed the piano pedagogy major, teaches piano, piano-related courses and music theory. She also is active as a guest recitalist, collaborative pianist and adjudicator.

Luther, who earned a D.M.A. degree from Louisiana State University, has studied with Adelaide Banaszynski, Laurence Morton, Peggy Ramsey and Daniel Sher. She accompanies the Bryan Chorale and serves as pianist at Hixson Presbyterian Church.

An active MTNA member, Luther is the faculty advisor of the MTNA collegiate chapter at Bryan College. She has served MTNA in numerous roles, including as president, president-elect and competitions coordinator of the Southern Division; president of both the Tennessee MTA and the Chattanooga MTA; member of the MTNA Board of Directors; chair of the Division Presidents Advisory Council and the MTNA Code of Ethics Task Force.

Among her honors, Luther received outstanding teaching awards from Bryan College, the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts, the Chattanooga MTA and the Tennessee MTA.

James Norden, NCTM, pianist, received B.M. and M.M. degrees from Michigan State University and a D.M.A. degree from the University of Iowa. He has taught at Southwestern State University in Oklahoma, the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, and at Alverno College and Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Norden is active as teacher, adjudicator and clinician. He also has performed for many years as a chamber music pianist and piano accompanist with and for artists around the country. Active in church music, he is presently organist and choir director at St. Boniface Episcopal Church in Mequon, Wisconsin. Other musical interests include conducting two German choruses in the Milwaukee area.

Norden has been active in MTNA for many years, having held association offices at the state, division and national levels, finally serving as MTNA national president, 1993-1995. Recently retired from full-time college teaching, he currently is national coordinator of the MTNA Chamber Music Competitions.

Sandra Arnold Peterson, NCTM, of South Jordan, Utah, has been an independent teacher of piano and theory for 40 years. She attended the University of Utah as a full presidential scholarship recipient, receiving a bachelor's degree in piano performance and music theory. She also received a master's degree in piano pedagogy from Brigham Young University.

Peterson is a pianist and accompanist for the American Symphony of the West, the Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra and is a regular solo performer for the Temple Square Concert Series, Pro Musica Chorus and Holladay Musical Series. She also is an adjudicator in Arizona, Utah and Idaho.

Among her honors, Peterson received the Mu Phi Epsilon Merit Award (twice), a special recognition certificate from the Utah MTA, was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and is listed in the Who's Who in Music, Who's Who in American Women, International Who's Who of Professionals and the Directory of Distinguished Americans. An active MTNA member, Peterson was president of her local association and was chair of the Utah Youth Guild Competition.

Phyllis I. Pieffer, NCTM, of Aberdeen, Washington, is MTNA immediate past president. She has been actively involved in MTNA for 30 years, having previously held such positions as MTNA president-elect and vice president for membership development; Colorado state president, certification chair and competitions chair; West Central Division president and junior high competition coordinator; and MTNA high school performance competitions coordinator.

Pieffer holds degrees in piano performance from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, and in music theory from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. She was instrumental in developing the Foothills MTA in Lakewood, Colorado. While residing in Colorado, she served as assistant professor and chair of the music department at Colorado Christian University (CCU) in Lakewood, in addition to maintaining a successful independent music studio.

An adjudicator, clinician and performer, Pieffer teaches piano and theory at Grays Harbor College and operates an independent music studio.

2006 Grant Guidelines and Forms Now Available

Guidelines and application forms for the 2006 MTNA FOUNDATION FUND grants are available on the FOUNDATION FUND website at www.mtnafoundation.org.

Teacher Enrichment Grants are provided to music teachers for private study, specific college-level course work or other projects that will enhance the performing and teaching skills of the applicant.

The MTNA FOUNDATION FUND awards grants to MTNA-affiliated local associations for projects that provide educational opportunities for students and teachers. Grants also are given for projects that support the promotion of music in the immediate community. Matching g rants are available for established associations. Start-up grants are available for associations in the process of being formed.

The purpose of the State Affiliate Matching Grants is to provide assistance to MTNA-affiliated state associations for professional and educational development of their state membership, along with the creation of innovative programs that will promote and enhance music and the development of music technology throughout the state, and to enhance and strengthen MTNA membership alliances In state associations.

Questions regarding the grants may be directed to the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND at [phone] or [e-mail].