Foundation fund: meet the 2005 foundation fund fellows.

James Breckenridge, of Weatherford, Oklahoma, is on the music faculty of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he teaches courses in applied piano, piano pedagogy and musicology. In the 1980s, Breckenridge operated his own music studio, teaching 50 students ages 3 to 29.

He received a bachelor of arts degree from Maryville College in Tennessee; a master of music degree from Northwestern University in Illinois, where he was a graduate assistant; and a doctor of musical arts degree from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. All the degrees are in piano performance.

Breckenridge is an honorary life member of Oklahoma MTA and the National Beethoven Society for Pianists. He is currently chair of the OMTA ad hoc committee for redistricting and is a member of the executive committee and the state board. He has served the Oklahoma MTA as president and immediate past president, as well as chaired numerous committees.

He also has been a member of the College Music Society, the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the National Keyboard Arts Association, the American Liszt Society and many others. In addition, he has served on committees for the National Piano Pedagogy Conference and the World Piano Pedagogy Conference.

Vivian Miller Dula, NCTM, of Burlington, North Carolina, operates her own music studio and is a piano instructor and director of the preparatory adult music program at Elon University.

She received a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, studying piano with Alleine Minor.

An active MTNA member, Dula has served as MTNA Southern Division president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and adjudicator chair. She also was president of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association and past president of the Burlington Music Teachers Association.

As a frequent adjudicator throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, Dula has judged junior, senior and young artist MTNA competitions.

Dula is a staff piano instructor for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Summer Music Camp. Her articles have appeared in Keyboard Companion.

Dean Epperson, NCTM, of Anchorage, Alaska, began taking piano lessons with his mother, Mary Epperson. He continued his studies, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in piano performance from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. He then attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, earning a master's degree in music.

Epperson teaches class piano at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, as well as private lessons from his music studio. An active performer, he has appeared as guest soloist with the Anchorage Chamber Symphony, the Anchorage Civic Orchestra and the Anchorage String Quartet. He also has performed with the Anchorage Youth Symphony.

Epperson is a founding member of Anchorage Music Teachers Association. He received permanent professional certification from MTNA in 1998.

Carole Flatau, of Valley City, North Dakota, operates her own music studio, is involved in freelance editing and public relations work and volunteers for a large number of community organizations.

She is an active member of MTNA, holding memberships in both North Dakota MTA and Florida State MTA. She has served North Dakota MTA in virtually every leadership position and has served MTNA nationally as public relations chair and chair of the exhibitor committee.

During her 15 years as a Florida resident, Flatau was director of keyboard publications for Columbia Pictures Publications and keyboard editor for CPP/Belwin and Warner Bros. Publications.

Flatau has presented numerous pedagogy workshops and music industry seminars throughout the United States and Canada and is a frequent contributor to prestigious music journals.

Sue Humphrys Holder, NCTM, of Ruston, Louisiana, is professor of music and chair of the keyboard area at Louisiana Tech University, teaching applied piano, piano pedagogy and piano literature classes. In addition, she conducts master classes, judges piano competitions and coaches students for area teachers.

An active member of MTNA since the 1970s, Holder is the founder of a local chapter in Ruston, serving as its state piano chair and vice president. She also has served as MTNA national vice president, a member of the MTNA Board of Directors, chair of the national award committee, and as president, vice president, secretary and collegiate artist national competition chair for the MTNA South Central Division.

Honors include being voted Teacher of the Year by the Louisiana Music Teachers Association and receiving the University Senate Chair and Quest for Quality Fellow Award from Louisiana Tech University.

Holder also is a member of the gold-medal Sweet Adelines International Chorus.

Atarah Jablonsky, NCTM, of Cincinnati, Ohio, earned a bachelor of music degree in piano from the Manhattan School of Music and a master of education degree in educational research (piano pedagogy) from Xavier University in Cincinnati. She recently retired from the College of Mount St. Joseph, where she taught piano and piano pedagogy. She and her students have won numerous awards and performed locally, regionally and nationally.

Jablonsky now operates an active music studio and is an adjudicator. Named Certified Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Music Teachers Association (Ohio MTA), Jablonksky has chaired the Ohio MTA Southwest District Play-a-thon Committee, which raises money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Cincinnati. She also is active in the Matinee Musicale, the Junior Music Experience and The Federation of Music Clubs.

The remaining 2005 Fellows will be presented in the October/November AMT.

Additional Grants Awarded

Two additional Local Association Matching Grants have been awarded. The Greater Lowell MTNA, Massachusetts, has received funding for July Jamboree: A Celebration of Women Composers; the Livonia Area Piano Teachers Forum, Michigan, has received a grant for a piano seminar for teachers, students and parents.

2006 Grant Guidelines and Forms Available September 1

Guidelines and application forms for the 2006 MTNA FOUNDATION FUND grants will be available on the FOUNDATION FUND website at www.mtnafoundation.org, beginning September 1.

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 grants 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].