Southern Division.

In Mississippi, Jackson MTA held an annual Bach Festival, which encouraged exploration of early keyboard music. The junior division offered categories in prelude, suite and invention; and the senior division spotlighted the prelude, fugue, suite, invention and advanced performance categories. This year's festival had 485 students representing 60 teachers from Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

The Hattiesburg Music Teachers League sponsored a composer festival with a workshop, recital and celebration of the guest composer's works, including a commissioned composition. Entering students created artistic posters representing the piece they performed, with the winning poster becoming the festival program cover. An autograph session allowed students "one-on-one" time with the composer. Melody Bober was featured in 2005.

The fifty-second Kentucky MTA conference was held at Murray State University, with conference artists Parry Karp, cello, and Eli Kalman, piano. Commissioned Composer was Keven Holm-Hudson. Conference sessions were presented by Barbara Lister-Sink, MCTM; Irina Voro; Janet Bass; Charles Smith, NCTM; Sonya Baker, NCTM; Marie Taylor; Wayne Pope; and Eleanor Brown. Voro was named Teacher of the Year, and David Doran received the distinguished service award The conference concluded with the thirtieth annual all-state ensemble concert. Special thanks goes to Kentucky MTA, Greater Louisville MTA and the University of Louisville, who hosted the MTNA Southern Division Competitions in January

--Diane Higgins, NCTM

Charlotte, North Carolina