Southern Division.

As I take on my new position as Southern Division president, my first thought is to thank the Southern Division Immediate Past President and current member of the MTNA Board of Directors Roy Wylie, NCTM. Also, many thanks to former member of the MTNA Board of Directors and Chair of the MTNA Ethics Committee Sigrid Luther, NCTM, for her support! I also am looking forward to working with Southern Division's new President-elect Fay Adams, NCTM.

I will focus on Alabama and Florida in this article. Alabama's 2004 June conference will be at Auburn University, spotlighting conference artist Larissa Dedova. Jane Magrath, NCTM, will share her expertise as the conference clinician, and Tim Lautzenheiser will be featured as the conference motivational speaker. on the local scene, the Huntsville MTA will host Scott McBride Smith, NCTM, at a competition workshop. Also, the Baldwin County MTA teachers have received a Local Association Grant. As part of the annual William Christopher Handy Jazz and Blues Festival, students of the Shoals Music Teachers Forum are allowed to jam with blues/jazz professional musicians.

Florida, will hold its seventieth conference (marking fifty-one years as an MTNA affiliate) in November at Florida State University. The Manatee County MTA teachers, who featured their Ninth Annual Creative Music Showcase, a composition competition for students of all ages, will sponsor a biannual Music Spectacular in November, with performances of multiple pianos by both students and teachers.

--Diane Higgins, NCTM, Charlotte, North Carolina 

Southern Division President 2004-2006

Diane Higgins, NCTM, founder/director of the Charlotte MTA Music Career Fair, has served the North Carolina MTA as president, president-elect/vice president of state conventions, treasurer, director of state piano contests and in many other capacities. Higgins has a B.M. degree in piano performance from Salem College.