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Central Toronto Branch Newsletter - May 2000Message from the President Dear Colleagues, As we enter the final stretch of the academic year, usually the busiest time for most of us, I would like to review a few highlights of the past year, and look ahead to future developments. This year the Central Toronto Branch Executive took on a major project - the development of our Website (www.ormtatoronto.org). Our webmaster Laura Ciruls did an outstanding job in designing the site, and special thanks go to Frank Horvat and Fanny Levitan for their technical advice, research and vision. We feel that this was an extremely important step in promoting the ORMTA as an organization and ourselves as teachers. The number of visits to our website central is increasing all the time; in a two-month period this winter we recorded 373 visits, and as the website gets greater exposure, this will continue to grow. The links section of the site has recently been expanded to include valuable resource material for teachers, students and parents. Suleman Currim has helped greatly with suggestions to make the website accessible to the visually impaired. We would like to develop the Events section of the website and seek your assistance in informing us of any or your musical activities which would be of interest to our membership or the general public. If you have not yet submitted a biography and would like to do so, it is not too late. Our website will be most effective when it reflects the high degree of professionalism and accomplishment which we have in the Central Toronto Branch. Of course, such a major project could not have happened without significant costs, but I can assure you that we are in a viable financial position for the coming academic year, and all our regular programmes will be running as usual. We are actively seeking to expand our website to include the other seven branches in the Greater Toronto Area, since we all benefit from the increased exposure, not to mention the cost-sharing. One feature which will be in place for the fall of 2000 is a clickable map of Toronto, showing the locations of teachers in all participating branches. Looking ahead to next year, the most important issue facing us is the recruitment of new members to serve on the Executive. In the next few weeks, one of your colleagues will be contacting you to see if you are able to contribute a small amount of your time next year to help us with the planning and implementation of our Central Toronto programmes. In the ten years or so that I have been a member of the Central Toronto Branch, I have spent most of that time serving on the Executive in a variety of capacities, including the job of President (twice)! I feel that the experience I have gained and the pleasure that I have had working with my colleagues is something that I would not trade for anything. I encourage you all to think about a way in which you might be able to contribute to making our Branch even more vital and valuable both in terms of collegiality and professional development. One essential position which we must fill for the 2000-01 year is that of Auditions and Recitals Convenor. Arden Broadhurst (another executive die-hard) will be leaving this post after serving with grace, good-humour and the utmost competence for many years. I would like to thank Arden, on behalf of the executive, and all the teachers, parents and students who benefit from our Auditions & Recitals programme for all her hard work and dedication. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the 1999-2000 executive for their outstanding work on behalf of the Branch. On a personal note, I could not do this job without your wonderful input, energy, support, dedication and friendship. My best wishes to all Central Toronto members for a healthy and relaxing summer. Good luck in all your musical endeavors. Sincerely, Maria L. Case, President, Central Toronto Branch Upcoming EventsSpring AuditionOur spring auditions were held on April 15th at Glebe Road United Church, with adjudicator Heather Laliberte presiding. There were 84 students who performed, 31 of whom were eligible to play in the recitals. The high standard which Ms. Laliberte upheld at the auditions was generally appreciated by Central Toronto teachers, and indicates the importance of encouraging our students towards higher achievement. Dr. Tiiu Haamer adjudicated the recital on April 29th, awarding five scholarships, including the overall senior award which went to Joanne Tam, student of Mira Bulat, for a soaring performance of Aufschwung by Schumann. June Luncheon and Annual Meeting Our annual luncheon will be held on Sunday, June 11th, 1-4PM at the Lyceum Club. Luncheon registration is $15.00 per person. Please contact Maria Case at 416 944 9260 to register. The deadline for luncheon registration has been extended to May 31st. Please feel free to bring a guest. Following lunch, we will have a short programme of piano music, performed by our student scholarship winners. At 3PM, we will begin our final general meeting of the year - I hope you will come out and give us your input as we look ahead to 2000-2001. Music Yard Sale The annual music yard sale will be Saturday, June 24, 10-2PM at St. John's Norway Anglican Church, 470 Woodbine Avenue. Jean Collins requests help from Central Branch members for pricing on Thursday and Friday, and to staff the tables on Saturday. If you have any music or music-related items to donate, please call Jean at 694-5969 - we can arrange pick-ups if necessary. If you have never attended this annual fundraising event, make this the year - the Music Yard Sale is a unique opportunity to find some rare treasures. Many collectors and other music aficionados call months ahead to mark the date on their calendars. Fall Workshop Clayton Scott will present a workshop on Music History on Sunday, October 22nd, 1:30-4:30PM. (location tba). The title of Ms. Scott's presentation is Dead or Alive? Making Music History Live Again. This workshop for teachers will help you to improve your own knowledge and set up your own programme, including hands-on activities to help you incorporate music history into group lessons. Ms. Scott is a much sought-after speaker and lecturer throughout Canada and the United States. She is the internationally renowned creator of "Music Though the Ages", a creative hands-on music history course for students of all ages. This entertaining and informative workshop is suitable for teachers, music-lovers and students. In MemoriamAnne Scott Mumford (1908-2000)Associate and Licentiate of Trinity College of Music Piano Teacher, Pianist, Accompanist, Adjudicator Anne Scott Mumford was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on February 15th, 1908 and came to Canada with her parents at an early age. Music was her life and love. The skills which were developed as she advanced through a structured approach to music served her well. She had a long and illustrious career as a teacher of piano, dedicating her life and talent to the music education of thousands of students. Many of Anne's students won festival honours, ORMTA scholarships and other prizes too numerous to mention. Many of her former students achieved national and international acclaim as performers, and music educators. When her piano class became too large for her to cope with theoretical subjects, she assigned the overflow to assistant teachers who were eager for the teaching experience which helped them start their careers. Anne Scott Mumford's annual student recitals were always beautifully staged, earning her praise from many colleagues during her lengthy professional life in music. Anne was also known for her generosity in providing monetary scholarships and trophy awards to winners of music festivals around the province. Although Anne did not appear often in the role of solo performer, she was active as an accompanist, especially for singers. Her strong inclination for sight-reading came to her naturally. Playing four-hand piano repertoire with her colleagues was always a rewarding experience for her. Anne's most cherished hobby was antique collecting. Her regular Monday excursions to auction sales with her friend baritone Bruce Edgar gave her the greatest pleasure and satisfaction. She constantly referred to catalogues and reference books in her possession and researched her various acquisitions with enthusiasm. Her intelligent and methodical study developed in her a reliable fund of knowledge comparable to that of major authorities in the field concerning the objets d'art that she collected and traded during her lifetime. Anne was a long-standing member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association. She was a regular attendee at Annual Conventions and held positions on Provincial Council on several occasions. She was an active force behind the establishment and operation of the ORMTA information booth at the Music Building at the Canadian National Exhibition during the 1960s, which featured daily noon recitals by students of ORMTA teachers. Later, and for seventeen years, Anne assumed the responsibility of managing the Telephone Answering Service in the Toronto Zone. She fulfilled an important role in promoting and publicizing the existence, purpose and role of the ORMTA. The grateful recognition of Provincial Council and the Toronto Zone branches gave Anne tremendous satisfaction. Central Toronto members will long remember the annual Autumn Get-Acquainted Tea held at Anne's home. As already stated, music was Anne's life and love. May the vigour of Anne's body, mind and spirit inspire us all, Respectfully submitted by William M. Vaisey The Bulletin Board
Mildred Bennett will be performing as a member of Trio Trentadita, along with Helen Jacob-Stein (violin) and Alan Tait (cello) on Sunday May 21st at 4:30 PM at St. Anne's Church, 270 Gladstone Ave. Trios by Malcolm Arnold and Felix Mendelssohn. Admission is by donation. For more information, please contact info@ormtatoronto.org Back to Top  |