Membership Community Building and Professional Development
The NLRMTA provides a number of professional development sessions throughout the year for our membership to help inspire and encourage continued growth in the field of music education. These sessions also serve as an opportunity for the membership to connect with the Board of Directors and stay up to date with the association and its upcoming ventures.
Canada Music Week
November 22-28, 2020
Canada Music Week has been celebrated nationally by affiliates of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations. The aim of Canada Music Week is to highlight the importance of Canadian music and composers in a week-long celebration taking place in November each year. This time of year has been chosen as it coincides with the Feast Day of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. The NLRMTA concludes Canada Music Week with a themed recital given by students of our members. In recent years, the NLRMTA has also launched a Social Media Video Project, wherein students have sent in videos of themselves playing the works of their favourite Canadian composers and they have been shared on our various Social Media platforms.
The Food Bank Express
December 1-20, 2020
As COVID continues to be a part of our daily lives, the NLRMTA has been reviewing our annual community activities to determine how we can continue to give back in a meaningful way while respecting the necessary health and safety protocols of the province. One of these initiatives includes our annual holiday Food Bank Recital Series.
This year, the NLRMTA Board is excited to announce our first- ever Food Bank Express, a province -wide virtual food bank drive that will replace our in-person recital series. By moving to a virtual platform, the NLRMTA is excited to invite all music teachers, regardless of membership, to participate in this fun recital series and collect financial donations for community food banks. No additional work is required on your part to participate! All you have to do is register your holiday studio recital with the Food Bank Express and encourage your families to make a financial donation to the Community Food Sharing Association during your holiday recitals. All collected donations will then be distributed to local food banks across Newfoundland and Labrador during the holiday season through the Community Food Sharing Association.
This year, the NLRMTA Board is excited to announce our first- ever Food Bank Express, a province -wide virtual food bank drive that will replace our in-person recital series. By moving to a virtual platform, the NLRMTA is excited to invite all music teachers, regardless of membership, to participate in this fun recital series and collect financial donations for community food banks. No additional work is required on your part to participate! All you have to do is register your holiday studio recital with the Food Bank Express and encourage your families to make a financial donation to the Community Food Sharing Association during your holiday recitals. All collected donations will then be distributed to local food banks across Newfoundland and Labrador during the holiday season through the Community Food Sharing Association.
Masterclass Series
January/February 2021
Each year the NLRMTA partners with faculty at Memorial University's School of Music to offer a series of Masterclasses for advanced students, particularly those interested in pursuing post-secondary education in classical music studies. Past masterclass guest teachers include Dr. Maureen Volk, Dr. Kristina Szutor, Tim Steeves, Dr. Jane Leibel, Dr. Caroline Schiller, E. Mark Murphy, and Dr. Nancy Dahn.
April Theme Recital
April 2021
This April, the NLRMTA will be hosting a Special Theme Recital which will be open to all students of our members. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement regarding the theme - here's a little hint: put your thinking caps on!
Spring Scholarship Competition
This event has been offered to our members for many years, and has been honoured with the presence of renowned musicians from our province as Adjudicators. We are also grateful for the donation of awards from several of our teachers, and for the members' assistance in producing these competitions.
Applicants prepare a recording of three pieces and submit it to the association. These are then heard by the Screening Committee in a "blind audition" to determine the finalists in each level (junior, intermediate and senior). Finalists will perform two of their three pieces for the adjudicator in the Suncor Energy Hall at the MUN School of Music. The adjudicator assesses all entries within each level regardless of instrument, and at the conclusion of all the performances, he/she will speak to the finalists and the audience and present awards. The winner of each level receives a scholarship, and there are usually additional awards for honourable mention. All finalists receive a certificate for their accomplishment.
Applicants prepare a recording of three pieces and submit it to the association. These are then heard by the Screening Committee in a "blind audition" to determine the finalists in each level (junior, intermediate and senior). Finalists will perform two of their three pieces for the adjudicator in the Suncor Energy Hall at the MUN School of Music. The adjudicator assesses all entries within each level regardless of instrument, and at the conclusion of all the performances, he/she will speak to the finalists and the audience and present awards. The winner of each level receives a scholarship, and there are usually additional awards for honourable mention. All finalists receive a certificate for their accomplishment.