February 15, 2010
reprinted from Spring 2010 MASTA Notes
BRAVO TO US ALL!
Recently I accepted on behalf of MASTA the 2010 Outstanding State Chapter Award at the ASTA National Conference in Santa Clara, California. This award is a great tribute to everyone involved with our Michigan chapter: the MASTA board whose members spend many hours keeping our chapter educationally and financially sound; the project directors who organize and lead our many activities and events; the many string teachers who serve as conductors, camp counselors, master class teachers, and competition adjudicators; and, the many teachers, students and families that attend these exceptional events. A special note of thanks to Rick Dapprich who has been in charge of our newsletter and website, both of which have given our organization a very polished and professional public face. This award speaks to all of the hard work that we all do in the service of string teaching, specifically, and music education in general. BRAVO to us all!
Since I first started serving on our executive board four years ago, I have had the benefit of working alongside many outstanding people. Jan Flower, Robert Reed and Wendy Stuart have provided great leadership in their roles, have kept our chapter pointed in the right direction, and have helped supply the energy needed to keep it moving. Each will be stepping away from their positions this May. I was able to thank each of them at our annual luncheon during the Michigan Music Conference, but I wanted to take the opportunity again to bring attention to their years of wonderful service to MASTA. Coming soon you will receive a ballot to vote on the positions of Secretary, Treasurer and Member-at-Large. Please take a few moments to complete and mail that ballot.
I would also like to take a moment to thank Steve Reed who is our out-going Past-President. Not only has Steve been an outstanding advocate for our organization, but also a key figure in our chapter’s incorporation. The process of incorporation is no easy task and Steve’s attention to detail has ensured that our chapter will be sound as we move ahead into the 21st century. Steve also has provided great wisdom over the past six years, and he has helped MASTA continue to get stronger.
As I write what will be my last President’s Message, I would like to end with a note of thanks to MASTA and its members. As a young teacher twenty-five years ago, MASTA provided me with great opportunities to grow as an educator. I had great role models to look up to when a counselor at MASTA’s string camps, great mentors to guide me in my early years of teaching, and eventually great colleagues to collaborate with as I matured as a teacher. One of those people, Larry Dittmar, will begin his tenure as President of MASTA and will use his many years of experience as a musician, teacher and administrator to keep MASTA growing and moving ahead in the years to come.
A hearty thank you to all of you.
Sincerely,
Mark Kotchenruther
Dr. Mark Kotchenruther holds a Bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Michigan, a Master’s degree in music education from The Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. in music education, also from the University of Michigan. Dr. Kotchenruther has taught orchestra in the public schools of Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky as well as Norfolk, Virginia and South Haven, Michigan. He is currently an orchestra teacher in the Forest Hills Public Schools and directs the string program in grades six through twelve in the Northern section of the district. In addition, Dr. Kotchenruther directs the Concert Orchestra at the St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids and serves on the conducting staffs of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Knollcrest Music Camp at Calvin College. Dr. Kotchenruther has also been an adjunct professor at Albion College and Western Michigan University where he has taught stringed instrument methods. Dr. Kotchenruther is currently President of the Michigan chapter of the American String Teachers Association (MASTA), serves as Secretary on the Michigan Music Conference’s Executive Committee, and is the String Committee Chair for MSBOA District 10.
