The end of the school year brings many performances by our MusicLink students in studio recitals as well as Playathons and benefit recitals. We thank all of our new partners who helped raise funds to bring music lessons to our kids. We enjoyed meeting new teachers and future coordinators at the MTNA convention in Disney World in March. MusicLink has now reached almost 6,900 students, with teachers having donated 500,000 hours of instruction equivalent to $13.5 million in-kind donation. We are setting a goal to add enough students to top 7,000 students in 2019. We invite our readers to join us as teachers, coordinators, or donors to help reach this goal in the next school year!

MTNA - a Disney Experience for MusicLink

MTNA Booth

There was lots of lively action at the MusicLink booth at the Coronado Springs Resort at Disney World. Our thanks to Lori Germer; Sue Wege, Director of Coordinators; Nora Martin, Southeast Regional Coordinator; and Joanne Haroutounian, Executive Director, for overseeing the booth and making connections with new teachers and coordinators throughout the convention.

Mission Accomplished
-- a Piano for MusicLink

Three Piano Recipients

A beautiful Mason & Hamlin parlor grand piano was recently donated to a MusicLink family in Rosemount, MN. The family was delighted with their new instrument and very grateful to the donor for this generous donation. With this beautiful instrument in the home, these students will surely enjoy practicing.

Playathons and Benefit Concerts
Raise $14,700 for MusicLink

Springtime is the season for sharing music with others through recitals and community events. The following events raised funds for the MusicLink Foundation while spreading the word about the importance of music instruction for all students.

Connecticut Flute Orchestra

CT: The Connecticut Flute Orchestra (CTFO) performed a premiere concert at Crowell Hall at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. As part of the CTFO's mission to raise money for music related charities, they chose to donate some of the proceeds of the concert to the MusicLink Foundation for use of the Connecticut program. The orchestra donated $575 to the MusicLink Foundation.

Ben Olson at the piano

MN: Ben Olson, a senior at Minnetonka High School, performed a benefit recital on May 15th at Minnetonka United Methodist Church. Ben raised $897 for the MusicLink Foundation. This recital was part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program where each student is required to undertake a project that "gives students the means to learn through experience and how to take actions in the service of others." Ben was quoted as saying, "Music is an integral part of my life, and I have been fortunate to be able to pursue my passion. This concert is an opportunity for me to give back to the community." The MusicLink Foundation is grateful to Ben for coordinating this event and the funds raised will help more low-income children in Minnesota receive the gift of music.

Sue Wege, MusicLink Director of Coordinators,
with members of Tri-M Honors
Society and band director Jerry Shelton

MN: The Tri-M Music Honors Society was the driving force behind choosing the MusicLink Foundation as a worthwhile charity for its Sounds of Hope benefit concert at the Math and Science Academy in Woodbury, MN. Elise Patchett (in orange shirt in photo) contacted MusicLink about the idea with other Tri-M members eager to help organize the event. Jerry Shelton, the band director at the academy, oversaw the event which raised $1,664.47 for the MusicLink Foundation.

Minnesota Playathon Participants

MN - The 10th annual MusicLink Playathon took place on the weekend of Feb. 17-18 and it was another great success organized by Sue Wege, MusicLink Director of Coordinators. There were over 230 performances and the event raised over $10,000. A great debt of thanks goes to the wonderful MMTA teacher volunteers. MMTA teachers who gave their time include: Sue Wege, Mitch Grussing, Karen Stiles, Sara Diedrich, Kathryn Karg, Kim Nichols and Pat Dymacek. Minnesota royalty also volunteered at the desk and emceed: Brianna Drevlow, the reigning Miss Minnesota, Rachel Weyandt, 2015 Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen and Michelle Bergh, International Miss Midwest Teen 2016. Other guest emcees included singer/songwriter Joe Filipovich and singer Serena Fass. Thanks also to Donna Bergh, who helped with check-ins, and to Gary Wege, photographer of the event.

The three top fundraising studios included Kathryn Karg with 36 students: $1,559.35 (A new high for a single studio!), Sara Diedrich with 15 students: $884.00, and Kim Nichols with 18 students: $835.00.

Many thanks to Schmitt Music for providing a beautiful Boston grand piano; to the MMTA office for helping with online registration and publicity; to the Mall of America for hosting the event; and to all MMTA teachers who participated by sending students. The money raised at this event will go a long way in providing more lessons, music, instruments and other musical opportunities to students in need.

NY: This year the New York annual fundraiser for MusicLink was held at the Walt Whitman Shop Mall. The event raised $1,568 for the MusicLink Foundation. Even though it was the first warm and sunny weekend in a long time, there was a great turn out. The Northport high school sent several string ensembles to perform. Professional and amateur musicians joined forces in performing in the rotunda.

The Faust Harrison Piano store delivered a grand piano and sound system. The Vice President of the company set everything up for the event and tuned the piano as a donation to the fundraiser. A group of high school students helped run the event and made sure everything ran smoothly. The enthusiasm for the event continues to grow each year!

New MusicLink Teachers

The following teachers joined our roster of teachers over the past few months. Current active teachers = 303; Total MusicLink teachers = 2,914

HI: Akiko Sanai; MN: Isabel Dammann; MN: Brian DeYoung; MN: Doug Rohde; OH: Dee Fisher; OR: Janet Pollack

New MusicLink Business Partners:

We recognize the following new MusicLink Business Partners:

Oregon Bach Festival (OR); Tunelark, Inc. (CA); Artisan Piano Services (WA); and ProPiano Move (WA).

Sally Ritchie and Students

Award Thanks from Sally Sallie Ritchie, shown with two of her MusicLink students, sent this photo showing her award for reaching the level of MusicLink Teacher Laureate upon teaching over 20 years with the MusicLink Foundation. We honored all of our Hall of Fame teachers in the March eLINK issue.

MusicLink Featured in Publications

The June/July 2018 issue of American Music Teacher (This and That column) featured an article about the Minnesota playathon experience by Sue Wege, Director of Coordinators. Joanne Haroutounian authored an article called "The MusicLink Connection" in the May/June issue of Clavier Companion describing the value of the teacher/student long-term relationship which is at the heart of MusicLink.

MN Playathon Donations

Students who collected $250 or more:
Coleton Elgard	Elianna Ig-Izevbekhai
Debbie Jorgens	Sue Wege & Jennifer Meles
Ekaterina Morse	Cassie Wagner
Dehlia & Jonathon Woltman

Students who collected $100 or more:
Malia Berg	Michelle Bergh
Addie & Isabel Brand	Derrick Damjanovic
Sam Deneen	Emily Dress
Joshua Jacob Jebaraj	Derek & Sean Kieser
Jacob Knowles	A. J. Kostick
Jack Peterson	Nicole Ramsey
Ajah Singh	Mhari Telfer
Ellerie Ulfers	Rachel Weyandt
Not pictured: Victor Wagener