TECHNITHON 2023

 All teams did well and participants

              were enthusiastic.

     CONGRATULATIONS to AVERY, 

                 who achieved the

 Highest Individual Score (Grand Champion)

 

 



 

...for Quality Piano Instruction in the Cowichan Valley

t                MENDENHALL MUSIC STUDIO

Ann Mendenhall and Emily Armour at the Ukraine Fundraiser Concert at Tom Lee Music, Victoria

Marilyn Rummel, Alexandra Lee, Ann Mendenhall in concert October 20, 2019:

"The Three Strains of Music"

​​​​PAST NEWS


A big THANK YOU to all who enjoyed our concerts in '15-'16!

Joanne and I so appreciated your support and enthusiasm. Thank you to Sierra Mimeault who turned pages so expertly!

     Here are some comments:


"Just wanted to say again how very much I enjoyed your superb and wonderful piano playing today! That was a huge program, and you are just an excellent collaborative pianist...."  Ina Dykstra


"I thought you did a masterful job of playing together as a violin and piano duo...truly collaborative. It is always such a pleasure hearing you play..."  Carolyn Taylor


"All three of us were impressed with your playing!"  Sarah Hagen, with Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann


"Both my sister and I enjoyed the concert immensely. Several of the people we spoke to said it was the highlight of the concert series. Congratulations!"  Herma Raymond


"The concert was awesome, and definitely worth the trip. All your hard work certainly paid off. We were privileged to be invited!"  Casey Anthony (Curaçao)


"Wonderful concert!"  Merrill and Bruce Becker


"Congrats on a wonderful performance...Keep up the good work and keep Ascending!!!"  Margaret McKercher​

Emily Armour, Ann Mendenhall, Catharina de Beer, Rykie Avenant

in concert September 8, 2019: "Eight Hands at 88 Keys"
Comments:

"Such a talented group! I’ve never seen a concert like that with such variety and up to 4 people playing at one time." ~ Elaine W.​
"My daughter and I were enchanted by your concert. Every piece was a treat...such a marvellously balanced program, polished to perfection. We are permanent fans!" ~ Judy M.


Comments following the April 24, 2022 concert, "Hand in Hand":

​"Congratulations on the wonderful concert! Wow. I loved the whole thing but my favourite part was the Legends and the expressive manner in which you and Emily played together." ~ Diane T.

"Just wanted to let you know how much we loved the concert. It was an amazing blend of musicianship and ensemble. So precise and clear and together and beautiful. Thank you so much!" ~ Connie M.

"Congratulations for a splendid concert! I am full of admiration, and was thoroughly and delightfully entertained in the best sense of that word! Bravo to all of you!!! I have a new favourite piece of piano music, (the Poulenc) and wonderful memories all of those pieces, especially the 2nd last Legend - wow." ~ Marilyn R.



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        RCM  PIANO and THEORY EXAMS over the past few years...WELL DONE, EVERYONE!

     

     Francesca - Grade 9, June, 2019 - Honours

     Madeleine -Grade 9, June 2017  - First Class Honours With Distinction

​                         Grade 10, August 2018 -  First Class Honours

     Angelo - Grade 4, June 2019 - Honours

     Ginger - Level 7, July, 2022 - First Class Honours With Distinction and BCRMTA Award

​     Bianca -  Grade 7, December 2021 - First Class Honours

     Jizelle - Grade 9, August 2016 - First Class Honours​

                   Grade 10, August 2017 -  First Class Honours

     Bridget - Grade 5, June 2018  and Grade 6, June, 2019 -  Honours on both

     Sierra - Grade 7, June 2018  -  Honours

     Sadie - Grade 6, January 2018 - First Class Honours

     Ammon - Grade 2, June 2018 and Grade 3, June 2019 - First Class Honours on both

     Violet - Grade 2, June 2018 - Honours

     Avery - Grade 2, June 2018 -  Honours

     Evan - Grade 2, June 2018 - First Class Honours

​     Mary W. - Grade 6, June 2018 and Grade 7, June 2019 - First Class Honours on both

     James H. - Grade 10, June 2019 - First Class Honours

     Yichen G.- Grade 5 Theory exam, March 2021 - First Class Honours With Distinction

      Ashley P. - Level 6 Theory exam, December 2022 - First Class Honours With Distinction

      Robert A.- Level 4 May, 2022 - First Class Honours

      Shanoah P. - Level 3, June, 2023 - First Class Honours 

      Ashley P. - Level 8, August, 2023 - First Class Honours With Distinction and Provincials

                          participation

 

                   

"OLD" Mendenhall Students...Where are they now?

​ (a small sampling, since the successes are far too many to include everyone!)

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Emily A.- Has her Masters Degree in Classical Piano Performance, University of Victoria and is teaching piano online around the country

Andy S. - Has his Masters Degree in Jazz Piano; supports himself with piano "gigs"  and with teaching

Carolyn T. ( BMus UVic) -Is now part of a small task force responsible for train safety in British Columbia

Tai W.  - Graduated from UBC and is now a chemical engineer

​Drew W. - graduated with engineering degree from Queens

​Claire F. - While working as a stage manager with Pacific Opera Company in Victoria. Claire wrote, “I spent my birthday enjoying working on Bizet's Carmen with Edmonton Opera. So grateful for my piano training that has brought me these exciting work opportunities!” Now she is instrumental in everything "behind the scenes" at the Chemainus Theatre.

 Emily F. - Graduated from medical school and started her surgical residency in Edmonton in July, 2022
 Liam B - studying  at UVic in Pre-med

​Emilie B - studying kinesiology at UVic

Adam W. - Masters degree in oboe performance from UVic - now freelancing and teaching piano in Toronto

Maria C. - violist with the Orquesta Nacional de Costa Rica

​Roman M. - Costa Rica's ambassador to the United States during the Obama administration

Madeleine T. - Has earned her BS degree at UVic and doing research on fish

Jizelle B. - Taking a break this year from doing the Bachelor of Music program in Piano Performance at UVic, studying with May       Ling Kwok.  Jizelle plans to eventually become a doctor

Ginger B.-V. - Starting a science degree at UBC, one of a very few accepted to an accelerated program with a major scholarship

Bianca P. - Has entered the military with plans to become an aerospace engineer

 

   

calendar of upcoming events

 

 REGISTRATION: Fall 2023 registration is now complete.* To be wait-listed for spring or fall, 2024, please email or call to set up a free interview. Lessons are now in person, with the option of occasional online lessons when necessary. 


*GROUP LESSONS:  Experimental this year: I am opening these up to interested students in the wider community, and there are still some 2023-24 openings for young people and adults. Please contact me for more information.

 

​The CONCERT April 24, 2022, "HAND IN HAND"  was an exciting event! The sell-out crowd enjoyed not only all the beautiful music for 4, 6 and 8 hands, but also having an up-close view of those many hands' theatrics on a large TV screen!  Now, Rykie Avenant, Catharina de Beer, Emily Armour and I plan another concert, "SHOW OF HANDS" April 14, 2024!


Emily and Ann's Concert for Ukraine on May 1st, 2022 at the Tom Lee Music auditorium in Victoria raised over $2000 in donations for humanitarian aid! The proceeds went to Doctors Without Borders and Help Us Help Charity.  


The CANADA MUSIC WEEK CONCERTS in November, 2021, were are great success. This event is biannual - watch for the next ones coming up November 18, 2023, when Cowichan Valley students will again share music by Canadian composers.


VISIT the CVMTA website: wwwCowichanMusic.com!  Please enter your email address to receive quarterly  newsletters and get  the latest music news. We welcome your feedback!


 BURSARIES AVAILABLE for music study!  Deadline for applications: September 15 and January 15. Please visit the  Cowichan Valley Performing Arts Foundation  (CVPAF) website for more information, to apply, or to make a donation.


 CHEMAINUS CLASSICAL CONCERTS Recital Series - one concert each month, October through June, Sunday at 2 pm,  St. Michael's Church, Chemainus. Enjoy live concerts by master musicians. The 2023-24 brochure is out, and Christmas gift packages are now available! More info here


 VICTORIA SYMPHONY CONCERTS are back!  The 2023-24 season is already off to a great start. Find out more at https://cowichansymphonysociety.ca and sign up to receive email reminders about concerts.


 COWICHAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023- Our studio had many award winners, including Ashley Pepper, who was sent to Provincials as a Merited Performer! Thanks to Chairperson Marilyn Rummel for organizing the Piano Section! Ten of my students performed and I was proud of all of them. Several students performed in the Gala Concert. Congratulations to all. 


COWICHAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024- Piano section slated for February 21-24 with Gala and Highlights concerts March 3 & 4. Entries deadline December 17, 2023.


PIANOFEST - Cancelled for the foreseeable future - Members of the CVMTA have decided to concentrate instead on the Piano Section of the Cowichan Music Fesival, which is now formatted on the very successful Pianofest model. 


​ JUDITH McIVOR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION - open to graduating seniors going on in music. Deadline for Applications: May 30, 2024. Our 2023 Winner is Lacarmia Jia, who will be continuing her harp studies under Elizabeth Volpe-Bligh at UBC in the fall! Congratulations to Lacarmia, and to her teacher, Marilyn Rummel! 


 TECHNITHON - A small but enthusiastic group of students participated in May, 2023, with Avery Minkow taking first prize!


 RECITALS - lovely to have them in person again, in December 2022 and June 2023.  NEXT RECITAL: 6:00 pm,Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at St. Michael's Church, Chemainus. Everyone welcome!


 WINE & CHOCOLATE EVENING for adult students April 15, 2023 was a great success. Watch for the next one in 2025!

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