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

"The Three Strains of Music"

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.

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 BCRMTA Award for

Highest Mark at that level

Ashley P. - Provincial Festival: Merited Participant (Junior Piano) 2023

Competitor (Intermediate Piano) 2024 and Winner, Canadian Class

Such fun we had performing "Show of Hands" April 14, 2024! Here is one of the comments we received:
Still catching our breath after a scintillating afternoon of music. It was terrific and we're marveling at how much talent was at that keyboard and indeed resides on our Island. Thank you for a very special musical experience.
Kind regards,
Robert and Susan

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

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

...for Quality Piano Instruction in the Cowichan Valley

TECHNITHON 2025

All teams did well and participants

were enthusiastic.

CONGRATULATIONS to ANNA,

who achieved the

Highest Individual Score (Grand Champion)

and to her first-place team,

the Focused Flyers.

t MENDENHALL MUSIC STUDIO

calendar of upcoming events

REGISTRATION: To be wait-listed for fall, 2025, please email or call to set up a free interview. Lessons are now in person, with the option of occasional online lessons when necessary.

MENTORING STUDENT TEACHERS: In recent years, I have begun pairing young beginning piano students with my advanced students who are learning to teach. It is a "win-win" situation: for a low cost, children get a wonderful introduction to the joys of piano playing with a young, enthusiastic teacher who is also a great role model, and the advanced students learn a valuable skill. My frequent oversight provides quality assurance.

GROUP LESSONS have opened up: interested students in the wider community have joined our group classes (one session every three weeks), and there will likely also be some openings for young people and adults in 2025-26. Please contact me for more information.

A FUN CONCERT LAST YEAR: Rykie Avenant, Catharina de Beer, Emily Armour and I had a wonderful time performing our concert for 4, 6 and 8 hands at one piano: "SHOW OF HANDS" April 14, 2024, at Duncan United Church! The audience enjoyed watching our hands up close on the big screen as we shared 88 keys among 40 fingers! Thanks so much to all who came. (See photo and comment below.)

COWICHAN MUSIC TEACHERS' CONCERT: On April 27, 2024, fourteen of our Valley's finest music teachers presented

"I Played this Better at Home" as a fundraiser for our Awards and Bursaries Fund. The instruments included piano, violin, cello, flute, harp, and voice, and various combinations thereof, in classical, jazz and popular styles. Watch for the next one!

Speaking of the CVMTA Awards and Bursaries Fund, all contributions are greatly appreciated. Please e-Transfer to cvmta.bursaries.fund@mail.com to help support young music students in the Valley!

WINE AND CHOCOLATE EVENING: An extremely fun way to support the CVMTA Awards and Bursaries Fund! This bi-annual event happened again March 15, 2025 and was a great success. Please watch for the next one in spring, 2027!

CVMTA's CANADA MUSIC WEEK CONCERTS : another biannual event - watch for the ones coming up November 22, 2025 at the Duncan United Church, when Cowichan Valley students will again share music by Canadian composers.

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

BURSARIES are AVAILABLE directly from the CVMTA for music study! Applications will be accepted between

August 15 and October 1st each year. More info on the CVMTA website.

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 2025-26 brochure is now published, and Season Tickets will be available as of September 15th. More info here

VICTORIA SYMPHONY CONCERTS are also a joy! The 2025-26 season is now in place and all four concerts will be amazing. Find out more at https://cowichansymphonysociety.ca and let me know if you would like to sign up to receive email reminders. There will also be a 70th Anniversary Celebration Concert July 20th at 3 pm at the Cherry Point Winery!

COWICHAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2025- Our studio had many award winners once again. Provincials will be in Victoria this year! Plan to take in some of these exciting competitions.

COWICHAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026- Information will be posted here as soon as the schedule is out.

JUDITH McIVOR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION - open to graduating seniors going on in music. The application form may be found on the CVMTA website, and the deadline for applying is June 14th, 2025.

TECHNITHON - A great success again this year! Please see photo and 2025 results below.

RECITALS - We enjoyed performing for family and friends on December 17th. NEXT RECITAL: 6:30 pm, Wednesday June 18, 2025 at St. Michael's Church, Chemainus. Everyone welcome!

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

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

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

Anna W. - after a decade of trying many things, is returning to piano and theory lessons with a goal of becoming a piano teacher!