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Member of the Year 2023
Fox Valley Music Teachers Association (FVMTA) is proud to present Janelle Bonson as our 2023 Member of the Year. Janelle been an active MTA member of FVMTA for several decades, teaching music not only in a home studio, but at churches, schools, and community centers throughout the Fox Valley, including Mount Olive Lutheran School, the Thompson Center and the Appleton Y.
A native of Newton, WI, Janelle received an Associate’s degree from Concordia College in Milwaukee, and a Bachelor's degree from Doctor Martin Luther college in New Ulm, Minnesota, majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music.
Working as a church organist since 1975, she has played in various Lutheran churches throughout Northeast Wisconsin for almost 50 years. She is currently the organist for Peace Lutheran Church in Neenah, and accompanies the choir.
A classically trained pianist, Janelle has always pushed herself to learn new styles—- From Bach to Count Basie, this musician plays it all. Certainly at home in sacred spaces, she’s equally comfortable playing with a rhythm section in area big bands! She has studied jazz piano with Matt Turner at Lawrence University, and performs regularly with the Fox Cities Swing Band.
Her passion for education led to her to volunteer as a reading instructor with the Fox Valley Literacy Project for over 15 years. Janelle says, “It was very rewarding to see students reach their goals and succeed.” This quote embodies her teaching philosophy in music and life. While she daily encourages others, she’s always challenging herself to learn something new: She’s now taken up trombone! Beginning with the New Horizons program in Appleton, she now performs with the Neenah Community Band.
Even with this packed schedule, Janelle has volunteered countless hours with FVMTA:
Years ago, FVMTA established a Scholarship and Grants Committee, raising as much as $10,000 in a year for local students in need of financial help for lessons, and for teachers’ continuing education expenses. On that committee, Janelle has given decades of quiet, caring service without seeking recognition. We haven’t (yet) tallied up the number of students and teachers that those scholarships have impacted, but over 20 years that number, no doubt, is an astounding figure. She has directly and indirectly touched the lives of so many young musicians, and is a treasure to the community. Not one to “blow her own horn,” we’re happy to honor her this season, especially since this year Janelle is stepping back, having recently announcing her studio retirement.
We are grateful for Janelle Bonson being an engaged, active and reliable member of FVMTA, quietly supporting the organization for decades with her volunteer time and talent, her presence, sage advice, timely questions, and good ideas. We are blessed to have her in our community as a respected music colleague and friend, and are honored to name her as FVMTA’s 2023 Member of the Year.
Fox Valley Music Teachers Association (FVMTA) is proud to present Janelle Bonson as our 2023 Member of the Year. Janelle been an active MTA member of FVMTA for several decades, teaching music not only in a home studio, but at churches, schools, and community centers throughout the Fox Valley, including Mount Olive Lutheran School, the Thompson Center and the Appleton Y.
A native of Newton, WI, Janelle received an Associate’s degree from Concordia College in Milwaukee, and a Bachelor's degree from Doctor Martin Luther college in New Ulm, Minnesota, majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music.
Working as a church organist since 1975, she has played in various Lutheran churches throughout Northeast Wisconsin for almost 50 years. She is currently the organist for Peace Lutheran Church in Neenah, and accompanies the choir.
A classically trained pianist, Janelle has always pushed herself to learn new styles—- From Bach to Count Basie, this musician plays it all. Certainly at home in sacred spaces, she’s equally comfortable playing with a rhythm section in area big bands! She has studied jazz piano with Matt Turner at Lawrence University, and performs regularly with the Fox Cities Swing Band.
Her passion for education led to her to volunteer as a reading instructor with the Fox Valley Literacy Project for over 15 years. Janelle says, “It was very rewarding to see students reach their goals and succeed.” This quote embodies her teaching philosophy in music and life. While she daily encourages others, she’s always challenging herself to learn something new: She’s now taken up trombone! Beginning with the New Horizons program in Appleton, she now performs with the Neenah Community Band.
Even with this packed schedule, Janelle has volunteered countless hours with FVMTA:
Years ago, FVMTA established a Scholarship and Grants Committee, raising as much as $10,000 in a year for local students in need of financial help for lessons, and for teachers’ continuing education expenses. On that committee, Janelle has given decades of quiet, caring service without seeking recognition. We haven’t (yet) tallied up the number of students and teachers that those scholarships have impacted, but over 20 years that number, no doubt, is an astounding figure. She has directly and indirectly touched the lives of so many young musicians, and is a treasure to the community. Not one to “blow her own horn,” we’re happy to honor her this season, especially since this year Janelle is stepping back, having recently announcing her studio retirement.
We are grateful for Janelle Bonson being an engaged, active and reliable member of FVMTA, quietly supporting the organization for decades with her volunteer time and talent, her presence, sage advice, timely questions, and good ideas. We are blessed to have her in our community as a respected music colleague and friend, and are honored to name her as FVMTA’s 2023 Member of the Year.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 FVMTA Young Artist Festival!
For additional detail, click to download the Winners, Teachers, Literature, and Prizes:
Junior Piano Concerto Competition - Grades 6-8
First Place: Stella Campbell
Second Place: Michael Coffey
Senior Piano Concerto Competition - Graces 9-12
First Place: Aidan Lishner
Second Place: Ben Krebsbach
Junior String Competition
First Place: Joel Tang
Senior String Concerto Competition
First Place: Elizabeth Jeon
Second Place: Naomi Peel
Senior Voice Competition
First Place: Kaci Franzen
Second Place: Jenna Mollenhauer
Junior Voice Competition
First Place: Annika Quinones
Small Ensemble Competition
First Place: Catherine Genke, Aidan Lishner (Piano Duo)
Please join us in watching the Winner's Recital, posted on Youtube.
For additional detail, click to download the Winners, Teachers, Literature, and Prizes:
Junior Piano Concerto Competition - Grades 6-8
First Place: Stella Campbell
Second Place: Michael Coffey
Senior Piano Concerto Competition - Graces 9-12
First Place: Aidan Lishner
Second Place: Ben Krebsbach
Junior String Competition
First Place: Joel Tang
Senior String Concerto Competition
First Place: Elizabeth Jeon
Second Place: Naomi Peel
Senior Voice Competition
First Place: Kaci Franzen
Second Place: Jenna Mollenhauer
Junior Voice Competition
First Place: Annika Quinones
Small Ensemble Competition
First Place: Catherine Genke, Aidan Lishner (Piano Duo)
Please join us in watching the Winner's Recital, posted on Youtube.
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2022 Member of the Year Fox Valley MTA: Stacey Kraus, NCTM
FVMTA is happy to honor Stacey Kraus as our member of the year. She led us through covid-era meetings with grace and consistency, making sure that we stayed connected as a local association. She brings energy and creativity to everything she does in FVMTA and beyond. Stacey has been teaching and accompanying for 20 years. While in college, she received a scholarship to join WMTA. She currently serves as the president of the Fox Valley Music Teachers Association, in addition to serving on the state board as Collaborative Performance Forum chair. Stacey became nationally certified in 2022. She teaches privately at St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School and Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton. She is an active accompanist and church musician and loves collaborating with her daughters who play violin and cello. |
FVMTA Young Artist Festival Recital - 2022
Here are the winners of the Young Artist Festival!
Junior Piano Concerto Competition - Grades 6-8
First Place: Spencer Munson
Second Place: Graham Wall
Senior Piano Concerto Competition - Graces 9-12
First Place: Isabel Hsie
Second Place: Clara Douglas
Junior String Competition
First Place: Malina Zhang
Second Place: Naomi Peel
Senior String Concerto Competition
First Place: Kalyan Krieger-Olson
Second Place: Talia Roselaar
Senior Voice Competition
First Place: Austin Demerath
Second Place: Zoe Nickchen
Please join us in watching the Winner's Recital, posted on Youtube.
Here are the winners of the Young Artist Festival!
Junior Piano Concerto Competition - Grades 6-8
First Place: Spencer Munson
Second Place: Graham Wall
Senior Piano Concerto Competition - Graces 9-12
First Place: Isabel Hsie
Second Place: Clara Douglas
Junior String Competition
First Place: Malina Zhang
Second Place: Naomi Peel
Senior String Concerto Competition
First Place: Kalyan Krieger-Olson
Second Place: Talia Roselaar
Senior Voice Competition
First Place: Austin Demerath
Second Place: Zoe Nickchen
Please join us in watching the Winner's Recital, posted on Youtube.
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Steinway & A Sandwich - FVMTA performs!
Oct. 7th, 2016 Finally, you get to hear your teacher play! Teachers from the Fox Valley Music Teachers Association collaborated for a recital at Heid Music in Appleton. Thank you to Heid for the performance space, to the teachers who participated, and to our enthusiastic audience. |
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