<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To the MASTA Membership:</span><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br><div>It is time to elect MASTA officers for the term beginning in May 2014 (at the May Executive Board meeting during the Michigan Youth Arts Festival). The following information will help you with the voting process. Current members may begin voting on Monday, <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT272_com_zimbra_date" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 139); cursor: pointer;">March 24</span>; voting closes at midnight on <i><b>Friday, <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT273_com_zimbra_date" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 139); cursor: pointer;">April 18, 2014</span>. </b></i>Note candidate bios provided below.</div></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Please copy ballot this ballot, note your votes and return to Larry <span id="DWT275" class="ZmSearchResult" style="background-color: rgb(255, 254, 196);">Dittmar</span>, Nomination Committee Chair at: <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT276_com_zimbra_email" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 139); cursor: pointer;">lpdittmar66@gmail.com</span> (or mail to 3456 Gettysburg Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105).</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center;">ELECTION BALLOT-2014</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">President-Elect Janis Shier Peterson</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Daniel Scott</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Secretary Linda Trotter</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Treasurer Bryan Kolk</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Jason Pfeifer</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Member-at-Large Gabriel Villasurda</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Best Regards,</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Larry <span id="DWT278" class="ZmSearchResult" style="background-color: rgb(255, 254, 196);">Dittmar</span>, Past-President, MASTA</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">- - - - - - - -</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b><u><br></u></b></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: center;">CANDIDATE BIOS</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><u>PRESIDENT</u></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <i> JANIS SHIER PETERSON</i> is currently Director of Orchestras for the Marquette Area Public Schools. During her 36 years in that position, Janis has dramatically increased the number of string students (over 200 this year) and her groups have been selected for numerous honors, such as performances at the Midwestern Music Educators' Conference, EPCOT Center and the Kennedy Center. She has also performed with her students throughout the US and Europe, including Hawaii, Germany and Ireland.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Janis has held conducting positions at Northern Michigan University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay music camp, and the Pine Mountain Music Festival, in addition to serving as guest conductor for various groups, such as the Alaska All-State Orchestra. An active member of MASTA, she serves on the Board as the Northern Michigan Initiatives representative and the MSBOA Liaison. She has hosted festivals and clinics, including the UP Chamber Music Festival and the UP Big String Concerts. She also has extensive experience as clinician and adjudicator, presenting at prestigious events like the National ASTA Conference and Michigan Music Conference.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Janis lists multiple awards such as: Michigan ASTA Teacher of the Year (2012); MSBOA Orchestra Teacher of the Year (2008); Marquette Teacher of the Year; Michigan American Legion Teacher of the Year; Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year; UP Teacher of the Year. She has been selected repeatedly as Most Influential Educator by "top academic seniors." She is co-founder, rehearsal conductor and concertmistress of the Marquette Symphony with her current and former students comprising a majority of the string sections.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <i>DAN SCOTT</i> is Director of Orchestras in Jenison where he currently leads the High School orchestras and the sixth grade orchestra, as well as assists with the fifth grade orchestra. While at Jenison the orchestras have grown from 4 ensembles in 5th through 12th grades to 9 ensembles totalling over 500 students. The orchestras have consistently earned first division ratings through all levels of the program at both District and State MSBOA Festivals.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Dan has served on the Board of MASTA for 15 years as Director of the String Camps. In addition to his work with MASTA he worked for 4 years as Vice President of Band and Orchestra Festival activities for District X and currently holds the position of Vice President of Orchestral Activities on the MSBOA Executive Board.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Presently orchestra conductor for the Seminar Music Camps at Western Michigan University, Dan has also conducted at Knollcrest Music Camp, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and the MASTA String Camps.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Married to his wife Diane of 17 years, Dan is most proud that his 2 daughters, Laura (13) and Emma (11) are both members of the Jenison orchestra program.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><u>SECRETARY</u></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <i> LINDA TROTTER</i>, in her twenty-seventh year of teaching, has taught in the West Bloomfield School District for 12 years and is currently Orchestra Director at West Bloomfield High School and Orchard Lake Middle School. Previously she worked in the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) at Kettering and Northwestern High Schools. While at Northwestern she taught beginning strings, orchestra, and bands - concert, jazz and marching - as well as keyboarding and handbells; she later served as Department Head for Fine Arts. At both schools she instigated participation in MSBOA festivals.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Currently Secretary for MASTA, she is also on the music commissioning committee for MSBOA. Earlier she served as Assistant Vice President in her district for Band and Orchestras, Corresponding Secretary, and, at the state level, as Vice President of Orchestral Activities and Secretary/Treasurer.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Active as an MSBOA adjudicator, Mid Level Orchestra Clinic conductor and guest clinician, additional conducting posts have included ASTA String Camp, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the Dearborn Youth Symphony, and the DPS Honor's Orchestra. Linda also serves as adjunct professor at Marygrove College. As a violint Linda is a member of the Warren Symphony and Grosse Pointe Symphony (principal second), and previously performed with the Dearborn Symphony (principal second), Detroit Civic (concertmaster), and the Windsor Symphony. She has appeared as a featured soloist with several community orchestras with recording credits including the works of William Banfield, Richard Smallwood and Fred Hammond.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">TREASURER</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <i>BRYAN KOLK</i>, an orchestra teacher and double bassist originally from the Grand Rapids area, received both his undergrad degree in music education and the Masters in performance from the University of Michigan. While working on his Masters he taught in the Plymouth-Canton district, as well as at Father Gabriel Richard and in the Hudsonville Christian School District. Upon graduation he relocated to Seattle where he continued teaching elementary and middle school orchestras while performing as principal in several area symphonies. Additionally he worked as assistant conductor for the Everett Youth Symphony, coached for the Seattle Youth Symphony (SYS) Orchestras, and directed the introductory jazz ensemble for the nonprofit organization Seattle JazzEd, which provides instruction to underserved youth in downtown Seattle. From 2011-12 he was the Operations Manager of the Marrowstone Music Festival, an international summer music program under the umbrella of the SYS, where he coordinated a faculty of 30 artist-performers and over 200 students. He continues with Marrowstone as Faculty Liaison.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Currently Bryan serves as Orchestra Director at Caledonia High School with 3 ensembles, as well as teaches the 4th and 5th grade elementary programs. An avid supporter of ASTA he helped re-found the UM student chapter and participated as both President and Vice President, on that Executive Board between 2006-8. The strength and inspiration of the Michigan string teaching community featured prominently in his move back "home" from Seattle and he is excited to continue his involvement with the MASTA community.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <i>JASON PFEIFER, </i>finishing his eighth year in Saginaw Township, teaches strings/orchestra in 6th through 12th grades. Last year, he notes, he "had the privilege of taking my Philharmonic Orchestra from Heritage high School and performing at the National Orchestra Festival in Providence, Rhode Island." He stays active as a violinist in the Midland Symphony (MSO) and Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestras. He has also served as Player Representative on the MSO Board the past few years.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">MEMBER-AT-LARGE</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>GABRIEL VILLASURDA, </i>a Detroit native, attended the University of Michigan where he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education. He studied violin with Gustave Rosseels and Arthur Tabachnick and conducting with Elizabeth Green and Theo Alcantara. He has held school posts in New York, Michigan, Indiana, Hawaii, and London, UK, as well as college positions in Hawaii and Ohio. Summer teacher at the Interlochen Arts Camp spanned 35 years.</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Gabe has done numerous clinics and adjudications in Michigan and Hawaii, plus major in-service conferences. He presently serves as Member-at Large on the MASTA Executive Board, and previously participated as chair of the String Committee for MSBOA and President of the Hawaii state MENC chapter. He is author of the website <i><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT279_com_zimbra_url" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 139); cursor: pointer;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stringskills.com" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 139); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer;">www.stringskills.com</a></span>, </i>which offers free materials for school orchestras teachers.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div><br>-- <br><div><span name="x"></span>Department Head, Department of Music & Dance<br>Professor of Cello<br>Eastern Michigan University<br>N-101 Alexander Music Building<br>Ypsilanti, MI 48197<br>734.487.4380 O <br>734.487.1421 Studio (354 Alexander)<br>734.487.6939 FAX<span name="x"></span><br></div></div></body></html>