a note from the director: beverly

In this issue of the Museletter our teachers wanted to send you personal wishes and greetings. In addition, we’ve added updated information about some of our former teachers who many of you remember fondly.

On a personal note, the best thing our three children ever did for us is give us six grandchildren, ages 14 months – 5 years old! Three live in Chicago and three (triplets) live here. The only thing I enjoy more than being here at the school ... is playing with my grandchildren.

Thank you for the opportunity to share music with 600 students and their families each week and to work with our loving and dedicated faculty. 

I appreciate your choosing Milder Musical Arts and wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season. 

Happy Holidays from:

Adam Bock

(pictured with his two grandmothers and one of his grandfathers)

This year has been great! I moved to a new apartment, wrote a lot of barbershop arrangements, and sang in a ton of performances. (Miss) Laura and I started teaching at St. Austin's and had a great first semester. Right now, I'm looking forward to Christmas with my family and New Year's Eve with my friend in New York City!

I wish all my students and their parents a fun and safe holiday season!

Happy Holidays from:

Emma Tiemann

Emma is our strings teacher and we are so delighted to have her! We look forward to the strings program developing in the next year under her expert guidance.

She wishes all of her students a wonderful holiday season!

Happy Holidays from:

Holly Smith

(pictured with daughter, Lexie)

I want to thank all of the wonderful families who have helped fill my year with such beautiful music. It is truly an honor to be a part of your child's musical journey! My wish for the New Year is that more and more people will come to know the precious value that music adds to your life!

"May there always be sunshine. May there always be blue skies. May there always be MUSIC! May there always be me."

Happy Holidays from:

Jana Vorvick

(pictured with husband, Joshua, and sons, Eli and Ezra)

2011 has been quite a year for the Vorvicks. We are grateful for our 2 healthy boys, our families, a wonderful church, great schools and work which we enjoy. Life is busy but busy in a good way.

Wishing all our Music School families a very special season of celebration!

Happy Holidays from:

Karen Smith

(pictured with dog, Bella)

Hi families! It has been a great first year for me here at Milder Musical Arts! I'm so glad to have met so many wonderful people! I can't wait to see what this next year has to offer.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Happy Holidays from:

Kate Reimann

(pictured with husband, Matt)

2011 Has been wonderful year! I am enjoying graduate school at Wash U and I have learned so much! I'm also grateful that the timing was right for me to come back in February and teach one day a week after Miss Jamie left. And of course, I got married! Matt and I loved our beautiful wedding ceremony in California.

I wish all of the families of MMA a wonderful holiday season and a new year filled with love and music!

Happy Holidays from:

Larisa Morozova

(pictured with husband, Max, daughter,
Irena and granddaughter, Daniella)

I had a great year filled with many exciting events!  Some events included when my granddaughter, Alexandra, graduated from Washington University with an English major while my youngest, Daniella, won the St. Louis Star Ball, a ballroom dancing competition.  I was very proud of them and their accomplishments.  For Thanksgiving I also got to go with my family to spend a week enjoying their company in Mexico. 

I wish everybody a healthy and happy 2012 filled with many joys!

Happy Holidays from:

Laura Falls

(pictured with husband, Brian)

It was a great year for the Falls,
Brian, Laura and Dillon had a ball.
Traveling, running, biking, gardening too,
Now we send warm holiday wishes to you!

Happy Holidays from:

Marsha Medley

(pictured with her daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, John

son, Spencer, sister, Charlotte, and father)
)

What a year! A daughter's wedding, spending time with family, watching my students grow as musicians and people as they help me grow as a teacher and a person.

It is a joy to be with you at Milder Musical Arts, and I am looking forward to more of the same in the coming year.

Happy Holidays from:

Matt Safley

(pictured with friends, Jen and Stephanie)

It has been quite an enjoyable and busy year. Aside from teaching all of my wonderful students, I just finished moving into a new place and am still getting everything unpacked! I have also resumed taking voice lessons and hope to resume piano lessons in the future. I am looking forward to finishing this school year out and having fun teaching lessons during the summer, including a Harry Potter Camp.

Wishing you the warmest of holiday seasons!

Happy Holidays from:

Mort Melman

This year was full of exciting changes. We've started a class for six and seven year olds and it's going great. Our Guitar Ensemble, current private guitar students who take an extra ensemble lesson each week, had their first performance in November. In January we'll be starting Guitar Club for Men. That should be big fun.

Happiest of Holidays from Mort, Wasabi and Shoga.

Happy Holidays from:

Sandra Alexander

This has been a very full year for my family. I cherish each and every one of you, and I gift you with a photograph by my husband, James, of our daughter and granddaughter created on the occasion of our son-in-law's birthday.

I wish you all the very, very Happiest of holidays, and I look forward to more wonderful music with all my beloved students.

Happy Holidays from:

Sharon Kuhn

(pictured with husband, Andy)

It's been a whirlwind of a year! Andy continued taking classes for his History degree while working two part time jobs, and I've kept busy trying to learn how to decorate and take care of our little home. I feel tremendously blessed with so many things, particularly: a wonderful husband who adores me, a job that I love and people that I love working with, and mostly the wonderful students and families that I teach at MMA!

May your holiday season be rich with God's blessings!

Happy Holidays from:

Yulia Rife

(pictured with daughter, Sasha)

This year was very special for me and my family – we bought our very first house in this country, and we got a dog, a black lab, who’s bringing a lot of joy to our family.  I am thankful that I have a job that I love and can work productively.  I am proud that all my students who tried had the opportunity to go to state where they received the highest scores.  In 2012, my son will graduate from high school and go to college.  We’re hoping for a smooth and stress free transition for us and him!

I wish everyone a great holiday and the best 2012.

Where Are They Now?

Updates on Former Teachers

Just because a teacher isn't working here anymore doesn't mean that you (and we) don't miss them. We've compiled some information and asked them for a few thoughts.

Jamie Shaw (2007 - 2011)

Ms. Jamie and her husband Bobby have almost lived in Austin, Texas, for one whole year. Jamie missed her St. Louis students so much that once she got settled she decided to find some Austin students to teach. She currently has a full load of private students and is also teaching music at her church's preschool. She not only misses her students but also toasted ravioli, the Muny, Ted Drewes, and Milder Musical Arts.

"We hope that everyone has a very blessed holiday season!"

Stephani Moeller (2006 - 2008)

Stephani spent nearly four years in Korea, teaching English in schools and universities and learning the Korean language. She is an avid runner and has run many marathons both in the states and abroad. She currently resides in Minneapolis, MN, and is working as an assistant merchandiser.

Janet & Scott Rice (2003 - 2008)

Janet is a full-time music therapist, and is currently doing coursework toward teacher certification (M.A.T) in Choral Music Conducting at Webster University. 

Scott is completing his Masters in World Percussion Pedagogy. He is employed by Washington University, as a dance accompanist for the modern dance classes.

Emily (Weber) Curry (2004 - 2006)

When Emily moved to Lexington after working at MMA, she began teaching privately on her own and within four years had over 60 students. In February of 2011, Emily married Clay Curry in Maui, Hawaii, and they are now happily enjoying their lives together in Indianapolis, IN.

Joni Lane (2001 - 2004)

Joni Lane is currently living in the St. Louis area and is teaching for the Arch Diocese of St. Louis.

Kris Bartman (1999 - 2001)

Mr. Kris is the director of music at Montreat Presbyterian church in North Carolina. He and his wife, Jennifer, have six amazing children!

Katie (Roley) Schuermann (1999 - 2000)

Katie Schuermann (a.k.a. "Miss Katie" Roley) lives in Dallas, TX, with her husband of nine years, Rev. Michael Schuermann. Michael is a pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and Katie spends her days taking care of their home, writing books, and practicing music for church and upcoming shows. Katie's first book, He Remembers the Barren, came out earlier this year.

"How I miss all of you! What a blessing it was to be a part of your music-making so many years ago. Thank you, MMA, for the memories!"