Auditions for DVMTA's annual piano performance competition were held on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Hammer & Strings Conservatory in Gilbert. After months of preparation students performed and were judged, with amazing scores and results. This was a wonderful  opportunity for students to prepare pieces beyond simply learning the basics. 

We had 61 students from 10 teachers participate in the auditions. There's a lot of hard work that goes into this level of preparation, and we're proud of all of the students who participated. Congratulations to our 2026 Awards in Excellence winners and Honorable Mention students! Special recognition goes to the teachers of these students. The winners of each level will perform in an Awards in Excellence recital on Saturday, April 25, 2026. 

We appreciate our judges who gave wonderful feedback to all the students. Our judges were Dr. Radmila Stojanovic-Kiriluk, Susan Martinez, Dr. Mandarin Cheung-Yueh, and Dr. Barbara Russell.

I had the privilege to check in students at the Awards in Excellence auditions on Saturday. It was such a fun experience to watch as they awaited their turns to play. Some students were busily studying their music, trying to review and remember as much detail as possible. Others were pacing around, burning off some nervous energy. Others sat quietly, seeming at ease, but then I couldn’t see what was going through their minds at the time. Maybe they truly were calm, maybe they were just good at faking it.

Parents, too, were fun to watch. Some were obviously heavily invested in their child’s success, talking them through certain things, fretting about their dress or hair, etc. Others were much more laid back, chatting with other parents, taking care of siblings, and letting the competitors be. Every child is different, and parents know their needs better than I, so I cannot judge. Awards in Excellence is admittedly a stressful audition situation, and each student handles that in a different way. Fun to watch them cope.

As I’ve thought about this and applied it to my life, I thought about the stressful situations we each face. Coming to the end of the school year, there’s a crunch to prepare for recitals, auditions, and Achievement Day. The calendar fills with end of the year concerts, plays, musicals, sports tournaments, dance recitals and the like. Each event is a reason to celebrate, but together they can become a burden.

How will we face that? Are we mentally driven, making to-do lists and detailed calendars to find peace? Are we physically driven, using exercise to calm us? Or are we more spiritually driven, preferring meditation or prayer to find serenity? Remember the Hawaiian Lokahi concept. Keeping mind, body and spirit in balance is vital to living in peace in this world. If we find our minds racing out of control, maybe a moment of quiet reflection and spiritual energy will help. If we find ourselves constantly running late, dashing here, there and everywhere, maybe taking the time to mentally focus would be beneficial.

Like those waiting students, we each must find a way to cope with the stresses of life. I’m grateful for that busy calendar, for people to care about, for students to nurture and help succeed. I’m grateful for friends and family who keep me grounded. I’m grateful for each one of you, for the influence you have had on my teaching and on me as a person. As I approach the end of my term as president, I’m grateful for the friendships I have built in DVMTA. So many of you give of your time and talents to help this organization thrive, and I truly appreciate your service.

I invite you to attend our April Brunch on Friday, April 24 at the LDS church building at 1054 W. 2nd Place in Mesa. We will install our new executive board that day and recognize the great service our outgoing board has given. We welcome Diana Palmer as our new President, Sara Pratt as Vice-president, Tammy Shorts as Treasurer, and Jenna Hartley as Secretary. I know each one of these ladies and they will do their very best to further the mission of DVMTA.

I wish you the best in all your endeavors and hope you find the balance in life that brings you peace.

With love,
Lorri McHardy

View the full April 2026 DVMTA Newsletter

One of the great advantages of DVMTA is the opportunity members have to meet to collaborate and share ideas. Our March General Meeting, which was held March 27, 2026 at Next Gen Piano Recital Hall, was a discussion on teaching tips. Diana Palmer led the discussion as members asked questions and shared their experiences and ideas. We are better together, and our members are valuable resources for each other. Thank you to all who participated and shared. 

Do you ever look at your calendar and just sigh? Or quiver in trepidation? Everyone is busy these days, but spring is super-busy as piano teachers. You may be preparing students for Awards in Excellence auditions, plus looking ahead at Achievement Day requirements. We’re counting up events for Awards Plus applications, not to mention preparing for our own spring recitals. And that doesn’t even include family, school, and community obligations. It’s very easy to feel overwhelmed.

Time to remember Lokahi, the Hawaiian concept of keeping life in balance. Three triangle points of mind, body, and spirit need to stay in harmony with each other. Lokahi contains an element of sustainability, of harmony between people, nature, and the divine. It is essential for a healthy life and connections with the land and with other people. When I find my mind getting overburdened with responsibilities, it’s time to step back and see what I need to do to restore balance to my life. Am I neglecting connections with people I care about? Do I need time alone to take a walk and breathe in the scent of those lovely citrus blossoms? Is my spirit in need of a recharge, whatever that looks like to you?

As we’re preparing students for spring events, we need to teach all three points of the triangle. We teach their minds, helping them read, memorize, and prepare mentally for performances. We teach their bodies, posture, hand position, fluidity and technique. We teach their spirits, helping them play expressively and understand the rich traditions of the music. Different aspects will come easier to different students. I have some who excel at memorizing notes but struggle to play with passion. I have others who display more passion than correct technique. My job is to help them keep all aspects of learning music in balance. As they become well-rounded musicians, they can find joy in music for the rest of their lives, regardless of what the future brings. We are so privileged to play a role in their development, as musicians and as people. Our role is vital to these students—thank you for all you do for them!

Lorri McHardy

Read the full March 2026 DVMTA Newsletter