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Membership Benefits
AGM is made up of nearly 6,000 independent music teachers and students, music publishers, store owners, and manufacturers from all over the United States and Canada.
The AGM network can provide you with camaraderie, marketing support and new ideas.
Specifically, the American Guild of Music provides our independent music teacher members with opportunities to:
Attract New Students
Through our online directory, parents from your area can easily search to find you, based on the information you’ve provided. Here is your chance to market your experience, expertise and talents to future students' families.
Encourage Current Students to Continue Studies
AGM’s events provide our members’ students with the chance to shine while having fun – inspiring them to want to practice and achieve more. They gain access to these events through their teacher members. It is great incentive for continue learning and building skills.
Music Contests and Examinations
AGM programs focus on the needs of the "everyday" music student. They are open to students of all ages and levels to motivate them in their musical studies. Our Main program, the AGM Contests, are designed to nationally recognize your students with 3 months to twelve years of music study up to age 21. The contests are aimed at inspiring students to continue their music education, whether or not they intend on making music a career. The AGM national contest, held annually, brings together the most representative cross-section of the AGM membership. At the national contest teachers may be given the opportunity clinics and informational sessions. National competitions finals take place at the national convention and feature the outstanding performances of students in all instrument areas. The AGM competitions are the most successful and prestigious student competitions in the country. These competitions attract the finest performers in piano, strings, voice, woodwinds, brass, organ, guitar, percussion and accordion.
AGM Examination Program, will provide your students with an opportunity for performance in a noncompetitive atmosphere. Participating students will be supportively critiqued by a qualified adjudicator. Each student will receive recognition, while being offered incentive for practice and selection of challenging repertoire. The AGM examination program is offered periodically during the fall and winter months.
AGM's Music Theory Tests encourages all students to continue their music study and strive to achieve goals that will not only help them become better musicians, but also will enhance their love and appreciation of music. Students completing the program are rewarded for their achievement with a special AGM Plaque. AGM Theory Tests are offered at all AGM contests.
Grant & Cash Award Opportunities
The AGM awards grants annually to students who show need so they may participate in AGM contests. Many opportunities exist for students to win several established cash awards at the national contest only.
Find Camaraderie and Collaboration
As musicians and educators, we recharge our batteries by learning new pieces and techniques - then sharing what we’ve learned with our audiences and students. Our member community and events provide a support structure enabling you to connect and collaborate. You continue to grow and shine – and share that enthusiasm with your students.
AGM NEWS Magazine
NEWS is AGM's quarterly journal. As an AGM member you will receive a subscription with your membership. NEWS's purpose is to provide you with articles, reviews and regular columns that inform, educate students and music teachers and foster excellence in the music teaching profession. NEWS will motivate you and keep you up to date on the latest American Guild of Music events. Our newest journal is an electronic publication called Allegro Vivo. This e-newsletter is to keep AGM teachers informed of issues essential to their current AGM experience. Check it out!
AGM is the best investment you can make to help you realize your full potential as a music professional.
About
Owner and music director ofeceived the R.A.V.E award as 2012 Music Educator from the City of Vaughan. earned her degree in Mathematics from York University while continuing her studies in music through the Royal Conservatory of Music. With 27 years of teaching and performance experience, has also taken on roles as adjudicator and clinician. has been the Contest Director for the American Guild of Music since 2010 and currently sits on the Board of Directors as the 1st Vice President.
Julie Kopasz (Harrison Township, MI) - President
Julie has been a board member since 2009 and has sent her students to AGM Contests for 20 years. She teaches piano at Huber & Breese, Evola Music and Privately. Julie is the Banquet Chairman, Syllabus Chairman, Judges Liaison, Practice Room Chairman, Co Director of the Cadet teachers and Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Adriane Galea (Allen Park, MI) - 1st Vice President
Adriane Galea is a vocal and piano instructor from Allen Park, Michigan. In addition to teaching, Adriane runs a non-profit performing arts initiative and serves on several arts-based boards of directors, mentors high school students wishing to pursue theatre/musical theatre at the collegiate level for their college auditions, and is a company member of several Detroit-area professional theatres where she has worked as an actor, director, music director, and stage manager. Adriane holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Michigan.
Dan Miner (Houston, TX) - Past Treasurer
Dan holds degrees from Michigan State University in both music education and piano. As an educator he maintains a private piano studio, authors teaching resources for secondary-level music educators, and is a choral director at Atascocita High School in the Houston metropolitan area where under his direction choirs have won top awards at both local and state festivals and contests. Dan has also been both a presenter and accompanist for choral workshops at Texas state music conferences. Outside of the classroom, Dan is a published composer with the Hal Leonard Corporation and BriLee Music Publishing, serves as organist at First United Methodist Church (Pasadena, TX), and is a regular accompanist in both sacred and secular settings. At AGM, Dan has been involved as a student, teacher, volunteer, judge, and now member of the Board of Directors. He serves as AGM’s Treasurer, Assistant Convention Manager, and directs the Convention Orchestra at the National Conventions.
Richard "Rick" Chizmadia (Cincinnati, OH) - Treasurer & Convention Manager
Rick has been a part of AGM leadership for over 30 years and began his relationship with AGM as a young child competing on accordion and piano. Rick toured Europe several times with a 30 piece accordion orchestra and performed with several groups over his lifetime. He has as BA in Music from Oakland University and Master of Arts degree in Communications and Multimedia from Saginaw Valley State University. He has instructed hundreds of champion piano, keyboard, accordion and vocal students over his vast teaching career and is the director of Keyboard Centre.
Rick brings vast organization skills to AGM from other endeavors, including serving on the board of the Human Rights Campaign, Great Lakes Men’s Chorus, and Cincinnati Men’s Chorus.
Currently he sits on the board of FAWCO Alumni USA (FAUSA) and is co-chair of the Cincinnati Ronald McDonald House Play-a-thon. Rick was the first AG Student Council president and was Convention Orchestra director from 1990 to 2002. He currently holds the positions of Past President, Convention Manager and Newsletter Editor at the American Guild of Music.
Rachel Watson (Clinton Township, MI) - Score Room Director
Rachel Watson has been involved in music competitions since the age of 8. She first became involved with AGM at the age of 15, when she started keyboard lessons with Richard Chizmadia. She has won many awards in piano, voice and keyboard competitions, including winning Champion for keyboard N.A.I.C in 1999. She went on to attend Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois where she was active in the music program performing in three honors recitals and being chosen to play at a piano dedication. Rachel studied piano with Dr. Julia Hennig and Professor Brian Bloye and piano with Professor Martha Kasten. She sang in the Kapelle choir and the some elite Chamber Choir under the direction of Doctor Charles Brown. She received a Major in Elementary Education with a concentration in music. She has been a member of AGM since 2005 and was elected on the Board of directors in 2009. Rachel is the current score room director and is on the contest planning committee. She has been teaching since 1997 and currently teaches out of her privately owned piano studio. She lives in Clinton Township with her husband and two children.
Michael Emshwiller (Lenox, MI)- 2nd Vice President
Alyssa Phelps (Harrison Township, MI)- Director
Alyssa Phelps is a professional singer, vocal, and piano instructor with an Associates of Arts degree in vocal performance from Macomb Community College. She is the current lead singer of Cosmic Groove Band. Alyssa also sings with Steve King and the Dittilies and The Sound Alternative Band. She started as a student competitor at AGM in 2008, became a teacher member in 2016 and was nominated to the American Guild of Music Board of Directors in 2019. Alyssa has judged for the National Federation Junior Festival, and the MAC Open. As an AGM student competitor Alyssa was awarded the 2011 Vocal All Around Winner as well as 42 various trophies. Since graduating Alyssa has performed as a comedy improvisation actress as well as acted in various community theater productions. As a vocalist and teacher her goal is to teach every student the fundamentals of vocal performing as well as that Vocal Health Matters!!
Suzanne Pennington (Romulus, MI) - Director
Suzanne Pennington has been an active member of American Guild of Music since 1989. She began her music studies on piano and organ at Wyandotte Conservatory of Music with Professor Arnold. She has worked as church musician, accompanist and Member of Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association for 19 years. Sue is an accredited Schaum Clinician and has conducted hundreds of teacher clinics around the country, including one for music dealers for NAMM. She has published teaching curriculum for keyboard classes using Schaum materials, in addition to the theory workbook series. She has maintained a full private studio in her home for 50 years.
Linda Tamburri (Welland, Ontario)- Director
Linda Tamburri is a versatile pianist who performs live with many groups including The Ashley Kennedy Trio (pop/jazz), Sabor Latino (Latin), Nu Klezmer Orchestra (traditional Jewish) and The Gail Davidson Band (jazz). Linda is music director at St. James Anglican Church (Port Colborne) and owner of the Ontario Conservatory of Music (Port Colborne and Welland) where she has taught piano, voice, guitar and theory for 35+ years. Her scholastic accomplishments include a Master of Arts degree in Ethnomusicology (York University, Toronto) and an Honours Bachelor of Music History and Theory (McMaster University, Hamilton). She is passionate about teaching, adjudicating, examining, performing and composing music. Linda has been a member of the AGM since she was a teenager and is thrilled to serve on the Board of Directors.
Nicole Tolentino (Chicago, IL) - Director
Nicole (Nikki) Tolentino grew up in Carol Stream, Illinois. She began taking private piano lessons with Perla Cudal in the fifth grade, and began competing in the National Conventions and eventually the Regional Convention in Detroit with the American Guild of Music a year later. From age eleven to age eighteen, she participated in several divisions of piano, voice, and keyboard. She began volunteering as a room monitor after she entered college, and then the following year joined the Board. She has since taken on the responsibilities of registration and ombudsperson.
She now attends Northern Illinois University, pursuing a degree in vocal music education.
Barry Carr (Brechin, Ontario) - Past President
Barry has been involved with the American Guild of music since 1969 started competing at the age of 15 in the plectrum guitar divisions; studied at the National Conservatory of Music under the direction of Mark Peel for 8 years on guitar, bass ,guitar, classical guitar,steel guitar and theory. He has served as board member of the American Guild of music followed by three time as president. His duties over the last 45 years consist of Toronto Convention manager, Co-contest director judge, judges' liaison, Cadet Teachers Training Director, and, night time competition MC.
He currently is teaching guitar, classical guitar, bass guitar, drums,keyboard and theory out of his house studio on a semi retirement basis. He thanks the American Guild of music for his success in motivating his students to perform to their best abilities. Also, for instilling good practice habits and dedication to attain their goals .
Perla Cudal (Carol Stream, IL) - Past President
Perla owns and operates her own studio in Carol Stream, Illinois. She joined the American Guild of Music in 1983 and was elected to the board of directors in 1995. Perla is a very dedicated and valuable member. She holds the positions of being the director of practice rooms, and the banquet chairperson.
Perla obtained her Bachelor of Music from Laperal Music Academy in the Philippines. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Far Eastern University also in the Philippines. She is the Musical Director for Manila Central University Medical Choral Group and is a hall of fame awardee for her musical contributions in the Filipino-American Association of Chicago.
Joanne Darby (McCamey, TX) - Past President
Joanne studied accordion for 11 years and received her bachelors of education degree from Ohio University. She attended Muskingum College for 2 years and studied music theory, piano, and voice. Joanne started teaching guitar in 1964 and entered students in AGM contests while teaching for former AGM great, Billy Steed. Joanne helped Billy organized the Guild from 1964 until his death in 1969.
Joanne first attended AGM Regionals at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio in 1956. She competed through 1969 at regional contests that were held each August at the Muskingum County Fair in Zanesville, Ohio. Her first Nationals was in St. Louis in 1960. Joanne joined the board of directors in 1981 and was elected to the position of treasurer in 1990.
Lorelei Eccleston (Toronto, Ontario) - Past President
Lorelei started piano at the age of 8. Since that time, she has performed and competed all over North America. She has been solo artist and/or guest performer in several concerts and live-aid events in Canada and internationally. Lorelei also has worked as music director, choir conductor, and musician at Ossington Avenue Baptist Church for over 25 years.
She began competing in the American Guild of Music Nationals at the age of 9. During her competitive years with AGM she won the North American Invitational Championship 6 times (the first time at 12 years old), and the All Around Award once. Upon retirement from competitions, she began adjudicating for AGM and was later appointed to the Board of Directors serving as President for a short term. Now a Past President, Lorelei continues active involvement with AGM as Membership Chair and Convention Choir Director.
In addition to her musical career, Lorelei is an elementary school Principal at an inner city school in Toronto. She has 4 webisode commercials on Smart Steps for Parents with the Bank of Montreal. Lorelei is a busy mom to her 5 children: Tyler, Courtney Maxwell, Jenna and Lauren, and their dog, Lola.
Tracey King (Taylor, MI) - Past President
Tracey King began AGM participation with students in 1991, and joined the board of directors in 2002. Her students have repeatedly won NAICs and All-Around Awards in Voice and Piano. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cleveland State University and Spring Arbor University and has forty-one years of teaching piano and voice privately. She is the founder of the “King School of Music” studio, which celebrates 25 years in 2015.
As a member of the AGM Board of Directors, Tracy has served in many capacities and roles including Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and currently as the Co-Secretary in charge of communications and President. She created the first Vocal test list with assistance from Adriane Galea and works on updating the piano and vocal sight-reading test lists, etc. She also accompanies (and occasionally directs) the National Convention Choir.
Leonard Mostek (Omaha, NE) - Past President
Leonard became a member in 1969. He first brought his students to his first Guild convention in 1972 and was quickly voted to the board of directors in 1975. He served as president from 1981 and 1982 and again in 1988 and 1989. He served as contest director in 1979, 1980, 1983 and 1989. He participated for 25 years without missing a contest.
Leonard was responsible for creating the All-Around Award in 1984 he was the initial creator and coordinator. He also was theory coordinator for a number of years.
Leonard frequently adjudicates throughout the U.S. He obtained his degree at University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Omaha.
He is the director of the Omaha Conservatory of Music where he has been teaching since 1963.
Daren Peplinksi (Sterling Heights, MI) - Past President
Daren Peplinski began playing drums in 1969. Over the next dozen years Daren learned a variety of percussion instruments including rudimental snare, drum set, tympani and mallet instruments such as marimba and vibraphone. After several years of competitive playing, he embarked upon a successful career as performer and instructor, working the gambit of musical styles from classical to pop, theater to experimental, and all points in between. His students captured awards from many local and national music organizations including three NAIC winners and one All Around champion at American Guild of Music national competitions.
Daren has a long affiliation with numerous music organizations including: Percussive Arts Society, National Association of Rudimental Drummers, International Association of Rudimental Percussionists, Experimental Musical Instruments, Drum Corp International, Music Teachers National Association, Music Educators National Conference and Michigan Music Association. Having competed, taught and adjudicated in the AGM since 1974, he joined the board of directors in 1999.
Our Mission
The American Guild of Music, a multi-national organization whose mission is to advance the study of music and to foster interest in, promote and advance the artistic, educational, recreational and commercial position of music of all kinds
Our History
The American Guild of Music is the world's oldest international music organization. Its membership is open to independent music teachers, music store owners and their teaching staffs, music publishers and instrument manufacturers and music students. With over 5,000 members, representing every instrument, the American Guild of Music is an exciting and dynamic organization. Progressive, constantly growing, ever changing and extremely popular, the American Guild of Music is a music experience you just can't miss!
Our Leadership
Led for Students by Lifelong Teachers and Learners
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