Areas of Expertise:
Piano, Violin, Instrumental & Vocal Accompaniment
ORMTA History:
Member since 1982 *40 years*
Andrea grew up as a student of MRMTA members in Winnipeg, playing piano and violin, and so joined ORMTA when she first moved to Ontario. The year 2022 will mark 40 years of Andrea’s membership in ORMTA – 20 in Chatham-Kent and 20 in the Hamilton-Halton branch.
Best Memories of ORMTA
The Chatham-Kent branch held a student and teacher recital for the Bach, Scarlatti, Handel tricentennial in 1985, which was a big success in the community. She was twice President of the Chatham-Kent branch and once president of the Hamilton-Halton branch. Those opportunities gave her a chance to work with many members and form lasting friendships with her colleagues.
In 1991, the branch held a Mozart activity day for our students in Chatham-Kent to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s death. They had over 100 students participating and it was a great day for everyone.
Andrea chaired two provincial conventions, one in 1987 in Chatham and one in 2012 in Hamilton. She was an ORMTA workshop clinician for many years and enjoyed speaking to branches in Niagara Falls, Sault Ste Marie, Goderich, Sarnia and London. She also chaired two campaigns to raise money for grand pianos, one in Chatham and one at the Burlington Performing Arts Center. Both committees were made up of ORMTA colleagues, whose help was invaluable. As an ORMTA representative, she chaired the music committee at the Rotary Burlington Music Festival festival for 5 years.
She has served as treasurer, recital convenor and other executive positions in both branches and, just before the pandemic, organized a student activity day with many of my colleagues for Hamilton-Halton ORMTA students.
Much of what the members do as teachers in ORMTA is volunteering, which is sometimes difficult, but the rewards are huge.
Andrea has made many friends through the organization, and her best memories are of those special recitals, conventions and workshops, where she got to know her colleagues.
Andrea has also been involved with the Burlington Symphony Orchestra since 2002. She has been on the Board of directors there as well as on the Arts and Culture Council of Burlington Board and continues to be involved in the community.