2006 MTNA Foundation Fellows.(Music Teachers National Association)

The MTNA FOUNDATION FUND Fellow Program honors deserving individuals who have made significant contributions to the music world and the music teaching profession. In its seventh year, this program supports the efforts of MTNA through donations to the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND in an individual's name.

Gary Amano, of Logan, Utah, is director of piano studies at Utah State University (USU). He holds bachelor and master of music degrees from the Juilliard School in New York. Amano founded the USU Youth Conservatory, which has produced first-place or grand-prize student winners in many of the country's most prestigious piano competitions, including many MTNA competitions, and has been lauded by NASM as a national model for youth programs.

The late Diane Brimmer, NCTM, of Independence, Iowa, graduated from Sherwood Music School in Chicago, and held a state master certificate from the Iowa MTA. She was active throughout her career serving as Iowa MTA president and certification board and repertoire committee member, and Northeast Area MTA president and advisor. Brimmer also received the Iowa MTA Master Teacher Award (1971), the Iowa MTA Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award (1994) and the Iowa MTA Certified Teacher of the Year (2005, posthumous). She died in December 2004, after 56 years of teaching, composing and arranging music.

Sandra Carnes, NCTM, of East Sparta, Ohio, is professor of music at Malone College in Canton, Ohio, where she served as chair of the fine arts department from 1987 to 1997, and is currently the director of the piano preparatory program. She also teaches piano pedagogy, applied piano and directs the piano ensemble. Carnes is a graduate of Malone College and holds a master of music degree from the University of Akron. She is past president of the Ohio MTA and MTNA's East Central Division. Carnes served on the MTNA Board of Directors and holds a Master Teacher Certificate.

Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield, NCTM, of Princeton, New Jersey, is a nationally recognized teacher, clinician, pianist and author, and professor of piano and coordinator of the piano department at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. She holds a bachelor of music degree from Oberlin College and a master of music degree from the Eastman School of Music. Clarfield has given lecture-recitals, workshops and master classes in more than 100 cities across North America. She has also authored many collections for Alfred Publishing Company, including Keys to Stylistic Mastery, Books 1-3, From Mystery to Mastery and Artistic Preparation and Performance. Clarfield maintains an independent studio in Princeton, New Jersey.

Jean Fox, NCTM, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, teaches private piano lessons in her home. She is an active adjudicator and clinician. In addition to giving music education workshops throughout North America, she has presented at several state MTA conventions and the MTNA National Conference. Fox was named 1988 Pennsylvania Distinguished Teacher of the Year by the Pennsylvania MTA and in 1994, was awarded the Pennsylvania MTA Distinguished Service Award. Fox is a past president of PMTA and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of PMTA. She was president of MTNA's Eastern Division and served on the MTNA Board of Directors from 1996 to 1998. She is treasurer of the Lehigh Valley MTA.

Joyce L. Grill, NCTM, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, founded the LaCrosse Area MTA in 1980 and has been an active member of the LaCrosse Area MTA, serving as an officer or in other leadership roles. In addition, she has served as Wisconsin MTA president and held several ...