Calendar

September 2026

 

September 9, Wednesday

Application deadline: NYSMTA State Competition

Categories: Performance Competitions (Piano, Piano Duet, Strings and Woodwinds), Composition.  https://nysmta.org/mtna-competitions/

 

September 11, Friday

Application Deadline: 2026 Nazareth University Piano Competition. For more information visit https://www2.naz.edu/school-music/experiential-learning/piano-competition  or contact: Dr. Jacob Ertl: jertl2@naz.edu

 

September 11, Friday, 10:00 am

RPTG Board meeting, at the home of Teddy Carr

 

September 18, Friday, Gather at 9:45 am

Piano Recital and Membership Meeting at the home of Barbara Noval,

43 Parker Drive, Pittsford, NY 14534. Our featured artist this year is Nicole Yanzuo Liu, a doctoral student at the Eastman School of Music. We will begin with a membership meeting, followed by a recital and reception.

 

September 27, Sunday

The 2026 Nazareth University Piano Competition.

For more information contact Dr. Jacob Ertl: jertl2@naz.edu

 

October 2026

 

October 5, Monday

Deadline for Fall Semester Scholarship Application

Application details and contact for Hwaen Ch'uqi on page 15.

 

October 11, Sunday

Video submission deadline: NYSMTA State Competition

 

October 15, Thursday

Deadline for November Duet Newsletter.

Email submissions to Elier Suráez: elier@elier.com

 

October 16, Friday

Deadline for October 24th Student Recital Applications.

Application at www.rochesterpianoteachers.org. For more information contact: Beth Fischer: beth@bethfischerpiano.com

 

October 17, Saturday

NYSMTA State Conference with Guest Presenter, Logan Skelton At SUNY Onondaga Community College (Syracuse, NY) https://nysmta.org/2026-state-conference/

Contact: Tasha George-Hinnant: tnghinnant@gmail.com

 

October 24, Saturday, 2:00 pm

Halloween/Fall Student Recital at ARTISANworks

565 Blossom Rd, Suite L, Rochester, NY 14610. Costumes encouraged!

 

October 30, Friday, 10:00 am

RPTG Board meeting at the home of Kathy Whitlock

 

November 2026

 

November 1, Sunday

National Guild of Piano Teachers Auditions deadline – To participate in Spring 2027 Auditions you must contact: Wendy O'Brien at brucelegacystudios@gmail.com

 

November 2, Monday

Gold Cup online registration opens - Application on RPTG website: Gold Cup Festival

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November 7, Saturday. 4:00 pm social hour with 5:00 pm recognition and dinner for 70th Anniversary Celebration at Rooney’s Restaurant. More information to follow. Please RSVP to Brian Preston - 58minton@gmail.com

 

November 13, Friday

Deadline for Howard Hanson Audition applications.

Send to Beth Fischer. More information on pages 13-14.

 

November 13, Friday, 10:00 am

Program:  “Tame your Stagefright” presented by Paula Bobb.  The piano is on stage, the lid fully open.  Imagine you are playing it for an audience.  How do you feel? Do you notice any uncomfortable sensations in your body? Any annoying thoughts? Come to this workshop with your stagefright, pain or any other stress and anxiety.  Let’s see if EFT Tapping and Paula can send you home a little lighter! 

Location: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church - 28 Lincoln Ave., Pittsford, NY  14534. RSVP to Sarah Barford: 

Barfordpiano@gmail.com 

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December 2026

 

December 4, Friday

Deadline for December 12th Holiday/Winter Student Recital Applications. Application at www.rochesterpianoteachers.org. For more information contact Beth Fischer: beth@bethfischerpiano.com

 

December 5, Saturday

Deadline to submit Gold Cup Festival applications

Application on RPTG website: Gold Cup Festival

 

December 12, Saturday, 1:30 pm 

Student Holiday/Winter Recital at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 3736 St.

Paul Blvd. Rochester, NY 14617

 

December 15, Tuesday

Deadline for January Duet Newsletter. Email submissions to

Elier Suárez: elier@elier.com

 

January 2027

 

January 7, Thursday

Deadline for Howard Hanson Audition program approval.

 

January 8, Friday, 10:00 am

RPTG Board meeting, at the home of Sarah Rhee

 

January 14, Thursday

Deadline for Howard Hanson Audition program changes

 

January 15, Friday

Deadline for NYSMTA Student Achievement Program (Full program or Repertoire and Technique or Repertoire and Theory) Application at: https://nysmtadistrict12.wixsite.com/website

For more information contact Bonnie Choi: bchoi6@naz.edu

 

January 30, Saturday

Gold Cup Festival, Nazareth University School of Music

 

February 2027

 

February 5, Friday

Deadline for Spring Semester Scholarship Application

Application details and contact for Hwaen Ch'uqi on page 15.

 

February 6, Saturday

Gold Cup Festival Honors Recitals 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm - Nazareth University, Linehan Chapel

 

February 15, Monday

Deadline for March Duet Newsletter. Email submissions to

Elier Suárez: elier@elier.com

 

February 26, Friday 10:00 am

Program - Teacher’s Forum led by Teddy Carr and Jeanne Strong.  “The Joy of the Prelude from Bach to Vandall”.  Join us as we discover some exciting and often overlooked gems, expand our teaching repertoire and share ideas with fellow RPTG colleagues.

Location: Home of Teddy Carr - 45 Alta Vista Dr. Rochester, NY 14625

RSVP to Sarah Barford: Barfordpiano@gmail.com 

 

March 2027

 

March 5, Friday, 10:00 am

RPTG Board meeting, at the home of Tasha George-Hinnant

 

March 7, Sunday

Howard Hanson Auditions, Nazareth University School of Music

 

March 13, Saturday

NYSMTA District 12 Student Achievement Program

Technique Exam In-person or online. Nazareth University

For more information contact Bonnie Choi: bchoi6@naz.edu

 

March 14, Sunday

Deadline for NYSMTA Student Achievement Program

(Repertoire ONLY). https://nysmtadistrict12.wixsite.com/website

For more information contact Bonnie Choi: bchoi6@naz.edu

 

March 21, Sunday, 7:00 pm

Howard Hanson Winners' Recital - Wilmot Hall, Nazareth University School of Music.

 

March 28, Sunday

Deadline for American Composer Festival Applications. Visiting composer Jeanine Yeager. Applications can be found on the RPTG website: www.rochesterpianoteachers.org  For more information contact: Teddy Carr: (585) 264-0065.

 

April 2027

 

NGPT Auditions. For more information contact: Wendy O'Brien at brucelegacystudios@gmail.com

 

April 1, Thursday

Postmark Deadline for NYSMTA Student Achievement Theory Exam.

Mail to: Kym Schifino, 19 Farm Field Lane, Pittsford, NY 14534

 

April 10, Saturday

American Composer Festival 2027 - Visiting Composer Jeanine Yeager.  Nazareth University, Linehan Chapel. For more information Contact Teddy Carr: 585-264-0065.

 

April 12, Monday

Application and Video submission deadline for NYSMTA Heddy Killian Empire State Competition (Virtual). Expanded Eligibility!  Now open to all students, including those outside of NYSMTA membership and from all areas in New York State.

https://nysmta.org/heddy-kilian-empire-state-competition/

 

April 15, Thursday

Deadline for May Duet Newsletter. Email submissions to

Elier Suárez: elier@elier.com

 

April 16, Friday

Deadline for H.S. Seniors, Student and Teacher April 25th recital applications.

Applications: online form or mail in form

For more information contact Beth Fischer: beth@bethfischerpiano.com 

 

April 25, Sunday, Times TBD

Spring Student, High School Senior and RPTG Teacher Recitals at Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs Street, Rochester, NY 14607.

 

April 26, Monday

Deadline for Junior All-Star Piano Competition

(Competition June 5th and Winners recital June 6th)

For more information contact Beth Fischer: beth@bethfischerpiano.com 

 

April 30, Friday

Deadline to apply for Laura Heilbronner Scholarship. For more information contact Brian Preston. Further information on page 16.

 

May 2027

 

May 14, Friday, 10:00 am

Program and lunch: “The Earlier The Better: Chamber Music for Younger Pianists" presented by Hwaen Chúqi. Quite often, a piano student's first brush with chamber music or substantive collaboration with one or more non-pianists is a concert-level work with a fully-engaged piano part. This presentation explores a body of work that would better prepare pianists for that seminal moment.

Location: Perinton Presbyterian Church. 6511 Pittsford Palmyra Rd. Fairport,

NY 14450.  RSVP to Sarah Barford: Barfordpiano@gmail.com 

 

May 22, Saturday

NYSMTA Student Achievement Program Repertoire Exam In-person or online Nazareth University https://nysmtadistrict12.wixsite.com/website

For more information contact Bonnie Choi: bchoi6@naz.edu 

 

June 2027

 

June 4, Friday, 10:00 am

Board meeting, at the home of Jeanne Strong

 

June 5, Saturday

Junior All-Star Competition, Nazareth University School of Music

Wilmot Recital Hall. Contact: Beth Fischer

 

June 6, Sunday, 2 pm

Junior All-Star Competition Winners' Recital,Nazareth University

School of Music Wilmot Recital Hall. Contact: Beth Fischer

 

June 19, Saturday, 6:00 pm

RPTG Potluck Dinner and Membership meeting at the home of Teddy Carr. 45 Alta Vista Dr., Rochester, NY  14625.

RSVP to Teddy by June 13th -  teddycarr55@yahoo.com

 

June 21-22, Monday - Tuesday

Piano Pedagogy Workshop – Guest Presenters: Christopher and Katherine

Fisher.  Sponsored by RPTG, NYSMTA and Nazareth University School of Music.  Contact: Tasha George-Hinnant: tnghinnant@gmail.com 

 

July 2027

 

July 31, Saturday

RPTG Membership fees are due! diane@musiconthemove.com

 

August 2027

Deadline for September Duet Newsletter. Email submissions to

Elier Suárez: elier@elier.com

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