SCMTA Annual Members’ Meeting
This session is available on Zoom with the link provided via email to registrants. Haven’t received your link? Contact conference@scmta.org for assistance.
Friday at 12:00 noon
SCMTA Teacher of the Year
Deborah Freeman
Deborah Freeman has been an active member of SCMTA since 1979, and she has maintained a private piano studio in the Greenville area for over 50 years. Many of her students have pursued careers in various areas of music education and as church musicians.
She is a founder and past president of Greenville Woman’s Music Club, past president of Crescent Music Club, and member of The Music Club of Greenville. Deborah served as GMTA President 1995-1999, SCMTA President in 2004-2006, and In October 2011 was chosen as one of Greenville’s 25 Most Beautiful Women for her volunteer service with young musicians in the Greenville area.
Having served SCFMC in many positions, she is currently the Junior Clubs Coordinator for three junior music clubs with over 225 student members, Festival Director for NW District I, Festival Finance Chair, Media chair, American Music chair, and Parliamentarian. She has written numerous articles on American Music for NFMC Music Clubs Magazine and Junior Keynotes magazine.
Deborah is a Life Member of the National Federation of Music Clubs, American College of Musicians, a Rose Fay Thomas Fellow, a Carolina Jessamine Fellow, and is currently serving as the NFMC First Vice President.
Following collegiate studies as an organ performance major at Anderson University, she continued her studies of piano and pedagogy with private teachers. She is a member of the NGPT Board of Adjudicators and enjoys participating when time allows.
Deborah’s greatest joy is spending time with her three children and six grandchildren, and she spends her leisure time growing roses.
MTNA Foundation Fellow
Kathleen Nungesser
Kathleen never intended to be a piano teacher. She did not feel cut out for the job so she majored in Computer Science in college, while continuing to study piano privately. It wasn’t until she was in her thirties that she ventured into piano teaching at the request of two separate friends for their respective daughters. Twenty-six years later she is still at it and loving it.
Since moving to South Carolina in 1998, Kathleen has served in numerous capacities for the state and local associations of MTNA. Positions she has held in the Charleston MTA are VP for Programs, Treasurer, President, and Achievement Day Chair. For South Carolina MTA: District VII Chair and Treasurer. In 2004, after moving to Myrtle Beach, she initiated the effort to start a new MTNA association and, together with fellow teacher Donna Sanders, established the Long Bay MTA. She served as founding President and continued to help guide the activities of the association until her return to Charleston in 2012.
Every year Kathleen writes and directs a holiday show that she and her students present to local retirement communities. She receives much joy in helping students learn to share their music and learn how to interact with the residents. Kathleen is also the founder and director of Junior Organ Experience (JOE), a summer organ program for youth (and the occasional young at heart senior).
Kathleen credits the quality of the SCMTA conference programs and the support and mentorship of her fellow SCMTA teachers for the success of her studio.
Genesis Grant Recipient
Dan McCurry
Dan McCurry is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. He started his musical journey at age 10, first with piano and then joined the orchestra (violin) and band (trumpet) shortly after, participating in numerous honor groups including Charleston Youth Symphony Orchestra and Na Fidleiri. He was introduced to jazz in high school through the jazz big band and combo classes. He attended College of Charleston studying jazz piano under the late Tommy Gill as well as music theory and composition under Dr. David Maves, Dr. Trevor Weston, and Dr. Edward Hart. He has been an active performer in jazz and rock groups since college including his own project, Run Dan Run. He has been teaching piano lessons independently since 2007 as CharlestonPianoLessons.com and is an active member of MTNA, SCMTA, and CMTA.
