Indiana Music Teachers Association

10/08/2026

And the IMTA 2026 Teacher of the Year is...Phoenix Park-Kim!! 👏 (Pictured here with our 2025 Teacher of the Year, Ray Kilburn!)

Pianist Phoenix Park-Kim has given recitals throughout the United States, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Russia, and has performed in various music festivals such as the Aspen Summer Music Festival, Piano Texas, and the Summer Music in Siena.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Phoenix graduated from Yonsei University (B.A. & B.M.) in Seoul, then completed her graduate work at Miami University (M.M.) and at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Conservatory of Music (D.M.A.) under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Weirich and served as his teaching assistant. She has won prizes at numerous competitions, including the Miami University, Jefferson City, Kansas City Philharmonia Concerto Competition, and was a finalist at the Liszt-Garrison International Piano Competition and the American Prize Ernst Bacon Award. She appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras performing piano concertos by Bach, Mozart, Hummel, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and, most recently, Florence Price.

She is dedicated to providing more exposure to music by African-American composers. In this endeavor, she was awarded the Lilly research grant and also received special congressional recognition. An avid chamber musician, Phoenix regularly performs with Soprani Compagni and Duo Dolce. She has been heard on public radio in the U.S. and beyond, and her recordings are available globally on all digital platforms.

As a dynamic teacher and artist, she is in high demand for masterclasses, adjudications, and presentations. Her students have achieved top honors in regional and national competitions. She currently serves as Professor of Piano at Indiana Wesleyan University and Artistic Director of the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition.

10/07/2026

The 2026 IMTA State Conference is in the books! What a fabulous group of teachers and how lucky we were to be able to reunite with, learn from, and celebrate each other this past weekend. Huge thanks to our conference committee, led by Caroline Ahn, for their hard work putting on this event, and especially to Daniel Lin (site chair) and Phoenix Park-Kim for hosting us at the beautiful Indiana Wesleyan University! See you all next year! 😍

09/18/2026

Our state conference is coming up in just a few weeks, on October 2-3! Don't forget that TODAY (Friday, September 18) is the deadline to register if you would like meals included in your registration, or to submit a masterclass application! Just click here to register: https://indmta.org/state-conference/2026-state-conference/
See you at IWU!

05/18/2026

The Indiana Music Teachers Association would like to congratulate these students and teachers for their outstanding achievements at this year’s Hoosier Auditions State Competition. Congratulations to all who have participated, and we will see you next year!

04/28/2026

💡Have an idea for a conference presentation? Submit your proposal by JULY 1ST for the 2026 IMTA State Conference, to be held October 2 and 3 at Indiana Wesleyan University. 💡

We welcome proposals from members at all career stages on topics relevant to music teaching, performance, and professional development. Sessions may address piano pedagogy, studio management, technology, repertoire, music theory, early childhood music, and related areas. Both lecture-style presentations and lecture-recital formats are welcome.

Deadline: July 1, 2026
Please submit proposals at the following link:

The 2026 IMTA State Conference will be held at Indiana Wesleyan University on October 2-3, 2026. Stay tuned for more coming information!

04/03/2026

📢 We are beyond excited to announce this year's 2026 State Conference Commissioned Composer! Harry Bulow received his bachelor’s degree with distinction in music from San Diego State University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in music theory and composition from UCLA. His principal composition teachers include Aaron Copland, Peter Mennin, Henri Lazarof, Roy Travis, and David Ward-Steinman. His works have received numerous awards including 1st Prize at the International Composers Competition in Trieste, Italy, the “Oscar Espla” Prize from the city of Alicante, Spain, a National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, and 35 consecutive ASCAP Plus Awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. His music is published by Alfred Publications, Robert Martin Editions, Northeastern Music Publications, Imagine Music, JW Pepper and Silver Mace Publications. Recordings of his works can be heard on North/South Consonance Records, Beauport Classical Records, PARMA/Navona Records, and PnOVA Recordings. He is Professor and Chair of Music at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.

03/14/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Pianist Eric Zuber as our Featured Artist for the 2026 IMTA Conference!

Acclaimed for his powerful artistry, technical brilliance, and compelling musical voice, Eric Zuber has performed extensively throughout the United States and internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist. His performances are praised for their depth, clarity, and emotional impact, inspiring audiences and musicians alike.

In addition to his distinguished performance career, Eric is a dedicated educator and mentor, known for his thoughtful teaching and commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians. His passion for music-making and excellence make him a truly exceptional artist and leader in our field.

We are honored to feature Eric Zuber at this year’s IMTA Conference and look forward to an unforgettable experience with his performances, insights, and artistry.

Learn more about Eric Zuber at: www.ericzuber.com

01/13/2026

Happy New Year! As we enter a new year, it's a fitting time to look back on 2025 in gratitude for our amazing members. One such member was named our 2025 Teacher of the Year and honored (to his surprise!) at the IMTA State Conference in October. Get to know Dr. Ray Kilburn and his accomplishments below:

Pianist Ray Kilburn, recognized as being among Canada's most gifted artists, now holds dual citizenship and resides in the United States. His studies, competitions, and recitals have taken him throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. Critics have been unanimous in their praise of his outstanding technical abilities and artistic temperament. In one critic's words, if Kilburn is not the reincarnation of the great romantic pianists, he comes close. Arthur Kaptainis of the Montreal Gazette wrote, Kilburn came across as a pianist of serious musical aims and thorough technical command. Technical hurdles were cleared with aplomb and his warm, firm tone never faltered. John Lambert of Spectator Magazine wrote, Kilburn.... is a powerhouse player infused with musicianship and taste. Pianism of this caliber is rare, indeed. Mr. Kilburn's debut performance in Raleigh was named one of the top ten classical performances of the 1994-95 season by Spectator Magazine. His first solo compact disc was released in September of 1997, and his second solo disc Kilburn Plays Rachmaninoff was released in December of 2000. In early 2001, he completed a collaborative compact disc with his father, cellist Michael Kilburn.

Ray Kilburn has been heard frequently on Radio Canada in live concert broadcasts, as well as on WCPE and the ETV networks in the United States, and the NHK television network in Japan. Competition and career successes have brought him numerous opportunities to perform both in solo recital and with orchestra. He has been a featured guest artist on numerous concert series and at many colleges and universities. Beyond his work as a soloist, Ray Kilburn has been active performing chamber music. Highlights have included concerts with his father, cellist Michael Kilburn, as well as recent concerts in Japan with his wife, soprano Yoko Shimazaki-Kilburn. A wide variety of other collaborations include choreographed performances of Prokofieff's Third Piano Concerto with Les Grandes Ballets Canadiens. Mr. Kilburn's many accomplishments have been recognized through prestigious arts grants from both the US and Canada. His many competition victories include first place in various national competitions and his performances in the final rounds of numerous international competitions.

Dr. Kilburn completed a Licentiate diploma and Bachelor's degree at McGill University, and the Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees in Piano Performance at Indiana University. His primary teachers include the eminent Canadian pianist Tom Plaunt, and the late world-renowned pianist Gyorgy Sebok. Dr. Kilburn served for two years on the faculty of music at the University of South Carolina, Coastal, and then for seven years on the faculty of music at Peace College. He is a much sought after recitalist, master teacher, and adjudicator, and now serves on the faculty of music performance at Ball State University.

10/21/2025

IMTA Member Profile: Get to know Dr. Vicki King, who was one of the honorees at this year's conference for 40 years of MTNA/IMTA membership and service to the piano teaching profession!

1. Educational background/degrees earned: BM, MM in Piano, DA in Piano Pedagogy

2. How/why did you choose to become a member of IMTA/MTNA? I became a member of MTNA in Georgia in 1971 to connect with other teachers. I was a member for 9 years, then moved to Germany. In 1985 I returned to pursue a doctorate and became a member again in 1985. I connected to MTNA in Mississippi, Tennessee, then in Indiana in 2014.

3. What have you personally found to be the most valuable benefits of being a member? The most valuable benefit of being a member is the opportunity to continue to grow as a musician through conferences.

4. A favorite teaching memory: the joy I felt at my student's college recital and her parent's comment to me that she could barely play in high school and the amazement and admiration they witnessed in her playing now.

5. Brief teaching philosophy: I tell my students that we are making the world better through our music.

6. One teaching/studio management tip: Always write down a student's assignment. They will know what to do and you can keep track of what you have asked them to do.

7. Hobbies outside of music: Following the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.

Thank you, Vicki!! We're grateful to have such wonderful members like yourself! 👏

09/23/2025

📣 DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE IMTA STATE CONFERENCE BY SEPTEMBER 25! 📣 We're so excited to see you at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music on October 10-11! We are still accepting late conference registrations, but will only be able to provide food if you register before September 25‼️ Please lock in your registration and hotel room ASAP - we look forward to seeing you there!