Conferences
2023 NDMTA Conference at Dickinson
June 7, 8, 9, 2023
It's time to make plans to attend the 2023 NDMTA Conference in beautiful western North Dakota on the campus of Dickinson State University. The host, Badlands MTA have planned a great conference with Catherine Rollin, Beth Klingenstein, presenters, and the premiere of the piece composed by Lisa Bost-Sandberg, our commissioned composer.
The Popplers Competition will take place at the conference and the 2023 registration form will be available in April to be filled out online, or downloaded and sent in USPS. The competition entry deadline is May 15th, 2023. Competition rehearsal will be at 12:00 p.m. at Beck Auditorium , Klinefelter Hall. The competition will be held at 2:00 p.m. Information, Registration and Guidelines are on the Competitions page under Events.
Registration can be done two ways: Online with PayPal payment by clicking on the link "Register Online" above, or by downloading the registration form below and mailing it in. The registration form is also found in the April Newsletter.
Conference Hotels: There are 2 conference hotels scheduled for the 2023 NDMTA Conference in Dickinson. Ask for the block of rooms for North Dakota Music Teachers Association.
Hawthorn Suites, 1170 Roughrider Blvd, 701-483-7829, $104.99+ tax. Deadline is May 9th
LaQuinta Inn, 552 12th St. W., 701-456-2500 $105+ tax. Deadline is May 16th.
Catherine Rollin is Presenter at 2023 NDMTA Conference

Catherine Rollin's music has been a delight for teachers and students alike for many years. The NDMTA is so delighted to have her as our presenter at the 2023 Conference. Catherine Rollin is a pianist, composer, clinician, author, and dedicated teacher. With more than 400 published pedagogical compositions, she has become recognized worldwide and has given over 300 workshops and masterclasses throughout the US, Canada, Japan and Taiwan.
Ms. Rollin will present four sessions at the NDMTA Conference: •The Magic of Imagery; •Technique & Artistry: You Can't Have One Without the Other; •Masterclass; and •Spotlight on Classical and Romantic Styles.
Catherine received her principle training with Mischa Kottler. She holds a BMA degree with distinction for the University of Michigan and a MM from Oakland University where she was the recipient of the distinguished alumni award.
More of Catherine Rollin's many distinctions can be read in her résumé below.
Beth Klingenstein, Presenter at 2023 NDMTA Conference

If you Google the name Beth Klingenstein, what comes up on many many links is her book, "The Independent Piano Teacher's Studio Handbook". One of Beth's main interests is in teaching the independent music teacher how to "do business". From her first publication, "A Business Guide for the Music Teacher" to her all important "The Independent Piano Teacher's Studio Handbook", Beth has encouraged and taught music teachers how to do business so they can afford to do what they love, the teaching part of their career.
Dr. Beth Klingenstein will present at the IMTF Luncheon and also give a session on MTNA Hidden Gems.
Klingenstein graduated from Syracuse University with a BM in piano performance, received her MM from the University of Michigan and PhD from the University of North Dakota in educational leadership. She taught in an independent piano studio for the first 25 years of her career and then moved to ND to teach at VCSU where she also founded a community school of the arts and eventually became department chair. Beth then went on to become the executive director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts. Upon retirement, Beth continues to work at improving the business side of our teaching lives as MTNA Business Resources Coordinator.
More information about Beth Klingenstein is in the biography below.
Lisa Bost-Sandberg - Commissioned Composer

On Wednesday night, June 7, the premiere of the composition by commissioned composer, Dr. Lisa Bost-Sandberg will be held. The composition, yet to be named, is for piano and will be performed by Éva Polgár.
Dr. Bost-Sandberg is deeply committed to contemporary music as well as its rich roots in the classical repertoire. (Paraphrase from her biography below.) We look forward to hearing her piece for the first time. Lisa Bost-Sandberg has many facets to her music interests. A flautist, she plays all genre of flutes, and is a composer, improviser, and presents at workshops as well as teaches. She is a performer-composer and contemporary music specialist and has a long standing duo collaboration with pianist Éva Polgár. who will perform the composition at the NDMTA Conference.
Lisa Bost-Sandberg is the Teaching Assistant Professor of flute and music entrepreneurship at the University of North Dakota. She received her Bachelor of Music at the University of Iowa, her MA at New York University, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in flute performance with a related field in composition from the University of North Texas as a recipient of the Masters and Doctoral Fellowship.
More of her distinguished résumé can be read in her professional biography below.
Éva Polgár Will Perform Commissioned Piece

Pianist Éva Polgár has a long-standing duo partnership with Lisa Bost-Sandberg (flute) with whom she has also recorded. Ms. Polgár is an avid promoter of contemporary music and actively collaborates with composers and new music performers. At the premiere of Commissioned Composer, Lisa Bost-Sandberg's piece at Wednesday night's concert of the Conference, Éva will be performing the piece for the first time performance.
Éva Polgár is a graduate of the Franz Liszt University and the Sibelius Academy and earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Texas. Polgár is currently an Assistant Professor of Piano at Azusa Pacific University in California. Her extensive résumé is below.
Thursday Night Concert to Feature Ubuntu Marimba
The Thursday Night Concert will be a special delight with the Dickinson Middle School, Ubuntu Marimba led by Laurae Dykema. On Twitter, Laurae describes herself as "Loving teaching middle school choir, guitar, marimba, world music drumming. Kids ROCK!!!" The rhythms of Africa and others will make us wiggle in our seats.
Rounding out the Thursday night concert will be the beautiful music of pianist/ composer Catherine Rollin, who will perform for us. Her extensive résumé is above.
It will be an enjoyable evening for our listening pleasure! The concert is open to the public.
Past Conferences
2022: June 1-3 in Fargo at NDSU Reineke Hall
2021: June 2-4 Virtual Conference hosted by Minot MTA
2020: June 3-5 in Fargo
2019: June 19-21 in Grand Forks
2018: June 13-15 in Dickinson
2017: June 7-9 in Fargo
2016: June 15-17 in Bismarck
2015: June 24-26 in Grand Forks
2014: June 18-20 in Dickinson
2013: June 19-21 in Fargo
2012: June 21-23 at Bismarck State College
2011: June 15-17 in Grand Forks
2010: October 28-30 at Dickinson State University
2009: June 10-12 in Fargo
2008: June 11-13 at Bismarck State College
2007: June 6-8 at Williston State College
2006: June 9-10 in Grand Forks
2004: October 29-31 at Concordia College
2003: October 31-November 2 at Bismarck State College
2002: October 25-27 at Valley City Music Teachers
MTNA National Conference
For information about MTNA National Conferences, please visit www.mtna.org.