Spring this year brings with it a vibrant feeling of getting together once again through conventions, in-person lessons, end of year recitals, and sharing mutual goals of reaching 8,000 overall MusicLink students by the end of school year 2023. We are proud of all our teachers and students and know that the end of the school year will be a success all around!

Our 8000 student goal is SO close - only 60 students left to link! We encourage colleagues to register students they are currently teaching at a discount (50% or less of normal fee) so they can take advantage of MusicLink discounts, teacher reimbursements, and student camp scholarships.

MusicLink Benefits

We often take for granted that teachers realize the benefits of being a MusicLink teacher with students who benefit as well. Here are a few examples of how MusicLink helps our teachers and students.

Phyllis Calderon (IL) received a Grass Roots Grant of $500 to assist in covering administrative costs and music books for students in a new class of 14 students (10 piano and 4 violin) as an extension to her current MusicLink program through A Touch of Classical Plus, Inc. The Grass Roots Grant application is available on our website:

Grass Roots Application

Every MusicLink teacher receives a multi-page list of discounts and free offers from our many MusicLink business partners. Ben Raznick (CO) sent us this photo of a smiling student and a note of thanks for the collaboration of the MusicLink Foundation and Faber’s Piano Adventures. Active teachers can contact our Business Partners and, by providing their ID numbers, can take advantage of the many offers available. We are grateful for the support of our valued Business Partners.

MusicLink Provides Instruments

The MusicLink Foundation has received many donations of instruments over the past few months that were distributed to MusicLink students across the country. The Instrument Donation form is available on our website and here:

Dhruv Nitin (CA)

Thomas Huihui (LA)

A donated violin with bow and case went to Thomas Huihui, (LA), a violin student of Ruth Roland who studies at the Baton Rouge Conservatory. Dhruv Nitin (CA) was thrilled to receive a Yamaha upright piano. His mother said "It’s been an amazing and helpful experiences from the start. The teacher is awesome and Alissa (MusicLink coordinator) is on top of things. Thank you to the foundation that Dhruv gets to learn and enjoy the piano."

Henry Simon

Simon Family Members

The Simon family (WI) received a piano through the collaboration of MusicLink and Keys 4/4 Kids. Their reaction: "Wow! This is such fantastic news!! Thank you so much. Our family is very grateful for this resource - you and your work as well as the teacher. The kids did a little happy dance as you can see! This is all blowing my mind. I can’t possibly thank you enough."

MusicLink Laureate Lunch

Cora Lee Khambatta

Peggy Newhall

Joanne, Peggy, Cora and Diane

Executive Director Joanne Haroutounian enjoyed a celebratory lunch with 2022 MusicLink Laureates Peggy Newhall, Cora Lee Khambatta and 2021 Laureate Diane Perret at a French restaurant in Falls Church, VA. It was an excellent way to share MusicLink memories of their many years of teaching through the program.

Sue Wege - MusicLink Laureate

Sue Wege is a nationally certified private music teacher with a piano studio in Cottage Grove, MN. She attended Northern Michigan University where she earned her Masters of Arts in Education degree.

Sue has been involved with the MusicLink Foundation for 23 years,serving in roles as MusicLink teacher, state and regional coordinator and is currently the Director of Coordinators where she oversees the training and support of coordinators nationwide. Sue also serves on the MMTA DEI Committee and is Treasurer and Membership Chair for the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association.

"I've always been drawn to the simple idea of one teacher teaching one student in need and have seen the tremendous impact this can make. As a coordinator I get to meet teachers from around the nation and it gives me great satisfaction to help them be successful in their own coordinator roles and to troubleshoot problems they may encounter. My wish would be that every teacher of music would reach out to just one student to make their dream of learning an instrument come true."

From Joanne Haroutounian: MusicLink teachers across the country applaud our recognition of Sue Wege, who personally oversees the workings of the "links" that create lasting MusicLink partnership between students and teachers. When there is a question or concern about these links, Sue is always there with a solution. Her guidance in training of new coordinators is key to MusicLink’s success. Bravo!

Switching to Goodshop for Donations

Amazon Smile has closed down so the MusicLink Foundation will be switching to Goodshop, which will provide contributions when you shop at Walmart, Kohl's, Home Depot, Travelocity, Staples and other stores.

Wichita East High School
Tri-M Benefit Concert

Ethan Wessley, a MusicLink cello student of Laura Martinez, has taken the initiative to organize a benefit concert featuring the Wichita East High School Ensemble Club. The concert will take place on April 28th, 7:00 pm with proceeds benefiting the MusicLink Foundation.

New MusicLink Teachers

The following teachers signed up to teach through MusicLink in the past few months. This brings the total of active teachers to 222 and overall teacher total to 4,477.

MD: Karin Chambless Nandkumar; MN: Diane Leslie Anderson, Kelli Sobania, NY: Leslie Austin; PA: Mary Grandelis; TX: Takenya Battle (returning); VA: Bo Mi Cha; WA: Mary Anne Aiello, Brenna Wells.

New Business Partners

We welcome the following new business partners: TuneKey PRO; Read & Play Music

MN MusicLink Playathon Brings
Music to the Public

The 2023 MusicLink Playathon took place in Macys Court at the Mall of America on the weekend of February 18th & 19th. Even though our numbers were a bit lower with 150 performances this year, over $9.000 was raised to help children in need get the opportunity to have affordable lessons.

Many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who worked the desk and emceed including MMTA teachers Sara Diedrich, Solveig Englund, Kathryn Karg and Rachel Weyandt. Guest emcees included singer/songwriter, Michelle Rose, Miss Minnesota’s Outstanding Teen, Elly Rowen and Rachel Luchsinger.

The 3 top fundraising studios were Kathryn Karg ($3,637), Sara Diedrich ($970) and Kim Nichols ($595).

12 performers were gift card winners with donations of $250 or more. Photos of donors who performed and contributed to the fundraiser are in this month’s elink.

Special thanks go to Kathryn & Andy Karg for livestreaming the event and to Gary Wege for his photography and support!

Andy and Kathryn Karg

MN MusicLink Playathon Donors

$250 or More:

Rory Thompson		Michelle Rose
Charlotte Stone		Lauren Kelm and Teacher Andy Karg
Baylee Weyandt		Avery and Adelyn Lerch
Arthur and Marshall Smith		Emily Weyandt
Ivy Williams		Sam Dahlen
Charlotte Stone

$100 or More:

Samantha Karsnia		Boede Halvorson
James Christenson		Penny Johnson and Ellen Jepson
Chloe Zhang		Saphina Engles
Elijah Erickson		Cole Callaway
Lilah Stitzel		Ronan Overturf
Nola Overturf		Adayla Ogren and Teacher Andy Karg
Claire Hesse		Izzy and Addie Brand
Reese Rowan		Burke Moffitt (no photo)

Muhlbach Memorial

Lois and Bruce Muhlbach

The Muhlbach family has donated $1,355 to the MusicLink Foundation in memory of Bruce and Lois Muhlbach and their love of music.