Meaningful Connections

A 150th Anniversary Celebration of Educational Innovation

Thursday, January 16 | Virtual Event

In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Music Teachers Online (MTO) of Arizona is honored to host a national virtual gathering of MTNA-affiliated online and virtual music teacher associations.

This event is presented with the support of the Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA), recipient of an MTNA 150th Anniversary Grant, which made this celebration possible.

Bringing together educators, performers, and leaders from across the country, Meaningful Connections highlights innovation, collaboration, and the evolving role of online and hybrid instruction in music education.

EVENT SCHEDULE

9:00 AM MST | 11:00 AM ET

Showcase of Best Practices from Online MTNA Associations

Leonidas Lagrimas (VLMTA - Western North Carolina)

Linda King (Virtual VA - Virginia)

Sharon Ard (South Arkansas Online Chapter)

Christie Sowby (Utah Music Teachers Association Online Chapter)

João Paulo Casarotti (Music Teachers Online - Arizona)

10:00 AM MST | 12:00 PM ET

Guest Speaker

Leila Viss: Innovative Tools for Teaching Creativity in the Hybrid Piano Studio

11:00 AM MST | 1:00 PM ET

Panel Discussion: Online & Hybrid Instruction

Daiane Raatz

Éder Giaretta

Jason Sinfford

Moderator: João Paulo Casarotti

12:00 PM MST | 2:00 PM ET

Educational Presentations

Tara Mock & Elizabeth Davis (NC) – Strategies for Teaching Neurodivergent Students

Marina Roldan (AR) – Exploring Spanish Identity: The Influence of Flamenco and Sevillanas on Isaac Albéniz’s "Sevilla"

João Paulo Casarotti (AZ) – Visual Communication in Piano Instruction

Dr. Paulo Steinberg (VA) – Instagram for Music Teachers: Connect. Educate. Inspire

1:00 PM MST | 3:00 PM ET

Online Recital

Gabriel Kostecki Nunes (VA) – Chopin, Etude Op. 25 No. 11 “Winter Wind”

Sophia Sun (AZ)- Debussy, Etude No.11 "Pour les arpèges composés”

Eve & Aurora Vasefi with Christie Sowby (UT) – Poulenc, Double Piano Concerto, I mov

Zifeng Michael Zheng (AZ) – The Jade Emperor’s Atlas: Prelude to the Twelve Chinese Zodiacs

João Paulo Casarotti (AZ) – Ernesto Nazareth, Piano Music

PRESENTERS AND PERFORMERS BIOGRAPHIES

(Alphabetical by Last Name)

Dr. Marina Bengoa Roldan

Marina Bengoa (Roldan) , DMA, is a Spanish pianist who has performed in prestigious venues in the United States, Costa Rica, and across Europe. She is the Assistant Professor of Piano at Eastern New Mexico University. She has won numerous prizes in both national and international piano competitions. In addition to her work as a pianist, Marina regularly presents at national and international conferences. Dr Bengoa is passionate about promoting Spanish music and has created a website dedicated to this purpose: https://spanishpianomusic.org/

Dr. João Paulo Casarotti

Dr. João Paulo Casarotti, a distinguished Brazilian pianist and pedagogue, holds a DMA in Piano Performance from Louisiana State University, M.M. degrees from Temple University and the University of North Dakota, a B.M. from the University of São Paulo, and diplomas from Maestro Ernst Mahle Music School (Brazil) and Bulgaria’s National Academy of Music. An internationally active performer, clinician, and researcher, Dr. Casarotti has presented solo, chamber, and orchestral concerts across Brazil, the U.S., UK, Europe, and Asia. A Taubman Approach specialist trained under Dorothy Taubman and Maria Del Pico Taylor, he edited Temple University’s Taubman Seminar materials and serves as faculty-in-training at the University of North Texas Keyboard Wellness Seminar. Pioneering online piano pedagogy since 2009, Dr. Casarotti founded Southern University’s Online Piano Studio (2013) and consults globally. Currently Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Glendale Community College (AZ), his previous appointments include St. Norbert College, Temple University, and Escola de Música de Piracicaba.

Dr. Elizabeth Davis

Everhart holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy and Performance, a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Piano. Elizabeth’s doctoral dissertation, “Approaches to Music Reading for Piano Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder” was the first research document published in that area. In 2023, Elizabeth was nominated for “Who’s Who in America” to represent North Carolina in the Special and Gifted Educational Professionals category for her contributions to music and arts for individuals with disabilities. For the last 18 years, Elizabeth has taught piano to students of all ages and abilities and currently has both a vibrant in-person studio at her home in Savannah, GA and a virtual studio of students from around the U.S. Elizabeth enjoys working with learners of all ages and levels, but especially finds joy in working with savants, very young students and students with behavior struggles. Dr. Davis-Everhart is an active presenter for music organizations and conferences, is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator for piano festivals and competitions and serves as the V.P. and President-Elect of the Savannah Music Teacher’s Association. Elizabeth is also the founder of “Creative Piano Pedagogy,” a blog and hub for teaching resources, community events and pedagogy courses on adaptive and creative piano teaching for teachers around the world. Elizabeth and her husband James live in beautiful Savannah, GA with their Siberian Husky, Rory. When she’s not teaching, Elizabeth enjoys reading, baking bread, gardening, fishing, and traveling.

Éder Giaretta

With a Master's degree in Music from UNESP – SP, Eder is a complete musician. His training encompasses not only Classical Piano, but also Popular Piano and Instrumental Conducting. Furthermore, he perfected his piano studies in France and Germany. His international career is full of remarkable moments. Eder has enchanted audiences in concerts held in Uruguay, France, Germany, and in various states of Brazil. His exceptional skill also earned him an invitation to be the hand double for pianist and Maestro João Carlos Martins in the film "João, o maestro". As a soloist, Eder has shone in the most prestigious concert halls, including the Sala São Paulo, the iconic Teatro Solís (Montevideo), and the majestic Theatro Municipal. His passion for Brazilian music and Jazz is evident, while his solid training in classical music lends unique brilliance and energy to his art. With a thrilling performance, he explores an eclectic and expressive repertoire. In his hands, each note is carefully interwoven to create a true sonic work of art. “Giaretta possesses extraordinary technical mastery, impeccable fingering, perfect pedaling, but above all, the passion he puts into his interpretations is a reflection of his artist's soul. Eder Giaretta's pianism is the conjunction of emotion and versatility” (El País newspaper, Montevideo, March 31, 2018 - by Juan Carlos Huertas)

Gabriel Kostecki Nunes

Born in São Paulo but a Santista at heart, Gabriel Kostecki began studying piano at the age of 6 with Marcelo Marinho and at 8 years old, classical piano with Talita Gondim in São Paulo. Gabriel quickly gained national recognition for his extraordinary talent and maturity in interpreting repertoire from different periods. Between 2020 and 2025, Gabriel participated in several piano performances, including the Opening of the 2023 Season of the Bachiana Filarmônica Orchestra under Maestro João Carlos Martins, a Solo Piano Recital at Neojiba (Salvador), and most recently, he performed Haydn's Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob.XVIII:11, with the Santos Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Among Gabriel's awards in national and international competitions are:

• First prize in the National Souza Lima Competition (São Paulo, Brazil, 2023); "Revelation" Award in the National Edna Bassetti Habith Competition (Curitiba, Brazil, 2024); First prize in the International Ilze

• Graubina Competition (Latvia, 2024); First prize in the Young Pianists Competition of the Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixto (Santos, Brazil, 2024); Second prize in the Pró Música

• Competition (Campinas, Brazil, 2025). Currently, he studies via Zoom with Dr. Paulo Steinberg, Piano Professor at James Madison University.

The piano is an extension of Gabriel, who turns his musical journey into an instrument of God to bring Classical Piano to everyone.

Tara Mock

Tara Mock has been teaching for almost 30 years and owns an independent piano studio in Raleigh, North Carolina. She earned a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy in 2001 from the University of South Carolina focusing on improvisation for the beginner piano student. After homeschooling her own children with neurodivergent diagnoses for over 14 years, she is focusing on teaching piano to students who learn and experience the world differently as well. She currently serves as the 2nd Vice President of Membership in the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association, President-Elect of the Virtual Local Music Teachers of NC, staff

accompanist at Forest Hills Baptist Church, and previously served in various roles in the Jacksonville Music Teachers Association in Jacksonville, Florida. Her family includes her genius husband, two amazing and gifted young adult children, and their beloved dogs. She can be reached at www.taramockpiano.com.

Daiane Raatz

Daiane Raatz is a Brazilian piano teacher who runs an independent studio and loves using technology in her piano lessons. Mrs. Raatz teaches courses, workshops, and mentorships for teachers on the creative use of technology for piano and music lessons.

Dr. Jason Sifford

Dr. Jason Sifford, NCTM is a freelance pianist, teacher, and composer with a wide range of abilities and interests. He maintains a private teaching studio in Iowa City and is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician, lecturing on such diverse topics as classical performance practice, jazz pedagogy, creative freedom in teaching, composition, and music technology. As a composer, Jason focuses on writing engaging music for student pianists. He is currently a composer and clinician for the Willis Music Company and writes and produces music for the Footliters’ Traveling Playhouse, a children’s musical theater project of the City of Coralville, IA.

Dr. Christie Sowby

Dr. Christie Sowby, NCTM, attended Brigham Young University, Harvard University, the New England Conservatory, and the University of Utah. She is the current president of UMTA-OC and past-president of Encore Piano Teachers Association. An award-winning teacher, Christie received the UMTA Student Teacher of the Year, Phi Kappa Phi National Love of Learning award, MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grants, Utah’s “Best of State,” Federation’s National Vivian Nelson Award, Federation’s National Ouida Keck Award, and the prestigious MTNA National Studio Teacher Fellowship. In 2023, she was honored with the Teacher of Distinction Award from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada and in 2024, received the UMTA Legacy Award.

Dr. Paulo Steinberg

Dr. Paulo Steinberg, NCTM, is a Latvian/Brazilian/American concert pianist and educator, widely recognized for his commitment to bridging tradition and innovation in piano performance and pedagogy. He holds performance degrees from the University of São Paulo (Bachelor’s), Arizona State University (Master’s), and Indiana University (Doctorate).

Dr. Steinberg serves as Professor of Piano at James Madison University in Virginia, where he teaches piano, piano literature, and piano pedagogy, and mentors undergraduate and graduate students. His teaching emphasizes artistic excellence, historical awareness, and contemporary relevance, preparing students for diverse careers in music. An active performer, he has appeared in solo and collaborative piano settings throughout the Americas and Europe, with recent projects spotlighting works by Brazilian and Latvian composers. A passionate advocate for educational outreach in the digital age, Dr. Steinberg actively integrates social media into his teaching and artistic life as a tool for student engagement, community building, and creative inspiration. Through platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, he shares performance insights, pedagogical ideas, and perspectives on the life of a modern classical musician, expanding the reach of piano education beyond the studio and concert hall.

Sophia Sun

Sophia Sun holds master’s degrees in both Biology and Computer Science, with a background spanning scientific research and the technology industry. She conducted stem cell research in Singapore and later worked as a software engineer at Amazon and Meta. She studied piano virtually with Dr. Michele Adler Cohen for four years and this experience propelled her to switch careers and pursue music and piano performance full time. She is currently a full-time piano performance student at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, where she is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Piano Performance.

Sophis’s teacher, Dr. Michele Adler Cohen, is a classical pianist from Bahia, Brazil and has performed and taught in the U.S., Brazil, and China. A prizewinner and Indiana University graduate, she appears in major venues such as Carnegie Hall and is the founder of the Paradise Valley Music Academy of Arizona.

Leila Viss

Leila Viss creates imaginative, tech-savvy resources for her Colorado-based piano studio and website. She founded Space to Create where she empowers pianists and teachers to connect with their creativity through improvisation, composition, and arranging. A longtime church musician and dynamic speaker, she co-authored Found in the Wake, a memoir of loss and resilience. Viss is Colorado’s 2024 MTNA Foundation Fellow and a 2025 Frances Clark Center Outstanding Service Recognition Award recipient.

Eve & Aurora Vasefi

Iranian-American pianists, the Vasefi sisters have won first in the Salt Lake Piano

Competition, first in the Art of Chamber Music Great Composers Competition and are looking forward to performing concertos with the Southwest Symphony and Utah Valley Symphony in 2026. They have played in multiple honors recitals for NUVPT, Encore Piano Teachers Association, and the Salt Lake Piano Competition. They have been finalists for the Utah Symphony Salute to Youth competition. They love reading and wrestling for their school as well as playing string instruments. They study with Dr. Christie Sowby.

Zifeng Michael Zheng

Zifeng Michael Zheng is a versatile pianist celebrated for his artistry as a recital soloist, orchestra soloist, and chamber musician, as well as for his achievements in prestigious competitions. As the 2020 Concerto Competition Winner at the CUNY Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, he performed Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No.1 in G Minor with the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. Among his accolades are the De Los Mederos Special Award for Contemporary Music Performance, the Annual Outstanding Performance Award for five consecutive years, and winning the Rosewood Fanning Piano Competition, the Piano Masterclass Competition with Douglas Humphreys, and the Dorothy Taubman

Music Festival Competition in 2022. Currently, Michael is a Doctor of Musical Arts degree candidate in Piano Performance at Arizona State University, studying under Dr. Baruch Meir. Supported by a teaching assistantship, full scholarship and fundings from ASU, he combines advanced performance studies with impactful teaching experience, sharing his expertise with students while continuing to contribute to the field as both a distinguished musician and educator.