Seton Hill University Hosts Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association Conference in Performing Arts Center
In June, Seton Hill University served as the host site for the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (PMTA) state conference. PMTA, the professional organization for independent and collegiate private teachers, hosted 70 attendees from every corner of the state, including members from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, State College, Erie, and northeast Pennsylvania, for the weekend at Seton Hill’s Performing Arts Center in downtown Greensburg. PMTA is an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association, MTNA.
The conference theme, "Musicians' Search for Meaning: Artistry, Connections, and Resilience During Challenging Times," was inspired by the transformative insights of Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl and the programming explored how music teachers can continue to have a meaningful impact during periods of uncertainty, significant change, and adversity.
“For many of our members, the conference serves as a vital professional lifeline, offering a chance to step outside of your geographical area and connect with peers in a profession that can often feel solitary,” said Associate Professor of Music Edward Kuhn, who served as the site coordinator for the conference.
Brian Ganz, a renowned pianist who has performed concertos with major orchestras in the U.S. and abroad, served as the conference guest artist and masterclass clinician capping off the weekend with an all-Beethoven & Chopin recital on Saturday night. Dr. Kính Vũ, assistant professor of music education at Boston University, delivered the keynote address, and was a featured clinician. The conference also included sixteen sessions related to the theme, including one presented by Instructor of Music History and Piano Josie Merlino, a Local Associations Meeting, Independent Music Teachers Forum, and a Collegiate Faculty Forum.
Seton Hill students and faculty were featured throughout the conference, with a Friday evening recital featuring Seton Hill faculty and friends including Associate Professor of Music Ted DiSanti, Associate Professor of Music Therapy Laurie Fox, Instructor of Bassoon Grace Houde, Kuhn, Nicole Lamagna ’21, Instructor of Voice Kelly Lynch, Merlino, guest accompanist Walter Morales, and Instructor of Flute Amanda Sage.
The Friday evening concert culminated in the performance of a commissioned composition by Pennsylvania-based composer John Levey, a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, titled "Cranberry Cannons." A commissioned composition is premiered at each PMTA conference, and recordings of the conference performances are sent to the Music Teachers National Association for consideration for the national award. The performers for the premiere of Cranberry Canons were Nicole Lamagna ’21, clarinet, Grace Houde, bassoon, and Edward Kuhn, piano. The recording was engineered by James Firment.
Three Seton Hill University students, Logan Ling, Cameron Wojnar, and Tina Wos, performed in the collegiate chapter recital, which also included students from Penn State University and guest performers from West Virginia University.
For Kuhn, hosting this conference was a significant milestone as he prepares to retire at the end of the academic year. Kuhn has been a fixture in the PMTA for more than 30 years, serving as the state president during the COVID-19 pandemic and leading preparations for their virtual conference. He currently serves on the board as the collegiate chapter chair and as interim immediate past president for the 2026-2027 season.
Reflecting on the event, Kuhn emphasized that hosting statewide conferences is a major advantage for Seton Hill, allowing the University to showcase its world-class facilities, talented faculty and wonderful Steinway piano inventory to the broader musical community.
The conference theme, "Musicians' Search for Meaning: Artistry, Connections, and Resilience During Challenging Times," was inspired by the transformative insights of Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl and the programming explored how music teachers can continue to have a meaningful impact during periods of uncertainty, significant change, and adversity.
“For many of our members, the conference serves as a vital professional lifeline, offering a chance to step outside of your geographical area and connect with peers in a profession that can often feel solitary,” said Associate Professor of Music Edward Kuhn, who served as the site coordinator for the conference.
Brian Ganz, a renowned pianist who has performed concertos with major orchestras in the U.S. and abroad, served as the conference guest artist and masterclass clinician capping off the weekend with an all-Beethoven & Chopin recital on Saturday night. Dr. Kính Vũ, assistant professor of music education at Boston University, delivered the keynote address, and was a featured clinician. The conference also included sixteen sessions related to the theme, including one presented by Instructor of Music History and Piano Josie Merlino, a Local Associations Meeting, Independent Music Teachers Forum, and a Collegiate Faculty Forum.
Seton Hill students and faculty were featured throughout the conference, with a Friday evening recital featuring Seton Hill faculty and friends including Associate Professor of Music Ted DiSanti, Associate Professor of Music Therapy Laurie Fox, Instructor of Bassoon Grace Houde, Kuhn, Nicole Lamagna ’21, Instructor of Voice Kelly Lynch, Merlino, guest accompanist Walter Morales, and Instructor of Flute Amanda Sage.
The Friday evening concert culminated in the performance of a commissioned composition by Pennsylvania-based composer John Levey, a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, titled "Cranberry Cannons." A commissioned composition is premiered at each PMTA conference, and recordings of the conference performances are sent to the Music Teachers National Association for consideration for the national award. The performers for the premiere of Cranberry Canons were Nicole Lamagna ’21, clarinet, Grace Houde, bassoon, and Edward Kuhn, piano. The recording was engineered by James Firment.
Three Seton Hill University students, Logan Ling, Cameron Wojnar, and Tina Wos, performed in the collegiate chapter recital, which also included students from Penn State University and guest performers from West Virginia University.
For Kuhn, hosting this conference was a significant milestone as he prepares to retire at the end of the academic year. Kuhn has been a fixture in the PMTA for more than 30 years, serving as the state president during the COVID-19 pandemic and leading preparations for their virtual conference. He currently serves on the board as the collegiate chapter chair and as interim immediate past president for the 2026-2027 season.
Reflecting on the event, Kuhn emphasized that hosting statewide conferences is a major advantage for Seton Hill, allowing the University to showcase its world-class facilities, talented faculty and wonderful Steinway piano inventory to the broader musical community.