Director Bios

	Yeeseon Kwon, NCTM Yeeseon Kwon, NCTM, is pianist and associate professor at Roosevelt University. Specializing in andragogy, she also provides remote and in-person group and applied adult instruction at the Northwestern University Music Academy. Yeeseon is the column editor for “Books, Materials, and Music” for the Piano Magazine and a course contributor for A Pianist’s Guide to Teaching in Groups, from The Frances Clark Center Teacher Education Courses. She is vice president of the College Music Society and immediate past president of the Illinois State MTA.
	Hendry Wijaya, NCTM Hendry Wijaya, NCTM, holds a doctoral degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He is the piano department head of the Westminster Conservatory of Music. Named a 2019 MTNA Foundation Fellow, Hendry has served as president of New York and New Jersey MTAs, independent music teachers forum chair, state conference chair, and on the MTNA nominating committee.
	Theresa Bogard, NCTM Theresa Bogard, NCTM, is a dynamic, versatile performer and educator. Her early career focused on performances of music by women, and she continues to include works by underrepresented composers in her varied programs. A Steinway Artist, she has performed on five continents. Her recordings range from solo piano to chamber music, from music of living composers to fortepiano and historical performance.
	Michael Dean, NCTM Michael Dean, NCTM, is immediate past president of Oklahoma MTA and maintains an active schedule as a soloist, duo-pianist, collaborative artist, piano teacher, workshop clinician and adjudicator. He served on the faculty of the Wheaton College Conservatory and Oklahoma Baptist University, where he served as chair of the music division.
	Victoria Fischer Faw, NCTM Victoria Fischer Faw, NCTM, served as president of North Carolina MTA, leading them to recognition as the 2020 MTNA State Affiliate of the Year. The 2022 MTNA Teacher of the Year and an MTNA Foundation Fellow, Vicky is co-creator of the first virtual local MTA. Professor emerita at Elon University, she established the first North Carolina undergraduate piano pedagogy degree program. Her teaching career spans all ages and levels, including independent and academic. She’s an accomplished performer and scholar, with presentations at local, state and national venues.
	Paula Manwaring, NCTM Paula Manwaring, NCTM, is a music educator, arranger, published author and composer. She attended Brigham Young University, studying under Robert Smith, and has enjoyed teaching piano for the past 45 years. Paula currently serves on Utah MTA’s State Board as immediate past president.
	Jason Sifford, NCTM Jason Sifford, NCTM, is a freelance pianist and teacher based in Iowa City, Iowa. He is also a composer for the Willis Music Company and the Footliters’ Traveling Playhouse, a children’s musical theater project of the City of Coralville. He is a past president of the Iowa Music Teachers Association, was honored as Iowa’s Foundation Fellow for 2023, and most recently served on MTNA’s National Certification Commission.