Board of Directors

  MTNA President Kevin Chance, NCTM, Kevin Chance, NCTM, serves as coordinator of the Gloria Narramore Moody Piano Area at the University of Alabama, where he has been recognized with the Walter R. Guyton Award for Excellence in Student Service. He has performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia as soloist and collaborator. An active chamber musician, Kevin frequently collaborates at the national conferences of MTNA, the National Flute Association and the National Opera Association.
   Named the 2015–2016 Teacher of the Year by the Alabama Music Teachers Association and recently inducted into the inaugural class of the Steinway & Sons Music Teacher Hall of Fame in 2020, Kevin is a dedicated teacher maintaining a prize-winning studio of collegiate and pre-collegiate students. As a clinician and adjudicator, he presents workshops for local and state music teacher associations throughout the country.
   At the national level, he serves as the vice president (2019–2021) of MTNA. In the past, he was elected Southern Division director (2016–2018) and served the MTNA Finance Committee from 2016–2018 and 2019–2021. Kevin has been a member of the Conference Planning Committee, and he is currently the national chair of the MTNA-Stecher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition. Kevin has been in involved with the Southern Division Competitions for the past 11 years as Competitions chair and Senior Competitions coordinator. Remaining active in the Alabama Music Teachers Association, he served as the president and Certification chair and currently chairs the state auditions and serves as the state clinician.

  The professional life of MTNA President-Elect Beth Gigante Klingenstein, NCTM, reflects a multi-faceted teaching career, exciting leadership positions, decades of performing and an abundance of service to MTNA.
   Beth’s extensive teaching career encompasses three distinct tracks: her independent studio in Virginia; Valley City State University (VCSU) in North Dakota; and, while at VCSU, simultaneously founding, directing and teaching at the VCSU Community School of the Arts. These venues allowed Beth to teach students of all ages and a variety of topics including chamber music and piano pedagogy. Her community work was recognized in 2007, when she received the North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Arts.
   Beth’s groundbreaking research on the business concerns of the independent music teacher resulted in her first book, A Business Guide for the Music Teacher, which led to more than 160 presentations on business, pedagogy and advocacy. She has since written more than 40 articles, a second book, The Independent Piano Teacher’s Studio Handbook, and 50 successful grants. She has significantly impacted the business practices of MTNA members and was the first author of AMT’s business column and MTNA’s first Business Resources coordinator.
   Outside of MTNA, Beth’s leadership experience includes being chair of the VCSU Music Department followed by executive director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts. Her interest in leadership is reflected in her final degree, a PhD in Educational Leadership. Within MTNA, she served twice as NDMTA’s state president and twice on the MTNA board, first as WCD director and later as secretary-treasurer. She served on 11 national committees and numerous state and local committees. Beth’s dedication was recognized in 2023, when she received MTNA’s Distinguished Service Award.
   “My professional life has taken me down roads I never dreamed I would travel. I can’t thank MTNA enough for opening my eyes to the diverse paths that exist in our profession. MTNA nurtured my passion for arts advocacy and offered me the support of amazing colleagues. I always have felt the desire to share MTNA’s remarkable value with new members and to cheer on seasoned members as we embrace the innovations our younger colleagues bring to the table. There are many wonderful ways to learn from each other and to support one another in our teaching. It is an honor to be nominated for president, and, if elected, it will be an even greater honor to serve MTNA and its members,” she says.

  MTNA Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Artina McCain, hailed by the New York Times as a “virtuoso pianist,” has an international career as a speaker, educator and artist. As a recitalist, her credits include performances at Wigmore Hall and Barbican Centre in London, Weill Hall at Carnegie and Merkin Hall in New York City. Other highlights include guest appearances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra and others.
   Dedicated to promoting the works of underrepresented composers, McCain is a prolific recording artist. She has multiple award-winning albums and a book of 24 Traditional African American Folk Songs. After battling a performance injury for six years, she uses her miraculous recovery to serve as an advocate of musicians’ wellness. Currently, she is associate professor of piano at the University of Memphis.
   “When we spend time communing with others, we become more empathetic and compassionate toward the concerns of others. We begin to desire spaces where we can learn and grow from all people, lift up the disadvantaged and create more opportunities. In my career, I have done this in multiple ways. “In the studio, I consistently encourage students to broaden their repertoire. I teach works ranging from Vincent Ho, Chopin, Cervantes, Bach and Amy Beach to Oscar Peterson and beyond. I actively partner with additional teachers to broaden students’ understanding of diverse repertoire to become well developed musicians.
   “I take a holistic view of musicians’ wellness into every lesson. Years ago, I reengineered my own playing to create a way of playing that feels physically natural. This journey transformed my teaching and thoughts on body equity and how it relates to repertoire choices. My goal is that every student learns to use their bodies efficiently. Everyone should be able to enjoy a lifetime of rewarding music making.
   “As an artist teacher, the performances I curate often inspire and inform what repertoire my students feel a license to explore. Many students have curated their own concerts to promote diverse repertoire. This demonstrative performance focus leads students to exploring their own musical voices. “It is a privilege to be nominated as the next potential leader to create spaces where generations of musicians can learn and flourish. The work we do collaboratively in representation and advocacy teaches everyone to become more exemplary human beings and citizens in our world,” she says.

  MTNA Vice President for Membership Noreen Wenjen, NCTM, is an internationally recognized piano teacher, entrepreneur, technophile and author of Two-Year Wait List: An Entrepreneurial Guide for Music Teachers. Noreen has a marketing background working with Fortune 500 companies. For the past 30 years, Noreen has used her ability to bring people together and to help build successful music studios, businesses and organizations.
   Noreen is the 2025 MTNA Conference Planning Committee chair. From 2022–2024, Noreen served on the MTNA Board as Southwest Division director and Finance Committee member. She also served on the CEO Search committee. Noreen was the California Association of Professional Music Teachers vice president of membership for two terms and CAPMT state president from 2017–2019. She was honored to be named an MTNA Foundation Fellow in 2020.
   In 2021, she received the Steinway Top Teacher Award, Most Inspirational Piano Teacher in Southern California from the AI Business Excellence Awards and Local Businessperson of the Year in Torrance. Wenjen Piano Studios was voted 2021 South Bay’s Best Music School by the Daily Breeze newspaper. She regularly contributes to podcasts and conferences as a keynote speaker.
   Noreen received a BM in piano performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an artist diploma from the American College of Musicians. Noreen has received top prizes from international piano competitions. Her teachers include Joanna Hodges, Nancy Rohr, Peter Yazbeck, Stewart Gordon and Jim McCormick. She has RCM and MTNA permanent national certifications.
   “I am deeply honored to be nominated as vice president of membership for MTNA. I enjoy the challenge of growing things. Whether growing a business or organization, my creative marketing background fires up and kicks in. My growth mindset philosophy has always been centered around helping others and bringing people together to create a diverse network of music teachers. Every teacher has something unique and valuable to offer. Growing an organization is like growing a garden: Seeds and plants need tending and support for optimal growth and production. Everyone should ask, ‘How can we help?’ The result of growing a successful crop is akin to having an enthusiastic group who may not always agree, but is always willing to listen, communicate, collaborate, bring forth new ideas and thus will grow,” she says.

  MTNA Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Kleinsorge, NCTM, is the director of the Preparatory and Community Music Program at Concordia University Chicago, where he also teaches piano pedagogy and keyboard skills. He spends his summers as a member of the piano faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp. As a teacher, Jeff blends his eclectic academic background in performance, pedagogy and composition into a unique approach that produces informed, creative, expressive, and accomplished pianists. Jeff holds a master’s degree in performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a PhD in composition from Michigan State University and is currently president of the Illinois Music Teachers Association.
   “MTNA has always been an important part of my life and career. My childhood piano teacher was president of her local and state MTAs. As a pre-college student, I regularly participated in state and local MTA testing programs, festivals and competitions. Those experiences, as well as the high standards and extraordinary regard for thoughtful pedagogy that I saw in my teacher’s work and the work of her MTNA colleagues—in addition to the sense of professional community—made a lasting impression on me. I went on to found and become president of a collegiate chapter and have been engaged with MTNA organizations for the whole of my professional livelihood. I took a brief detour, mid-career, to assist in the sale of a family business, which led to a two-year stint as the budget director for a generous slice of a very large corporation. When I came back to my senses and returned to my musical career, I brought with me the unusual ability to talk about business, finance and especially budgets in ways that musicians can relate to. That led me to become treasurer for the Chicago Area MTA, and eventually the Illinois State MTA. In both organizations—but especially the latter—I was able to raise the standard of financial practices and responsibility in ways that made tremendous, positive and lasting impacts. I’m humbled and grateful to have been nominated for the position of MTNA secretary-treasurer and would be thrilled and honored to serve in that role,” he says.

  MTNA Immediate Past President Peter Mack, NCTM, is a nationally renowned performer, clinician and convention artist. Originally from Ireland, he now lives in Seattle, Washington, where he runs a successful private studio. He was professor of piano at Cornish College for 33 years.
   A choral scholar at Trinity College Dublin, Peter received his master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and his doctorate from the University of Washington. His students frequently win local, national and even international competitions. Peter is the proud teacher of 20 MTNA Competition national finalists and of three MTNA national first-place winners. He has written for Keyboard Companion, the Clarion and American Music Teacher.
   For MTNA, Peter served on the national board as vice president (2017–2019) and as Northwest Division director (2010–2012). He chaired the planning committee for the 2014 Chicago National Conference, coordinated Pedagogy Saturday for the 2012 New York Conference and has led the Artistry Track multiple times. The 2015 Las Vegas conference saw him honored as a surprise MTNA Foundation Fellow. For Washington State, he has served as district vice president (organizing two district conferences), education board member (two five-year terms), and adjudicator chair (organizing two adjudicator conferences). Peter is currently Washington State’s Foundation chair and serves on its nominating committee. He is especially honored to administer the state’s needy student MAP subsidy program. Peter has adjudicated for Washington’s amazing MAP/adjudications program for 23 years.

  Brian Shepard is Chief Executive Officer of Music Teachers National Association. Shepard first began his career at MTNA in 2003 as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations. In 2008, as a result of his successes in marketing the programs and services of MTNA, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. During his tenure as COO, Shepard has increased the association’s operational efficiencies, overseen the expansion of MTNA’s in-person national events, grown current revenue streams and introduced new ones to further the organization’s mission.
  In addition to his work at MTNA, Shepard serves on several other nonprofit boards and committees. From 2009 to the present, Brian has served in multiple leadership roles with the American Classical Music Hall of Fame, including Board Chair and Professional Organizations Advisory Council Chair. He currently serves the Hall of Fame as Board President. Since 2013, he has been a member of the CCMpower Board, having held the positions of Treasurer, Harmony Fund Co-Chair, Awards Committee Co-Chair, Board Development Committee Co-Chair and Membership Committee Co-Chair. Shepard has also served on the Cincinnati Opera Sales and Marketing Committee and was President of the Middletown Music Club for three years.
  Shepard is also an accomplished musician who performs frequently for church and community programs as a pianist, vocal soloist and choral conductor.
  A graduate of Miami University of Ohio, Shepard holds degrees in marketing and music education. He was named an MTNA Foundation Fellow in 2010.