Did you know that TIA is the only local club in the area for the National federation of Music Clubs?! NFMC is the largest non-profit organization in America promoting and supporting American music performers and music education. Festival is a blast! Our annual adjudication event is open to non-TIA students in the area studying music elsewhere, and there are many other opportunities as well including serious cash incentives and scholarships for TIA students through NFMC. The deadline has already past this year, but contact us now about March 2022!
The NFMC Festivals Program is designed to give Junior (age 18 and younger) and adult member musicians of all abilities the opportunity to present and receive a yearly evaluation in a non-competitive environment. Participation in NFMC Festivals promotes music study, stimulates interest in the musical literature of both the USA and the world, and encourages each participant to reach a high standard of musical achievement. The NFMC Festivals Cup Award Plan and Honor Certificates offer additional incentives to encourage continued participation in NFMC Festivals.
Meet the Adjudicators:
Rob Comer is an educated and seasoned musician with over twenty years of experience as a guitarist, soloist, and band leader in the nation’s premier United States Army Band. Rob holds undergraduate and Master’s degrees and even taught for TIA in our beginning stages. Rob will be adjudicating and providing helpful, encouraging, and constructive feedback to our guitarists, strings, percussion, and wind students. We are excited to have him back for the third year in a row!
Dan Colgan is a a long time friend of TIA, and a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. He has served as the Organist and Director of Music at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Olympia, WA since November of 2010. He is also the voice instructor at Centralia College, the Dean of the Olympia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and the director of the men’s ensemble, “Forza” of the Olympia Youth Chorus. He also served as the assistant director of the Olympia Choral Society from 2012-2018. Dan served as an adjudicator for our first festival and the students deeply appreciated his personal, encouraging, and helpful musical expertise.
Olivia Rose Thronson is a highly capable musician and educator with her undergraduate degree in vocal music and education from Seattle Pacific University. Olivia also plays piano, violin, guitar, and percussions and is currently a committed local music educator in the Olympia Public School System also working on her masters degree. Olivia will be adjudicating piano and vocal music and we are excited to have her in the studio!
Jessica Barnes also hold a bachelors degree in vocal music and served as a TIA vocal faculty member for a few years but is now serving full time as a stay at home mom. Jessica has worked with both children and adults in developing their ability to sing. She taught for several years at the elementary and high school levels, working with students on music theory basics, early instrumental skills, both in percussion and melodic instruments, and of course in vocal work as well. Jessica will be adjudicating voice again and we are excited to have her back for the third year in a row!
Sean-David (SD) is no stranger to the TIA community as he is our director and principle winds faculty as well as one of our most in demand piano teachers. SD completed his undergraduate work at Berklee College of Music in Boston in Jazz Composition and Performance. While in Boston SD also studied privately with world renowned jazz musician and educator Jerry Bergonzi. In addition to SD’s work as founder and director at TIA, he also teaches over one hundred students a week. Before TIA, SD served in the United States Army Bands for several years as a professional trumpeter and bugler, taught band in a private K-12 school, and completed a few masters degrees. SD’s doctoral work focused on developing and training an advisory board for TIA. SD will be adjudicating winds and piano students and providing helpful, encouraging, and constructive feedback. SD looks forward to hearing the fruits of the heard work these students have put in!
