Thursday July 27- 30, 2017
The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center
Englewood, CO
Our International Convention was held in Denver this summer hosted
by West Central and Pacific Northwest Provinces. We meet only every
three years – so this was a special opportunity to enjoy music with
our fraternity brothers and sisters, hear some interesting workshop
speakers, do our organization’s business and have fun. All Mu Phi
Epsilon members are welcomed at a Convention. Non-delegate members
are invited to attend sessions, meals and concerts.
Convention photos with Jenny Smith and Rosemary Ames modeling the
"Fun" glasses.
Our chapter had seven members participating this year:
Sandra McMillen (Past national office), Tena Hehn (Past national
officer), Jenny Smith (current International Second Vice President
Collegiate Advisor), Phyllis Wilson, Ashley Bouras (current Dallas
Alumni Chapter President and District Direct SC2), Lisa Beyer
(Dallas VP and delegate), Mary Williams
Our South Central 2 Province includes several collegiate chapters
plus Dallas, Austin, Denton and San Antonio Alumni chapters.
The Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition is held tri-annually in
conjunction with our Convention and is sponsored by the Mu Phi
Epsilon Foundation. The Foundation is the non-profit philanthropic
arm of Mu Phi Epsilon and awards many scholarships, awards and
grants every year. (See www.MPEFoundation.org). The winner of the
International Competition receives the opportunity to be presented
in concerts and recitals by chapters of MPE for two years with their
expenses paid and $200 per appearance. Each finalist also receives
$500.
The Competition finals were held this year at the University of
Denver Hamilton Hall on Thursday, July 27. The five finalists, who
performed to a packed hall, were all artists of the highest quality:
-
Katsuya Yuaso, clarinet
- Maria Wietrznyska, piano
- Chika Inoue, saxophone
- Jonathan Morris, piano (first runner-up)
- Ashlee Bickley, mezzo-soprano
The 2017 winner was Katsuya Yuaso, a fine soloist and chamber
musician and Yamaha Young Performing Artist in 2014. He is Adjunct
Professor at Florida A&M University, and a graduate teaching
assistant at Florida State University where he is pursuing a
doctoral degree. He was a Phi Mu member and is now an Allied member.
He presented a full concert during the Convention. Our chapter will
be considering ways to bring Katsuya here for a performance during
the next two years. You won’t want to miss him!