MTNA Foundation Fellow

The Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Fellow program offers a meaningful method for honoring deserving individuals while supporting the efforts of the MTNA Foundation Fund through a donation to the Foundation Fund in an individual’s name. Anyone can nominate and fund an MTNA Fellow.   Each year, the ISMTA board nominates one fellow, and raises funds to fund that fellow.  

To contribute to the MTNA Foundation Fund and help fund the ISMTA fellow, click the button below, check the box that reads “Foundation Fellow (enter name below),” and enter this year’s fellow as the Fellow name.

For more information about the MTNA Foundation Fund, visit https://www.mtnafoundation.org/

2025 Foundation Fellow:
Jennifer Cohen

The following people have been designated MTNA Foundation Fellows in recognition of their extraordinary service to ISMTA:

2024

Heidi Mayer

2023

Amy Jo Sawyer

2022

Cathy Albergo

2021

Craig Sale

2020

Janice Razaq
Christopher Goldston

2019

Lynette Zelis

2018

Ludmila Lazar

2017

Bruce Berr
Patricia Nyien

2017

Lynd Corley

2015

Helen Grosshans

2014

Emi Murata
Marlene S. Chatain
Rita Brown
Linda K. Barker

2012

Frances I. Onley
Phyllis A. Hill

2011

Brenda L. Conroy

2010

Mary Beth Molenaar

2008

Elvina Truman Pearce
Kenneth O. Drake

2007

Karen Rogers

2006

Frances H. Larimer

2003

William Ronald YaDeau

2002

Mary Veverka

2001

Anna McGrosso
James Lyke

Jennifer Cohen is an active member of NSMTA and NWSMTA, where she has held offices and event chair positions, including president, 1st vice-president and AIM chair.  For over 15 years, she has served on the ISMTA board as Competitions Director and has worked tirelessly as a member of the state AIM Piano committee.  As an MTNA nationally certified teacher, she has had the privilege to serve as the East Central Division National Commissioner for MTNA Certification. She has presented at local associations and ISMTA state conferences, and most notably, at the 2018 MTNA conference, “Do the Studio Crawl” with her colleagues Helen Grosshans, Levonne Mrozinski and Beverly Taylor.   

Jennifer’s teaching career began in high school, under the tutelage of her piano teacher, nationally recognized piano pedagogue, Elvina Pearce, who she was fortunate to have studied for over 10 years.  Elvina’s guidance, encouragement, and mentorship during Jennifer’s formative years shaped her to become the teacher that she is and helped foster a desire for life-long service to the music community.  

She received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, followed by a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University, studying with Robert Shannon, Julian Martin, David Kaiserman, and Frances Larimer.  Her teaching career spans over 40 years, which include teaching keyboard skills at DePaul University School of Music and on faculty at Northwestern Music Academy. 

Jennifer brings a wealth of teaching experience ranging from preschool age beginners through advanced high school students to her thriving independent piano studio in Hawthorn Woods.  She is a passionate advocate of the Achievement in Music (AIM) program, and through her devotion and creative use of technology and group classes, she is a highly sought out teacher.  Jennifer has been named as NSMTA and NWSMTA Member of the Year, and in 2017, she was honored to be selected as ISMTA Teacher of the Year.