This year’s Annual Party was a big success, with 62 attendees, perhaps the most at any AMSF Annual Party. It was certainly the most well attended in the last three years. But it was more than attendance per se — we had plenty of time to meet new faces and reconnect before and after the Annual Meeting. We had our traditional Music Exchange, as well as a gift drawing. The Party was a time to celebrate all your personal musical achievements and our accomplishments as an organization.
Annual Meeting
The State of AMSF
Michelle Powell, AMSF President, shared two broad areas in her talk:
- An update on the state of AMSF
- Two challenges in the coming fiscal year, beginning October 2025.
AMSF’s mission is to provide performance and educational opportunities for amateur adult music students. Primary objectives beginning January 2022, when Michelle Powell began leading, included:
- Broadening membership and attracting the younger crowd
- Broadening the base of instruments
- Continuing to bring educational and performance opportunities.
| Membership Type | 2022 | 2025 |
| Regular | 85 | 108 |
| Associate (Teachers) | 1 | 3 |
| Gratis | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 90 | 115 |
Membership Profile. AMSF membership is growing. We total 115. So far, in 2025, we have 11 new members, and in the last 12 months since October 2024, we have had at least 20 new members. (The number depends on the time!) We have also been getting “rejoins” since 2022, so our membership numbers are going in the right direction! AMSF serves the DC Metro area. Our members primarily live in MD, VA, and DC — in that order. That ranking has remained the same in the last three years. Most who live in MD reside in Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, and Silver Spring. Most who live in VA reside in McLean, Arlington, and Fairfax, although we are happy to report that we have members from Leesburg and Purcellville, two of whom are new! We also have a long-time member who lives in NJ. We try to spread our events throughout MD, VA, and DC to be fair to all.
Broadening membership and attracting the younger crowd. We want AMSF to thrive and we want it to continue beyond our lifetimes.
Last year, we started two programs aimed at attracting other musicians in the area and the younger generation. The efforts include reaching out to 1) other DC-based music organizations and 2) DC-area community colleges. We continue those efforts.
Through the effort to reach other DC-based music groups, AMSF was invited to perform at the Lee Fendall House Museum in Alexandria last December. We had two ensembles that performed holiday music, a brass ensemble led by Carol Henry, and a string ensemble led by Carol Pew. The performances were much appreciated, and we have subsequently been asked to grace the historic house this Christmas. We believe that the same effort to reach other DC-based music groups has yielded two new member baritones. We will continue to track this. The results of our effort to reach DC area colleges are unclear, but we will continue the effort this year.
“Invite One” Challenge.” The best way we have grown is through recommendations and word-of-mouth through members. This year, we are launching the “Invite One” Challenge. We ask that every AMSF member — regular, associate, and gratis members — helps broaden awareness and enjoyment of AMSF by inviting one person to an AMSF event open to the public (an Encore Recital or next year’s Annual Party), or by mentioning AMSF to a musical friend and having them visit our website. Remember, there is no upper age limit and any amateur, 18 years old and above, can join. We make an effort to have AMSF musicians who reliably perform at a high performance at Encore recitals. We believe your guests, including those who are advanced musicians themselves, will enjoy the music.
Broadening the base of instruments. AMSF is a music forum, not solely a piano forum.
AMSF has historically been composed of pianists, and we, of course, love our pianists! Three years ago, we set out to broaden the base of instruments to provide greater variety. The table below shows the results of our efforts:
| Category | 2022 | 2025 |
| Play instruments other than piano | 9 | 23 |
| Violin | 8 | 14 |
| Viola | 2 | 4 |
| Classical guitar | 1 | 6 |
| Cello | 4 | 4 |
| Voice | 7 | 12 |
| Other | 7 | 15 |
This fiscal year we picked up an alto flute player, in addition to the French horn, dulcimer, and piccolo, which we added in the last few years.
Continuing Educational and Performance Opportunities. AMSF is scheduled to have at least 51 recitals and events in FY 2025–26. That averages almost once per week!
- Special Events. This year was the first time we had a non-pianist — a professional violist and neuroscientist — lead a special event. Our guest speaker, Dr. Molly Gebrian, discussed recent neurological discoveries and how musicians can apply those findings to their practice.
- Encore Recitals. A member once mentioned, “Encore is open to the public, but the public doesn’t come!” This year, we began the effort to change that. We are bringing Encore to the public! Most of our Encore Recitals will be held at Independent Retirement Homes. In April, our Encore was held at Fox Hill Residences in Bethesda. This past summer, it was held at Ingleside in Washington, DC. Both are first class independent living campuses. There is plenty of room for residents, AMSF members and guests.
- Community Outreach. Since 2022, we have had 12 Community Outreach events at assisted living retirement homes annually, a significant improvement from previous years. We have broadened our reach from 6 to 8 assisted living facilities in the last two years.
- “Learn a Piece Different-from-your-usual” Challenge. Our musical challenge this year is to learn a piece that is different from the type of pieces you typically play. (We realize that some play a wide range of music. Some, though, might want to consider broadening their repertoire.) “Different” does not necessarily mean difficult or obscure. It may mean a different genre or a different composer. You define the word “different.” Let us know if you’ve accepted the challenge, then share your new piece!
Increasing volunteerism. AMSF is not a spectator sport. It takes a lot of effort to make things happen. There are many ways to help and give back. Examples include RSVPing early; hosting; encouraging others to attend special events, master classes, annual parties; and volunteering to help, even in the background.
Finances
Our organization runs on a shoestring budget. This fiscal year our budget was $11.6k and we came in at an estimated $6.7k.
Our estimated budget for FY25-26 is $12.4k. We are waiting for about 36 more members to renew. The budget will be finalized on September 30th, the end of our fiscal year, and it will be posted in Keynotes.
We ask that members renew as soon as possible. It helps us plan and eases cash flow. We also ask that members consider making a tax-deductible financial contribution.
Summary
AMSF is accomplishing its goals because of strong leadership and supportive Board members dedicated to the success of the organization. They include Michelle Powell, Carol Henry, Bruce Kuhlik, Louis Reichwein, Jung Yeon Kim, Daryl Caplan, and our Founder, Matt Harre. We will continue providing quality educational programs and performance opportunities, as our budget allows. We look forward to your participation in our “Invite One” and “Learn a New Piece Different-from-your-usual” Challenges this year. We invite members to take advantage of all our recitals and events while considering giving back either by making tax-deductible donations, RSVPing, renewing memberships early, hosting, spreading the word about AMSF, and volunteering to help in the background.
Music Program
The afternoon was capped by a wonderful concert. Thanks to our talented musician-friends who performed. The program below does not, in any way, capture the delight they gave us through their music. You simply had to be there and enjoy the program’s entirety.
Congratulations to all!
| Title and Composer | Performer and Instrument |
| String Quartet in F major, KV168 by W.A. Mozart Allegro Fuga-Allegro | Don Foy, violin Laura Garawski, violin Marion Spahn, viola Carol Pew, cello |
| The Pink Panther by H. Mancini | Stephanie Dailey, violin |
| Paçoca and Quebra-Queixo by C. Machado | Louis Fidel, flute Amy Penchuk, guitar |
| Lyric Pieces #6, Op. 65, Wedding Day at Troldhaugen by E. Grieg | Gregory Riviello, piano |
| L’Isle Joyeuse by C. Debussy | Simon Finlow, piano |
| Etude Tableaux Op.39 No.5 by S. Rachmaninoff | Jack Stabile, piano |
| Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by F. Liszt | Jung Yeon Kim, piano |
