NEWS

The Hattiesburg Piano Teachers League was founded in February of 1972, with 14 charter members and 5 student members. Janice Mesrobian had been a member of a similar organization in Wichita, Kansas and had found it to be invaluable to her as a professional piano teacher. She set about to establish such an organization in Hattiesburg. In 1976, the Hattiesburg Piano Teachers League became a local affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association and its state affiliate, the Mississippi Music Teachers Association. In May 1990, the name of the league was changed to the Hattiesburg Music Teachers League to include music educators in addition to piano teachers. From the very beginning of the formation of the league, Ms. Mesrobian stressed that the Spring Concert should be one of the most important activities. She felt that it should be a formal occasion, one that would recognize and reward our best high school students. That first Spring Concert was held here at William Carey College on May 16, 1972, with 26 students participating, and Jan was one of the teachers who had students on the program. In the last few years, the Spring Concert has been changed to include outstanding middle school students as well. The Hattiesburg Music Teachers League has benefited countless students and teachers in its 51-year history, and it simply would not exist as a professional organization today without the sheer determination and professional vision of Janice Mesrobian. In 2019, she was named a Music Teachers National Association Fellow, one of the highest awards any music teacher can receive. Jan has touched numerous lives throughout her long teaching career and we are all deeply grateful for her devotion, professionalism, and service. We are extremely proud that she is still a member of the Hattiesburg Music Teachers League today.