Florida State Music Teachers Association
Student Day
As an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), FSMTA is a non-profit organization providing professional support for nearly 800 music teachers and their students. With 23 local associations throughout the State of Florida, its members are independent studio music teachers and college faculty.
The Florida State Music Teachers Association members are professionally engaged in the teaching of music in the State of Florida and have met certain membership qualifications. The primary purpose of the Association is the advancement of music in the State of Florida through excellent teaching, learning, and performing which seeks to recognize individual achievement at all levels. Uniform, non-competitive Evaluations are held annually in Aural and Written Theory, Performance Skills and Repertoire ~ Levels Primer through Level 12 for musicians in piano, various other instruments and voice.
Specifically, the Association strives to raise and maintain the standards of music teaching; stimulate public interest in music, encourage the study of music, offering challenging student activities bringing public recognition to the accomplishments of students and to good teaching.
Florida State Music Teachers Association Student Day Accomplishments, “Honors” Rating from the Studio of Renee LaBonte include:
2020-2023
Level Primary
Arielle Welner
Level Two
Safi Welner
Level Three
Sasha Gutman
Level Four
Victoria Batmasian
Level Five
Andres Bermudez
Level Eight
Diego Bermudez
Phillip Zacharoudis
Level Nine
Dennis Colak
2021-2022
Level Two
Sasha Gutman
Level Three
Victoria Batmasian
Level Four
Andres Bermudez
Level Seven
Diego Bermudez
Phillip Zacharoudis
Level Eight
Dennis Colak
2020-2021
Level One
Benjamin Clark
Sasha Gutman
Level Two
Fabian Vega Varga
Level Three
Andres Bermudez
Level Five
Alexandra Spoto
Level Six
Diego Bermudez
Phillip Zacharoudis
Level Seven
Dennis Colak
2019-2020
Level One
Fabian Vega Varga – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Two
Andres Bermudez – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Four
Alexandra Spoto – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Five
Diego Bermudez – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Michael Rocker -Theory Evaluation
Phillip Zacharoudis – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Six
Dennis Colak – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
2018-2019
Level One
Andres Bermudez – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Three
Alexandra Spoto – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Four
Diego Bermudez – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Michael Rocker – Theory Evaluation
Phillip Zacharoudis – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Five
Dennis Colak – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
2017-2018
Level One
Taylor Sipowski – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Three
Diego Bermudez – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Michael Rocker – Theory Evaluation
Level Four
Dennis Colak – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Five
Sophia Lehrman – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
2016-2017
Level Two
Diego Bermudez – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Three
Kevin Palmer – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Michael Rocker – Theory Evaluation
Dennis Colak – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Four
Jackie Nava – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Sophia Lehrman – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Six
Richard Gambardella – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
2016
Gianna Milan – Finalist ~ South Florida Young Artist Solo Competition
Finalist ~ Broward County Music Teachers High School Competition
2015 – 2016
Level One
Diego Bermudez – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Two
Kevin Palmer – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Aiden Holtz – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Michael Rocker – Theory Evaluation
Level Three
Jackie Nava – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Sophia Lehrman – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Five
Richard Gambardella – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Level Eight
Gianna Milan – Written & Aural Theory; Performance Evaluation
Florida State Music Teachers Association
Honors Recital
2022-2023: Victoria Batmasian, Diego Bermudez, Dennis Colak
2021-2022: Andres Bermudez
Florida State Music Teachers Association
Five-Year Achievement Plaque
Diego Bermudez – Level 7 2021-2022
Florida State Music Teachers Association & National Guild of Piano Teachers
Five-Year Consecutive Superiors Achievement Award
Phillip Zacharoudis 2021-2022
National Federation of Music Clubs Competition
Medium Level
Alexandra Spoto
Superior Rating ~ Broward County
Certificate Recipient ~ Florida State
National Guild of Piano Teachers
American College of Musicians
American College of Musicians
National Guild of Piano Teachers Awards
Yearly auditions are held in over 700 US cities and several foreign countries. Students are adjudicated by an international panel of judges and receive report cards, certificates, and fraternity pins. Programs are diversified to meet the needs of both students and teachers. Programs are flexible and include repertoire ranging by level and range from 2 to 20 piece programs as well as technical goals (musicianship phases). A variety of programs are available in which students can enroll.
Student “Superior” Level Winners from the Studio of Renee LaBonte include:
2022-2023
Victoria Batmasian – Level EF – State Winner 7 pieces
Andres Bermudez – Level EG – Local Winner 3 pieces
Diego Bermudez – Level IC – National Winner 10 pieces
Dennis Colak – Level Prep B – National Winner 10 pieces
Arielle Welner – Level EA – District Winner 5 pieces
Safi Welner – Level EF – State Winner 7 pieces
2021-2022
Victoria Batmasian – Level EE – State Winner 7 pieces
Andres Bermudez – Level EE – District Winner 5 pieces
Diego Bermudez – Level IA – District Winner 5 pieces
Dennis Colak – Level Prep A – National Winner 10 pieces
Sasha Gutman – Level EA – District Winner 5 pieces
Phillip Zacharoudis – Level EG – National Winner 10 pieces
2020-2021
Andres Bermudez – Level EE District Winner 5 pieces
Diego Bermudez – Level IA District Winner 5 pieces
Benjamin Clark – Level EA Local Winner 2 pieces
Dennis Colak – Level IF State Winner 7 pieces
Sasha Gutman – Level EA District Winner 5 pieces
Alexandra Spoto – Level IA District Winner 4 pieces
Fabian Vega-Varga – Level ED State Winner 7 pieces
Phillip Zacharoudis – Level EF National Winner 10 pieces
2019-2020
Andres Bermudez – Level EC State Winner 7 pieces
Diego Bermudez – Level EF State Winner 7 pieces
Dennis Colak – Level ID National Winner 10 pieces
Alexandra Spoto – Level EE State Winner 8 pieces
Fabian Vega-Varga – Level EB Local Winner 3 pieces
Phillip Zacharoudis – Level EE State Winner 7 pieces
2015-2016
Diego Bermudez – Level EB Local Winner 3 pieces
Richard Gambardella – Level EF Local Winner 3 pieces
Aiden Holtz – Level EC Local Winner 2 pieces
Sophia Lehrman – Level ED Local Winner 2 pieces
Gianna Milan – Level PA National Winner 10 pieces
Jackie Nava – Level EE Local Winner 3 pieces
Michael Rocker – Level EC Local Winner 3 pieces
2017-2018
Andres Bermudez – Level EA Local Winner 4 pieces
Diego Bermudez – Level EE Local Winner 4 pieces
Dennis Colak – Level IB Local Winner 4 pieces
Richard Gambardella – Level IB Local Winner 4 pieces
Michael Rocker – Level ED Local Winner 3 pieces
2018-2019
Andres Bermudez – Level EB Local Winner 4 pieces
Diego Bermudez – Level EE Local Winner 3 pieces
Dennis Colak – Level IB National Winner 10 pieces
Phillip Zacharoudis – Level EE State Winner 7 pieces
2016-2017
Diego Bermudez – Level ED Local Winner 4 pieces
Dennis Colak – Level IA Local Winner 4 pieces
Richard Gambardella – Level IA Local Winner 3 pieces
Sophia Lehrman – Level EF Local Winner 3 pieces
Jackie Nava – Level EF Local Winner 3 pieces
Michael Rocker – Level ED Local Winner 3 pieces
2014-2015
Richard Gambardella – Level EE Local Winner 3 pieces
Gianna Milan – Level IF National Winner 10 pieces
LaBonte Studio Awards
Piano Studio of Renée LaBonte
Student Trophy Awards
Teacher’s Award
2009-2010 – Christian MacFarland
2010-2011 – Jordan Kublickis
2011-2012 – Jordan Kublickis
2012-2013 – Richard Gambardella
2013-2014 – Sophia Lehrman
2014-2015 – Richard Gambardella
2015-2016 – Sophia Lehrman/Jackie Nava
2016-2017 – Richard Gambardella
2017-2018 – Michael Rocker
2018-2019 – Diego Bermudez
2019-2020 – Phillip Zacharoudis
2020-2021 – Phillip Zacharoudis
2021-2022 – Sasha Gutman
Virtuoso
2009-2010 – Chloe Barber
2010-2011 – G.Dragoslavick
2011-2012 – Richard Gambardella
2012-2013 – Gianna Milan
2013-2014 – Gianna Milan
2014-2015 – Gianna Milan
2015-2016 – Gianna Milan
2016-2017 – Dennis Colak
2017-2018 – Dennis Colak
2018-2019 – Dennis Colak
2019-2020 – Dennis Colak
2020-2021 – Dennis Colak
2021-2022 – Dennis Colak
Most Improved Student
2009-2010 – Jordan Kublickis
2010-2011 – Anthony Jacarusso
2011-2012 – Richard Gambardella
2012-2013 – Jacqueline Nava
2013-2014 – Michael Rocker
2014-2015 – Kevin Palmer
2015-2016 – Michael Rocker
2016-2017 – Sophia Lehrman
2017-2018 – Diego Bermudez
2018-2019 – Alexandra Spoto
2019-2020 – Diego Bermudez
2020-2021 – Fabian Vega-Varga
2021-2022 – Andres Bermudez
Little Virtuoso
2015-2016 – Kevin Palmer
2016-2017 – Diego Bermudez
2017-2018 – Andres Bermudez
2018-2019 – Andres Bermudez
2019-2020 – Fabian Vega Varga
2020-2021 – Sasha Gutman
2021-2022 – Victoria Batmasian
Senior Award
2009-2010 – Raphael Aguilera
Julia Russo
2011-2012 – Drake Fulmer
2012-2013 – Jordan Kublickis
2022 – Phillip Zacharoudis
Legacy Award
2020-2021 – Alexandra Spoto