Leadership
Meet our board.
The volunteer leaders who guide the Alaska Federation of Music Clubs.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Mark Weathers, NCTM : State Festival Chair
Location: Soldotna / Kenai Peninsula
Mark Weathers, NCTM is a classical piano teacher based in Soldotna, Alaska, offering both in-person and online lessons to pre-college students and adults, from beginner through early advanced levels. His teaching emphasizes injury-free technique, repertoire, music theory, musicianship, and a lifelong love of music.
Mark believes in a balanced approach to repertoire, combining historical masterworks with engaging contemporary literature. His students regularly study music by composers from the National Federation of Music Clubs Bulletin alongside works by classical composers, helping bridge the gap between traditional piano literature and the interests of the modern student.
Mark’s teaching is shaped by the Taubman Approach, with its emphasis on efficient, injury-preventive movement. He also draws from Russian and Eastern European pedagogical traditions that focus on tone production and coordinated, relaxed playing. Inspired by pedagogues such as Irina Gorin and Dorothy Taubman, and grounded in Frances Clark’s philosophy—“Teach the student, then the music”—Mark blends high standards with student-centered learning.
Students in his studio participate in recitals, festivals and adjudications gaining a well-rounded musical experience.
Mark has completed advanced pedagogy training through the Gorin Institute (Levels 1–3) and Piano Safari Teacher Training (Levels 1–3), and he currently serves on the boards of both the Anchorage Keyboard Teachers Association and the Alaska Music Teachers Association.
Contact Email:
lastfrontierpianostudio@gmail.com
Karen Wright: Secretary
Location: Seward/Kenai Peninsula
Karen Wright has been playing piano for 31 years and teaching for over 15 of those. With a B.S. in Piano Performance from Corban University in Salem, Oregon and an M.A. in Music from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, she has studied with Prof. John Bartsch, Prof. Peggy Dougherty, and Dr. Susan Chan.
Her graduate presentation at Portland State was focused on Spanish influences in French Impressionistic composers. She has extensive vocal and instrumental accompanying experience at the collegiate level, and has provided music for countless weddings and church services. Her most extreme piano experience was playing keys in a band at Icestock, a music festival in Antarctica.
She is currently teaching a full roster of students in Seward, Alaska.
Geri Brigham: Treasurer
Location: Nikiski/Kenai Peninsula
Geri Brigham began her career in Denver, Colorado where she received her degree in music from Metropolitan State University. She enjoys playing and teaching several instruments, yet her specialized training is piano. Geri has been a resident of Nikiski, Alaska for 39 years. She has served as the treasurer for KCPMT since its inception in 2019.
Contact Email: