American Mothers, Inc. Selects Arizona Mothers for 2010 National Vocal and National Piano Awards


By: Cecily Markland


At the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, for the 75th Anniversary of the National American Mothers Convention, Heather Sandstrom, of Mesa, was the emcee for the event, while her daughter, Erica Sandstrom Soelberg, (l) also of Mesa, was recognized as the winner of the National Vocal Award and Jenny Harris Mecham, (r) formerly of Arizona, won the National Piano Award. Photo courtesy of Heather Sandstrom




American Mothers, Inc. marked a milestone earlier this year, as the organization named the Mother and Young Mother of the Year for the 75th time.

The first such award was presented by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother in 1935 at New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. This year, the beautiful and renowned hotel was again the site for the annual convention.

Members from across the country gathered for the event and, as the two-day celebration began, one Arizona mother-Heather Sandstrom-was front and center, as emcee. Heather, of the Estate Groves Ward, Citrus Heights Stake, is currently on the AZ State Board and the National Board for American Mothers. A former Arizona Young Mother of the Year, Heather and her husband, Paul, have five children and five granddaughters.

She has a bachelor's degree in broadcast/journalism from Brigham Young University. A former television newscaster, Heather currently hosts a talk show called "Voice of the Nation" for United Families International.

Heather also has participated as narrator for the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant for the past 12 years.

As emcee at the American Mothers event, Heather had the unique privilege of sharing the stage with her daughter, Erica Sandstrom Soelberg, who was recognized with the National Vocal Award. Erica, her husband, Alan, and their daughters, Grace, Mae, and Claire, are members of the Thayer Park Ward, Mountain View Stake.

Like her mother, Erica graduated from BYU, with a bachelor's degree in broadcast/journalism. Erica thinks of her role as a wife and mother as the "ultimate career." Erica has a studio where, once a week, she teaches ballet for young girls. She also is the creator and teacher for Performers, Inc., a musical theater workshop for children.

Erica has recorded religious CDs, sings professionally with a jazz band and recorded a CD with Glen Campbell Management. She recently sang the National Anthem for a Phoenix Suns Basketball Game, performed for a Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Event at the Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium and sang at a benefit concert alongside American Idol's Brooke White.

At the recent American Mother's convention, Erica was asked to sing "Amazing Grace," "Give me Your Tired, Your Poor" and "The Star-Spangled Banner." She was accompanied by her mother.

"It was a great experience, being a mother and daughter and having her sing and me play for her at this historic Convention for American Mothers," Heather says.

She says it was a pleasure to see another young mother from Arizona, Jenny Harris Mecham, selected as the National Piano Winner. Jenny, who has since moved to California, is the mother of two young daughters. She received a bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Utah State University and a master's degree in Music from University of Houston.

Jenny is a member of the MTNA Music Teacher's National Association and the Arizona State Music Teacher's Association. She is a private piano instructor and won Teacher of the Year for Utah State University Youth Conservatory. She was an adjunct faculty member for Houston Moore's School of Music and Utah State University Music Department and an instructor at Utah State University Youth Conservatory.

American Mothers, Inc. is an interfaith, non-political, nonprofit organization, whose stated purpose is to strengthen the moral and spiritual foundation of the home and family. For information about the organization and its annual competitions, visit www.americanmothers.org.