Northwest Division - Division News - music teacher awards and conferences - Brief Article

American Music Teacher, June-July, 2003 by Marilyn Brossard

Northwest Division members were delighted that our own Margaret "Margie May" Saunders Ott, NCTM, from Spokane, Washington, was honored at the MTNA Awards Brunch in Salt Lake City as 2003 Teacher of the Year. Since she began teaching in 1932, her contagious enthusiasm for the profession, her encouragement to teachers, and her wise and creative ideas have inspired teachers and musicians nationwide and abroad. In our state, her workshops have always drawn teachers eager for her new ideas, which we remember and use for years. Her legacy continues with her students who have become teachers and performers. For more information about Margie May, see page 54.

The state of Washington, second only to Texas in state membership, has decided to hire an administrative assistant. This person will be responsible for some of the tasks currently done by volunteers.

Washington MTA will hold its State Conference June 23-27 at the Red Lion Inn along the Columbia River in Richland. Our featured clinician will be Suzanne Guy, NCTM, presenting sessions on teaching new repertoire, interpretation, memorization and technique. Washington teachers will present workshops about sight reading, studio management, adjudications and composition. Students will present daily honors recitals, and there will be three master classes. We will continue our annual Scholarship Raffle of individual and local association donations. The money earned is used for travel funds for our MTNA Competition winners.