Krista Seely, Nominating Committee Chair
Thank you to the following members who have accepted the nomination for the following Board of Directors offices:
- WSMTA Vice President: Jason Kuo, Seattle Chapter
- District II Director: Ryan Worswick, Seattle Chapter
- District IV Director: Jan Rowen Music, Olympia Chapter
- District VI Director: Naomi Johnson, Yakima-Ellensburg Chapter
These members will be voted on at the WSMTA Annual Member Meeting on Sunday, June 29, at 1:00 PM, at the WSMTA State Conference at Lower Columbia College. We appreciate our fellow members and teachers for contributing ideas, time and energy on behalf of the membership.
WSMTA Vice President Nominee: Jason Kuo, Seattle Chapter
Jason Kuo has been the WSMTA Music Artistry Program (MAP) Chair for the past four years, serving as the principal connection between Visiting Artists, Chapter MAP Chairs, and the teachers participating in the High School Credit Program. He also oversaw the financial state of MAP, which has the largest program budget within WSMTA. He shepherded board motions to update the Visiting Artist travel reimbursements, Chapter reimbursement, student registration fees, and the High School Credit Program. In the new capacity as the Vice President, he plans to launch a WSMTA Accompanist List to promote the invaluable service our members provide.
Sincere thanks to my fellow members on this year’s Nominating Committee; Peter Mack, Seattle Chapter; and Marilyn Wilbanks, Yakima-Ellensburg Chapter, for sharing your time and insights.
District II Director Nominee: Ryan Worswick, Seattle Chapter
Immediate past president of the Seattle Chapter, as well as floating tech support for the WSMTA, Ryan is an avid teacher and lifelong learner of math and music who fills his free time with pets, friends, and a bit of the outdoors where possible. Coming from a non-traditional background, Ryan hopes to provide a unique perspective in service of the WSMTA as the 2025-2027 District II Director, and looks forward to meeting even more of our delightful membership in the process.
District IV Director Nominee: Jan Rowen Music, Olympia Chapter
Jan Rowen Music, NCTM, has been teaching piano and piano improvisation in Olympia since 1989. She earned her National Certification from MTNA in 2003. Jan has been influenced by the Dalcroze approach to
teaching music and has trained at NW Dalcroze at the University of Washington under Stephen Moore and Julia
Schnebly-Black. She has presented programs on improvisation and rhythm to various chapters around the state and at the State and National Levels.
Jan enjoys teaching a variety of student levels; beginners, teens, church musicians and adults, incorporating her love of arranging and improvisation into every lesson. She is active as a church musician in her local congregation and is the founder and director of the Victorian Caroling Group “Joysong”. Jan is married to Ron Music (thus Music is really her married name!) and they have 2 grown children and 6 grandchildren. Their home in Olympia is called “Music on the Hill” and a popular venue frequently for parlor musical performances, which they host several times a year.
District VI Director Nominee: Naomi Johnson, Yakima-Ellensburg Chapter
Naomi Johnson is passionate about helping students reach their goals and dreams in music and in life. She teaches in the beautiful Yakima Valley, and is an involved member of the Yakima-Ellensburg Chapter. She loves being a part of the WSMTA, and enjoys bringing music educators together to learn from each other. She is always looking for creative ways to encourage students to make music. Composition, improvisation, and arranging are all ways her students are encouraged to express themselves. She is currently studying the Taubman Approach and is happily playing the piano pain-free as a result.