This year, WSMTA is delighted to announce that Cherie Felts has been nominated as the Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow from Washington State for 2024. This is an incredible, national honor, given to “deserving individuals who have made significant contributions to the music world and the music teaching profession.”  The award will be given in 2024, at the Gala Banquet of the MTNA national conference, to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, March 18th.

To celebrate Cherie’s fellowship, charitable contributions are being given to the MTNA foundation fund.  Money in this fund helps to pay for the MTNA competitions, and for student scholarships. The nomination is confirmed when $1,500 is raised in the honoree’s name. After the award is given, a letter detailing the names of their donors is sent to her, so she will be able to thank all those who supported her nomination.

To contribute in support of Cherie, click on this link. https://www.mtnafoundation.org/contribute/contribute-now/

At the bottom of the form, there is a list of funds and endowments.  Make sure to scroll past that list to the box marked ‘Fellow,’ and to write Cherie’s name in that box.  That way, the gift will go towards her fellowship fund. You have to do this in order for her to receive credit.

Cherie Felts

Cherie Felts is an incredible supporter of WSMTA.  She is a life-long musician, with piano being her principal instrument. She also worked as an organist from age 12 in churches she was part of as well as in college. The middle school choir teacher heard about this girl before she walked into his music room and he asked her to be the accompanist for his choirs. The piano bench became permanent for three years there!

Cherie has directed children’s choirs and worked as an accompanist in the Olympia area school districts and also accompanied young people for Solo/Ensemble Contests and Competitions, for both vocalists and instrumentalists.

She maintained a full piano studio for 23 years. Cherie has been an active member of her local Olympia Chapter and WSMTA. Her responsibilities included being OMTA’s Music Artistry Program Chair (2013-2020). She has chaired OMTA’s Concerto Competition (2022), and was Sonatina Festival and Master Lessons Chair in many of these years past. She served on the OMTA Board and was President from 2013-2015.

Cherie is the Chair for Washington State Music Teachers Association’s Outstanding Artist Piano Competition for Washington State’s gifted students. She co-chaired the WSMTA State Conference in 2010 here in Olympia and served as the Conference Floral Chair for many annual conferences.

Cherie and her husband Sandy have been married for about 53 years and have three children and four grandchildren. She feels blessed by family and friends and is thankful to have the opportunity to work at and live her passion of music!

Thank you for supporting this wonderful individual!

—Peter Mack, NCTM, WSMTA MTNA Foundation Chair