The Washington State Music Teachers Association established a Hall of Fame to recognize teachers’ exceptional support, inspiration and outstanding contribution to the growth and development of music and music education, both public and private, in the State of Washington. The Hall of Fame was established in 2001 with the first recipients being awarded in 2002. To see a complete list of recipients, please go to the Hall of Fame Members list below.
If you have questions about the program contact: Chris VanBuskirk, WSMTA Hall of Fame Chair.
2026 Hall of Fame Inductees
Yunbo Wang Cassady, NCTM
Yunbo Wang Cassady is well loved, respected and appreciated by her local Eastside Chapter, her colleagues, friends and family. She has been a member of the Eastside Chapter and has maintained a piano studio, always prepared and committed to her work and has created an amazing environment for learning the piano. She has made a lasting impact on our organization and our community. Yunbo has generously hosted EMTA Board meetings in her home, creating a welcoming space that fosters collaboration. She has managed the EMTA Scholarship Concert – now the Nancy Drake Community Concert – with distinction year after year and has enriched our programs by hosting Concert Artists and offering her studio for master lessons. Yunbo’s sincerity, generosity, and tireless support embody the qualities the Hall of Fame seeks to honor. Her contributions have advanced EMTA’s and WSMTA’s mission, ensuring its continued growth. Congratulations, Yunbo.
Holly Harty
Holly Harty is also very much loved, appreciated and valued by the members of her local Tri-Cities Chapter colleagues, friends and family. Holly maintains an active piano studio and always has a positive outlook and easy-going manner, having a great passion for music. Holly is a dedicated teacher and so much more! She brings an extraordinary complement of talent to everything she does, bringing out the best in her students through her devotion to teaching, identifying and meeting the needs of others, colleagues and their students, now and into the future. One of her colleagues stated that “Holly deserves to be in our WSMTA Hall of Fame because she exemplifies everything one could hope to find in a teacher. She is selfless, genuine, creative and an excellent organizer”. Congratulations, Holly
CRITERIA FOR HALL OF FAME NOMINATION
Nominee has served as an active member of WSMTA and satisfied three or more of the following conditions:
- Has served as an active member of WSMTA for a period of no less than ten years.
- Has demonstrated consistent excellence in the teaching of music or in music education.
- Has brought about substantive improvements in the educational process.
- Has contributed significantly to the betterment of music and/or the music education profession through exemplary service or acts, in the studio, school, church, and/or community.
- Has demonstrated the highest ideals of professional integrity through their time of service (as an active member, retired, posthumously).
The committee also needs specific, detailed, and complete supportive, biographical information about the nominee. The above information, along with accompanying letters of recommendation for this nominee, should be submitted by a Chapter member, colleague, or friend, (not the nominee).
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2027 WSMTA HALL OF FAME
The Washington State Music Teachers Association Hall of Fame was established to give recognition for exceptional support, inspiration an outstanding contribution to the growth and development of music and music education, both public and private, in the State of Washington.
Members will be selected by the Hall of Fame Committee and will be honored at the State Conference banquet.
Please take some time to think about outstanding music educators, teachers you have known, and supporters from the music industry who deserve this special recognition. To be selected by one’s peers is one of the highest honors a person can received.
The deadline for nominations is December 10, 2026
WSMTA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
| 2026 | |
| Yunbo Wang Cassady | Eastside |
| Holly Harty | Tri-City |
| 2025 | |
| Carol Cross, NCTM | Yakima-Ellensburg |
| Jason Kuo, NCTM | Seattle |
| 2024 | |
| Carol Hibbard | Eastside |
| 2023 | |
| Patti Robertson, NCTM | Tri-City |
| RoseMarie Tamburri | Seattle |
| Harriet West | Moses Lake – Central Basin |
| 2022 | |
| Diane Zimmerman | Puyallup Valley |
| 2021 | |
| Onneta “Onnie” Lou Adams | Tri-City |
| 2020 | |
| Jill Johnson | Wenatchee Valley |
| Joann Richardson, NCTM | Kitsap County |
| Kathy Strickland | Tacoma and Gig Harbor |
| 2019 | |
| Julianne Barnaby | Tri-City |
| Danene Knudsen | Yakima-Ellensburg |
| Karen Scholten | Lynden |
| 2018 | |
| Donald Denegar | Eastside |
| Dorie Guidon | Bellingham |
| Judy Nessan | Puyallup Valley |
| 2017 | |
| Diane Stober, NCTM | Wenatchee Valley |
| Patricia Jorgensen | Bellingham |
| Mary Jane Clarke, NCTM | Olympia |
| 2016 | |
| Linda Fast | Lewis County |
| Doreen Slaugh, NCTM | Moses Lake – Central Basin |
| Sharon Van Valin, NCTM | Eastside and Seattle |
| 2015 | |
| Paul Twedt | Tacoma |
| Annabelle Wall | Tri-City |
| 2014 | |
| Not awarded | |
| 2013 | |
| Robin Chadwick, NCTM | Lewis County |
| 2012 | |
| Sharon Clark, NCTM | South King County |
| 2011 | |
| Phyllis Pieffer, NCTM | Grays Harbor |
| Margaret Presley | Spokane |
| Michiko Miyamoto | Eastside |
| 2010 | |
| Warren Kunz | Edmonds |
| Thelma McCoy, NCTM | Olympic Peninsula |
| Margaret Pressley | Seattle |
| 2009 | |
| Helen Madsen, NCTM | Tri-City |
| Marilyn Linde, WSCTM | Sunn Valley |
| Ella Mae Durkee, WSCTM | South King County |
| 2008 | |
| Janet Adams | Wenatchee Valley |
| Clarita Burden, NCTM | Lewis County |
| Eleanor Van Liew, WSCTM | Tri-City |
| 2007 | |
| Verna Wagner | Spokane |
| Mary Ellen Cavelti, NCTM | Puyallap Valley |
| Melba O’Neill | Mason County |
| 2006 | |
| Doris Mae Bajema | Lynden |
| Lisa Bergman | Seattle |
| Janice Brink | Lynden |
| 2005 | |
| Judy Baker, NCTM | Snohomish County |
| Marilyn Brossard, NCTM | Skagit Valley |
| Eleanor Haney | Tri-City |
| 2004 | |
| Gloria Burnett Scott | Seattle and Edmonds |
| Lois Burress | Moses Lake – Central Basin |
| Richard E. Clark, NCTM | Bellingham |
| Robert E. Lundquist, NCTM | Whatcom County |
| Julia Schnebly-Black | Seattle |
| 2003 | |
| Laura Boyer, NCTM | Grays Harbor |
| Ford Hill, NCTM | Bellingham |
| Lois Jacobson, WSCTM | Seattle |
| Marcile Mack, NCTM | Seattle |
| Janet Mooney, NCTM | Olympia |
| Loran Olsen, NCTM | Olympic Peninsula |
| Margaret Saunders Ott, NCTM | Spokane |
| Willard Schultz | Seattle |
| Bela Siki | Seattle |
| Helena Smith, NCTM | Grays Harbor |
| Marianna Stensager, NCTM | Grays Harbor |
| 2002 | |
| Corry Celli | Seattle |
| Nadean Clarke | Kitsap County |
| Elma Curry | Okanogan County |
| Jane Davis, NCTM | Tri-City |
| Jim Edmonds , NCTM | Spokane |
| Martha Helder | Lynden |
| Joy Henderson | Wenatchee Valley |
| Randolph Hokanson | Seattle |
| Calvin Knapp, NCTM | Tacoma |
| Carolyn Malnes, WSCTM | Edmonds |
| Shirley Peringer, WSCTM | Seattle |
| Peggy Smith | Spokane |
| Mary Toy, NCTM | Spokane and Eastside |