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
Margaret Pressley – Seattle
Warren Kunz – Edmonds
Thelma McCoy, NCTM – Olympic Peninsula
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 – Puyallup 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