Named Endowment Funds
MARVIN BLICKENSTAFF ENDOWMENT FUND
Marvin Blickenstaff’s many contributions to the field of piano performance and pedagogy are recognized by the establishment of this fund by his many friends and colleagues. A long-time MTNA member, he has made a significant impact on teachers throughout the country through his teaching, lecturing, performing and publishing. This endowment supports grants to teachers and students.
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CELIA MAE BRYANT ENDOWMENT FUND
The Oklahoma Music Teachers Association and other friends and colleagues established this endowment in 1996 to recognize the achievements and contributions of Celia Mae Bryant. Bryant is a former president of MTNA, the MTNA Southwest Division and the Oklahoma MTA. This fund supports teacher enrichment grants.
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RICHARD CHRONISTER ENDOWMENT FUND
This endowment fund was established by MTNA to honor Richard Chronister, who was both a leading expert and pioneer in the field of piano pedagogy. This endowment supports MTNA teacher enrichment grants.
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FRANCES CLARK-LOUISE GOSS ENDOWMENT FUND
The enormous impact Frances Clark and Louise Goss of New Jersey have made on modern piano teaching is recognized through this endowment, which funds teacher enrichment grants.
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MARJORIE MEANS COGSWELL ENDOWMENT FUND
The children of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Cogswell of Goodland, Kansas, have established the Marjorie Means Cogswell Endowment Fund for financing teacher enrichment grants. A long-time MTNA member, Marjorie Cogswell was an active piano teacher in western Kansas for more than 30 years.
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FERN NOLTE DAVIDSON ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund, established by the Idaho Music Teachers Association, honors Fern Nolte Davidson, a piano and piano pedagogy teacher at Albertson College of Idaho for 35. Davidson is a long-time MTNA member. Endowment income is used to fund teacher enrichment grants for teachers from the state of Idaho and MTNA’s Northwest Division.
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EVELYN LINDBLAD FOLLAND ENDOWMENT FUND
Established by Ms. Folland in 1997, this endowment annually provides an award to the second place winner of the national MTNA Senior Piano Competition. Through the years, 11 of Folland’s students have been state winners in MTNA competitions.
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MARYSUE HARRIS ENDOWMENT FUND
MarySue Harris, a long-time MTNA member from Nebraska, has devoted her teaching career to nurturing young music students. Her commitment to pedagogy and the beginning music teacher led to her establishment of the MarySue Harris Endowment Fund. This fund supports the Studio Teacher Fellowship Award.
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BETH MILLER HARROD ENDOWMENT FUND
Beth Miller Harrod, a long-time member of the Nebraska Music Teachers Association, was a founder and artistic director of Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, Colorado, and had a long tenure on the faculty of Nebraska Wesleyan University. This endowment fund supports teacher enrichment grants.
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AMANDA VICK LETHCO ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund honors Amanda Vick Lethco who, in collaboration with Willard Palmer and Morty Manus, was responsible for Alfred Publishing’s comprehensive and popular Basic Piano Library. She taught at The University of Texas at Austin, and throughout her career she gave workshops and piano master classes nationally and internationally.
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MARGARET LORINCE ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund honors Margaret Lorince, former MTNA president and chair of the MTNA Foundation Board of Trustees. As chair of the MTNA Pedagogy Committee, she was instrumental in the establishment of MTNA’s Pedagogy Saturday.
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IRIS AND MORTY MANUS ENDOWMENT FUND
In 2002, the Iris and Morty Manus Endowment Fund was established by Iris and Morty Manus, Alfred Publishing Co., Inc., in recognition of their commitment to the music teaching profession. This endowment supports MTNA programs and awards.
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NATALIE MATOVINOVIC ENDOWMENT FUND
Natalie Matovinovic of Ann Arbor, Michigan, has chosen to leave a legacy to generations of future music teachers and students through the establishment of this fund in 2002. She has been an active member of the Michigan Music Teachers Association and MTNA for many years and her students have won many awards, scholarships and state, division and national MTNA piano competitions. This endowment supports MTNA programs and awards.
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JANICE McCURNIN ENDOWMENT FUND
Established in 2001, this fund celebrates the many years of service to MTNA and the music teaching profession given by the late Janice McCurnin of Arizona. MTNA’s 2001 Teacher of the Year, McCurnin taught for more than 50 years and donated her time teaching underprivileged students. This endowment provides funds for teacher enrichment grants.
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MARGUERITE MILLER ENDOWMENT FUND
Friends, colleagues and former students of Marguerite Miller established this fund in 2002 as a tribute to her great contributions to music and music teaching. Always dedicated to innovation in her teaching, she was a strong proponent of group teaching and the use of technology in the studio. Miller has been a long-time member of MTNA and the Kansas Music Teachers Association. She was on the faculty of Wichita State University for 37 years. This endowment supports MTNA programs and awards.
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CAROL J. NELSON ENDOWMENT FUND
Instituted by a generous contribution from Carol Nelson, former chair of the MTNA FOUNDATION Board of Trustees, this fund is used toward teacher enrichment grants, primarily for voice teachers.
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LORAN OLSEN ENDOWMENT FUND
Loran Olsen of the Washington State Music Teachers Association established this fund in 2002 to foster greater understanding of the traditional music and dance of worldwide cultures. Professor emeritus at Washington State University where he taught piano, composition and theory, Olsen has done extensive work with Native American music. This endowment supports a teacher or Local Association Grants program for projects in diversity.
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LYNN FREEMAN OLSON ENDOWMENT FUND
Lynn Freeman Olson’s legacy includes Music Pathways, with Marvin Blickenstaff and Louis Bianci and Piano for the Developing Musician, with Martha Hilley, along with the countless collections of "pupil savers," such as Rhythm Machine." Olson went to great lengths to guide teachers in their pursuit of excellence, but his primary concern in the music-making process was for children.
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MARGARET SAUNDERS OTT ENDOWMENT FUND
Margaret Mae Saunders Ott of the Washington State Music Teachers Association has guided and nurtured countless piano students and teachers through the years. Her legacy continues with this endowment fund by providing awards for teacher enrichment grants.
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ROBERT L. PACE ENDOWMENT FUND
Robert Pace’s philosophy regarding professional growth for teachers is underscored through his named endowment. Pace, of New York, has made a significant impact on the music teaching profession. This endowment supports MTNA programs and awards.
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AMANDA WARD PENICK ENDOWMENT FUND
Funded through the generosity of MTNA members and the Gloria Narramore Moody Foundation, this endowment supports teacher enrichment grants benefiting Alabama and MTNA Southern Division teachers. Penick is a professor and past president of the Alabama Music Teachers Association.
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SHIRLEY A. RAUT ENDOWMENT FUND
In honor of Shirley Raut’s retirement, the MTNA Foundation established this endowment in 1997. The fund is a tribute to Raut’s dedicated and distinguished service as executive director of MTNA and director of the MTNA Foundation. It supports MTNA programs and awards.
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HELENE M. ROBINSON ENDOWMENT FUND
Helene M. Robinson, from Oregon, is recognized for her extensive experience as a soloist, accompanist, chamber musician, clinician, adjudicator and author. This fund she established, is a symbol of her contribution and commitment to music and the music teaching profession. Proceeds fund teacher enrichment grants.
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ROBERT STEINBAUER ENDOWMENT FUND
Friends and colleagues of Robert Steinbauer have honored him for his great contributions to the music teaching profession through this endowment. He is a past president of the Kansas Music Teachers Association and the MTNA West Central Division. He also was a member of the MTNA Board of Directors. This fund supports teacher enrichment grants.
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ELNORA HARTMAN STICKLEY ENDOWMENT FUND
The South Bend Area Music Teachers Association established this endowment to honor former local president, Elnora Hartman Stickley. Teacher enrichment grants funded through this endowment benefit Indiana and MTNA East Central Division teachers.
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MARY VEVERKA ENDOWMENT FUND
Through the generosity of family, friends and colleagues, this fund was established in 2002 to honor the memory of Mary Veverka of Illinois. An MTNA master teacher, she was a dedicated teacher and performer who shared her passion for music with hundreds of piano students. This fund supports MTNA programs and awards.
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BENJAMIN WHITTEN ENDOWMENT FUND
A well-known teacher of piano, Benjamin Whitten has been devoted to music teaching, MTNA, and collegiate students. He established the Benjamin Whitten Endowment Fund which awards the MTNA Collegiate Chapter of the Year and the MTNA Collegiate Chapter Advisor.