Purpose
The Pensacola Music Teachers Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose members are professionally engaged in the teaching of music in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in NW Florida. Serving Northwest Florida for over 60 years. PMTA is an affiliate of the Florida State Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association.
- We advance excellent teaching, learning, and performance of music through seminars, master classes, festivals, concerts, and contests.
- We strive to raise and maintain the standards of music teaching, stimulate public interest in music, and encourage the study of music.
- We offer awareness and protection for members in ethical, governmental, and business matters.
History
In the fall of 1949, Lucille Sellars attended her first Florida State Music Teachers Association convention in Tallahassee. She had graduated from Florida State University the previous spring, and was living in her hometown of Defuniak Springs, beginning her career as a private piano teacher. Since there was no organized association of teachers in northwest Florida, the Dean of the FSU School of Music asked her to come to Pensacola and start a local organization. Although Lucille was initially met with resistance from some of the local established teachers, she finally succeeded in putting together a small group in the early 50?s to form the first Pensacola Music Teachers Association. The earliest members included Lucille, Harry Newkirk (the first PMTA president), Nancy Newkirk, Herschel Pierce, Elizabeth Moreno and James Guest. There were several years that just a faithful few kept the organization going. Lucille served as State President from 1959-1961, the only member to date from Pensacola to hold that office.
While the 50's could be described as a period of struggle, the 60's found the association stable, but not growing. Around 1962 or 1963, the state convention was held in the old San Carlos Hotel in downtown Pensacola. With barely 20 members to do all of the work for such an event, it was the "shot in the arm" that caused the organization to grow and move forward. During this decade several clinicians (Jane Bastien, James Bastien, Robert Dumm, David Glover, William Gillock, and Lynn Freeman Olson, to name a few) came to town for workshops and seminars held at Reynalds Music on Garden Street.
PMTA continued to grow and gain members through the 70's, 80's and 90's. PMTA hosted several state conventions and conferences; continued our mission of serving students by establishing Sonata Contest, District Student Day, Mall Recitals, Concerto Contests, and the Fall Festival; and sponsored workshops, concerts, and masterclasses for the continuing education of our members. Through our Scholarship Program, administered jointly with the Sonata Contest, talented and deserving students have received cash awards for their continuing music education. Jo Hovind began an orientation program for new members, and under presidents Stephanie Womble and Jeff Crumb, we gained official non-profit/tax-exempt status. In 2001 we began a lending library with donated books, and the official PMTA website was established. 2004 marked the 25th anniversary of the annual Sonata Contest, which is the largest competition of its kind in the Music Teachers National Association. Composer Kevin Olson commissioned Sonatina in Flight for this occasion, and performed the work at the event. These endeavors continue to grow and serve our members.
~ Shelley Barter & Carolyn Carson
While the 50's could be described as a period of struggle, the 60's found the association stable, but not growing. Around 1962 or 1963, the state convention was held in the old San Carlos Hotel in downtown Pensacola. With barely 20 members to do all of the work for such an event, it was the "shot in the arm" that caused the organization to grow and move forward. During this decade several clinicians (Jane Bastien, James Bastien, Robert Dumm, David Glover, William Gillock, and Lynn Freeman Olson, to name a few) came to town for workshops and seminars held at Reynalds Music on Garden Street.
PMTA continued to grow and gain members through the 70's, 80's and 90's. PMTA hosted several state conventions and conferences; continued our mission of serving students by establishing Sonata Contest, District Student Day, Mall Recitals, Concerto Contests, and the Fall Festival; and sponsored workshops, concerts, and masterclasses for the continuing education of our members. Through our Scholarship Program, administered jointly with the Sonata Contest, talented and deserving students have received cash awards for their continuing music education. Jo Hovind began an orientation program for new members, and under presidents Stephanie Womble and Jeff Crumb, we gained official non-profit/tax-exempt status. In 2001 we began a lending library with donated books, and the official PMTA website was established. 2004 marked the 25th anniversary of the annual Sonata Contest, which is the largest competition of its kind in the Music Teachers National Association. Composer Kevin Olson commissioned Sonatina in Flight for this occasion, and performed the work at the event. These endeavors continue to grow and serve our members.
~ Shelley Barter & Carolyn Carson