Birth of the NDMTA
Under the sponsorship of the Fargo-Moorhead Teacher Association, a group of 30 music teachers met in the Gardner Hotel in Fargo on January 20, 1957 and organized the North Dakota Music Teachers Association. At that meeting, a constitution was accepted and the following officers were elected:
President: Mrs. W. H. Temple, Fargo
Vice President: John W. Seale, Jamestown
Secretary-Treasurer: Mrs. Ray A. Johnson, Fargo
It was voted at this time to join the East Central Division. Forty-four members enrolled, and five attended the National Convention in February. The first State Convention was held October 13 and 14, 1957 at Jamestown College, Jamestown.
Timeline
1960
Membership was 82
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1963
First high school audition winner: John Murphy, Minot, ND
First Chair of National Committee: William Boehle, Grand Forks, ND
Chair of MTNA Student Activities Committee (1963-65) William Boehle, Grand Forks, ND
and Beth Miller Harrod, Lincoln, NE. Developed the original division level high school auditions which later blossomed into the current MTNA High School Competitions
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1964
First commissioned work: Symphonia by Daniel Goode
Changed to West Central Division
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1966
First Baldwin winner: Sharon Christianson, Grand Forks, ND
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1967
Certification adopted
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1968
First collegiate winner: Mrs. Marilyn Coles, UND
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1969
First state directory and level one of study guide
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1974-1978
First West Central Division president: Dr. Frank Pearson, Dickinson, ND
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1975
First Music Rally
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1976
First composition winners:
Elementary - Ann Marie Almlie, Valley City, ND
Junior High - Carrie Flatau, Valley City, ND
Senior High - Jurgan Almlie, Valley City, ND
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1980
West Central Division Competitions held in Fargo-Moorhead (First held in ND)
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1982
West Central Division Competitions held at UND, Grand Forks, ND, 1/22-24
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1985
First National Winner: Scott Thornton (collegiate brass), Baldwin, ND
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1990
Second National Winner: Matt Putz (Sr. High brass), Grand Forks, ND
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1993
First state-sponsored non-advancing performance competition
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1994
First NDMTA Teacher of the Year: Sharon Wesbrook, Hillsboro, ND
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1995
First Handbook/Directory
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1999
West Central Division Competitions held at Minot State University, ND 1/15-17
Third National Winner: Chris Rom (collegiate brass), Minot, ND
First Lifetime Achievement Award: Janie Green, Fargo-Moorhead MTA
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2001
Highest % of Teachers contributing to the MTNA Foundation
Initiated state involvement in MTNA Foundation Fellow program: NDMTA First Foundation Fellow-Janie Green
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2002
Initiated a 25-year membership certificate
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2003
MTNA Local Association of the Year: Durum Triangle (renamed to Langdon Area MTA)
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2004
MTNA Teacher of the Year Award: Eileen Geske
185 paid members
NDMTA non advancing competition renamed to NODAK Music Competitions
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2007
Highest % of teachers contributing to MTNA Foundation
West Central Division Competitions held in Bismarck/Mandan
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2015
MTNA State Affiliate of the Year
Past NDMTA Presidents
| Year | President | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Mrs. W. H. Temple | Fargo |
| 1958 | John W. Seale | Jamestown |
| 1960 | Elisabeth Lewis | Grand Forks |
| 1962 | Gerrit G. Vander Mei | Minot |
| 1963 | Mrs. A. Ross Fillebrown | Fargo |
| 1964 | Frank C. Pearson | Dickinson |
| 1966 | Mrs. O. K. Jacobson | Fargo |
| 1968 | Mrs. Bertel Nelson | Clifford |
| 1970 | Earnest M. Larson | Grafton |
| 1972 | Mrs. Donald Flatau | Valley |
| 1974 | Lise Johnson | Cooperstown |
| 1975 | Arlene Beckwith | Fargo |
| 1976 | Eloise Halvorson | Williston |
| 1978 | Eloise Halvorson | Williston |
| 1979 | Sue Hegberg | Jamestown |
| 1980 | Helen Sayer | Cooperstown |
| 1982 | Helen Sayer | Cooperstown |
| 1984 | Paulette Kilts | Fargo |
| 1986 | Marie Almlie | Valley City |
| 1988 | Diane Eichhorst | Washburn |
| 1990 | Diane Eichhorst | Bismarck |
| 1993 | Janie Green | Fargo/Moorhead |
| 1995 | Janie Green | Fargo/Moorhead |
| 1997 | Ruth Stenson | Thief River Falls, MN |
| 1999 | Diana Skroch | Valley City |
| 2001 | Beth Klingenstein | Valley City |
| 2003 | Sara Bloom | Grand Forks |
| 2005 | Priscilla Keogh | Dickinson |
| 2007 | Corinne Nustad | Moorhead, MN |
| 2009 | Arlene Gray | Bismarck |
| 2011 | Kathleen Johnson | Langdon |
| 2012 | Beth Klingenstein | Valley City |
| 2014 | Lisa Schuler | Langdon |
| 2016 | Jeanette Bernston | Ulen, MN |
| 2018 | Vangie Johnson Parker | Fargo |
| 2020 | Dianna Anderson | Minot |
| 2022 | Tamara Bertram | Grand Forks |