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History

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.

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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

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Past NDMTA Presidents

YearPresidentLocation
1957Mrs. W. H. TempleFargo
1958John W. SealeJamestown
1960 Elisabeth LewisGrand Forks
1962Gerrit G. Vander MeiMinot
1963Mrs. A. Ross FillebrownFargo
1964Frank C. PearsonDickinson
1966Mrs. O. K. JacobsonFargo
1968Mrs. Bertel NelsonClifford
1970Earnest M. LarsonGrafton
1972Mrs. Donald FlatauValley
1974Lise JohnsonCooperstown
1975Arlene BeckwithFargo
1976Eloise HalvorsonWilliston
1978Eloise HalvorsonWilliston
1979Sue HegbergJamestown
1980Helen SayerCooperstown
1982Helen SayerCooperstown
1984Paulette KiltsFargo
1986Marie AlmlieValley City
1988Diane EichhorstWashburn
1990Diane EichhorstBismarck
1993Janie GreenFargo/Moorhead
1995Janie GreenFargo/Moorhead
1997Ruth StensonThief River Falls, MN
1999Diana SkrochValley City
2001Beth KlingensteinValley City
2003Sara BloomGrand Forks
2005Priscilla KeoghDickinson
2007Corinne NustadMoorhead, MN
2009Arlene GrayBismarck
2011Kathleen JohnsonLangdon
2012Beth KlingensteinValley City
2014Lisa SchulerLangdon
2016Jeanette BernstonUlen, MN
2018Vangie Johnson ParkerFargo
2020Dianna AndersonMinot
2022Tamara BertramGrand Forks
2024Lisa SchulerLangdon