Awards

Congratulations to our 2023 WVMTA Teacher of the Year, Robert Ellis!

Bob has been teaching for at least 50 years, has had many successful piano students over the years. This year, he also received a 50-year celebration at St. Peter/Fairmont Catholic. We are all very grateful for Bob’s abundant involvement in music education in the State of West Virginia! 

Congratulations also to our 2022 Distinguished Leader of the Year, Dr. Henning Vauth, NCTM! 

Henning Vauth, Professor of Piano at Marshall University, holds a D.M.A. from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied piano with Nelita True and took secondary harpsichord lessons with William Porter. Further piano teachers include Einar Steen-Nøkleberg (Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien, Hannover, Germany) and Nelson Delle Vigne-Fabbri (École Normale de Musique, Paris, France). A native German and regular guest artist and faculty member at music festivals in Colombia, Italy, Taiwan, Germany, and the U.S., he supports the arts at home as active member of WVMTA, the Music Teachers National Association, and as founding co-director of Marshall University’s Center for Wellness in the Arts (CWA), a collaboration between the Colleges of Health Professions and Arts and Media that provides health and wellness services to Marshall’s performing arts students.

WVMTA Teacher of the Year

Our WVMTA Teacher of the Year is someone who demonstrates innovative teaching and creative musicianship, and has held membership in WVMTA for at least five years. 

  • 2023: Robert Ellis

  • 2022: Dr. Gerald Lee

  • 2021: Ian Jessee

  • 2020: John Morrison

  • 2019: Dr. Jacob Womack, NCTM

  • 2018: Mary Wilson

  • 2017: Dr. Henning Vauth

  • 2016: Dr. James Miltenberger

  • 2015: No award given

  • 2014: Carol Kreiwaldt

  • 2013: Dr. Christine Kefferstan, NCTM

  • 2012: Dr. Hooi Yin Boey

  • 2011: Mary Ellen Morrison, NCTM

  • 2010: Jan Jemison Smith, NCTM

  • 2009: Harriet Tucker, NCTM

  • 2008: Vicki Cavendish

  • 2007: Elaine Tutt

  • 2006: Dr. Scott Beard, NCTM

  • 2005: Mila Markun, NCTM

  • 2004: Olive Meyer, NCTM

  • 2003: Dr. Lya Cartwright

  • 2002: No award given

  • 2001: Bonnie Miltenberger

  • 2000: Catherine Crotty, NCTM

  • 1999: Ruth Carder, NCTM

  • 1998: Dr. Leslie Petteys, NCTM

  • 1997: Dr. Ray Martin, NCTM

  • 1996: Mary Wilson

  • 1995: Lena Lim, NCTM

  • 1994: Linda Seime, NCTM

  • 1993: Carol Beall, NCTM

  • 1992: Dr. Christine Kefferstan, NCTM

  • 1991: Peggy Johnston, NCTM

WVMTA Member of the Year/ Distinguished Leader of the Year

Our WVMTA Member of the Year/Distinguished Leader of the Year award is based on leadership and service of ten or more years. 

  • 2022: John Morrison

  • 2021: Dr. Jacob Womack, NCTM

  • 2020: Vicki Cavendish

  • 2019: Dr. Hooi Yin Boey

  • 2018: No award given

  • 2017: Dr. Gerald Lee, NCTM

  • 2016: Laura Hamm, NTCM

  • 2015: Mary Ellen Morrison, NCTM

  • 2014: No award given

  • 2013: Dr. Mary Lynn Bennett, NCTM

  • 2012: Dr. Scott Beard, NCTM

  • 2011: Janna Kisner, NCTM

  • 2010: Gary Mullenax, NCTM

  • 2009: Karen Taddie, NCTM

  • 2008: Mary Wilson

  • 2007: Carol Beall, NCTM

  • 2006: Barbara Heckert

  • 2005: No award given

  • 2004: No award given

  • 2003: Dr. James Miltenberger

  • 2002: No award given

  • 2001: No award given

  • 2000: Olive meyer, NCTM

  • 1999: Dr. Connie Strum, NCTM

  • 1998: Jean Douglass, NCTM

  • 1997: Marguerite Bostonia, NCTM

  • 1996: Marija Sommer, NCTM

  • 1995: Mila Markun, NCTM

  • 1994: Jane Mangus, NCTM and Sandra Hastings, NCTM

  • 1993: Judy Lambert, NCTM

  • 1992: Dr. Bobby Loftis, NCTM

  • 1991: Mary Shep Mann, NCTM