History

Contributed by Clover Longway, DEMTA President 2004-2008

“I moved to the Parker area in 1992, opening my piano studio in 1993. I was trying to attract students, but living in a rural area outside the city limits made business slow. I thought that it would be helpful to contact other teachers, but the teachers seemed to be ‘rather lost in the woods.’

For a year or two I drove up to Aurora with Alma Suhonen (now deceased) and attended the Aurora Music Teachers Association, but that was a long drive. I talked to a friend, Ava Villyard (who has since passed away and after whom our scholarship fund is now named), who attended my church and taught piano and voice. She said that there used to be a music teachers organization in our area, but it had been disbanded. Ava gave me names and numbers for some of the teachers in the area and I started phoning theese people. Those contacts led to other contacts. It was finally decided that we would have a meeting of those interested in forming a music teachers group at Ann Riggs’ home. I believe those in attendance consisted of: Ann Riggs, Debbie Turnbull, Ava Villyard, Carolyn Faiks, Debra Wilson, Alma Suhonen, Clover Longway, plus a few others.

In 1995, we decided to form an association, and Debbie Turnbull was elected as our first president. In those early years, we were called PAMTA, Parker Area Music Teachers Association. Our very first Music Festival Honors Concert was held in the old United Methodist Church on Main Street in 1996. I still have a copy of the program. From these humble beginnings, we went on to become DEMTA and have had a rich and enduring impact on the musical development of students in the Douglas and Elbert counties areas and beyond.”

The purpose of the Association is the advancement of musical knowledge and education. This is achieved by

a. promoting the professional development of members through education;

b. providing live performance opportunities for students and teachers for musical growth;

c. providing scholarships to students for music study; and

d. promoting cultural musical arts in the community.

September 7, 1995

Ann Riggs
Debbie Turnbull
Ava Villyard
Carolyn Faiks
Debra Wilson
Alma Suhonen
Clover Longway
Robyn Gold
Annette Byrne
Jeannene Bybee
Carla Bendz
Sheri Wilson
Julie Cotton
Nancy Docksey
Karen Tate
Helene Erhart
Brenda Carter
Tamara Aufman
Becky Dyck
Jackie McPherson