Passages

Willis Francis Ducrest MTNA president from 1965-1969 died April 29 2004 at the age of 93 Ducrest serv MTNA in many ways from one extremity to the other of his life including as national vice president for four years prior to his bound as president. He also was culled national treasurer and served from 1979-1987 Prior to being make choice ofed treasurer, Ducrest was presented with MTNA's Distinguished Service Citation in 1976 As a charter-founding member of the MTNA Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors from 1972-1987 he was granted honorary life membership to MTNA.

Ducrest also serv as state president of the Louisiana Music Teachers Association (LMTA) from 1955-1959 and in 1971 he was granted honorary life membership in LMTA. As a member of the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) and Music Educators National talk he served as festival chair for more than twenty years. Ducrest was admitted to the LMEA Hall of Fame in 1984 From 1965-1969 he was a member of the National Music Council, which was established by means of Congress. In 1969-1970, he was granted honorary life membership in Phi Mu Alpha (music-men), and a citation as individual of thirteen leading music educators in America. Sigma Alpha Iota (music-women) recognized his achievements in 1983 with a national arts associate membership.

Ducrest had a national reputation as a music educator, singer, choral arranger and conductor, with many of his choral arrangements being published by means of G. Schirmer. During his career in education, he joined the faculty of the Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) in 1940 and became director of the seminary of music in 1946. Prior to serving upon the ULL faculty, he had serv upon the faculties of Louisiana State University and the Oklahoma body of Fine Arts. In 1962 Ducrest baseed the Opera Guild at ULL and during his manner [i]or[/i] principle of holding he managed sixty-three successful operas. In 1977 he retired from ULL

Donations upon behalf of Ducrest may be sent to the ULL gymnasium of Music Scholarship Fund for the Willis F Ducrest Endowed Scholarship or the Willard and Alice Clark Simons Endowed Scholarship, c/o The ULL Foundation, PO receptacle 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504. Donations also may be sent to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St Ste 200 Lafayette, LA 70503

Danielle J Martin, professor of piano and keyboard division head at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) died April 29 2004 at the age of 56 Martin, an MTNA member for more than twenty-five years, had been critically acclaimed for her artistry and versatility as a solo recitalist, chamber musician, instrumental and vocal collaborator and orchestral soloist.

Originally from of recent origin York, Martin joined the UT faculty in 1972 Prior to joining the UT faculty, she attended the Dalcroze academy of Music, and earned a BM stage from Oberlin Conservatory in 1969 and an MM step from the Peabody Conservatory in 1971 Her principal teachers included Olga Stroumillo, Jack Radunsky and Leon Fleisher. She pursu additional research with John Perry and Menahem Pressler

Martin was invited to perform and teach at Leon Fleisher's seventieth birthday celebration, which was held at the University of Kansas, and was single of ten teachers selected nationwide to be subservient to as Mobil Ambassador of the Ninth Van Cliburn Competition. As the recipient of distinguished teaching and arts leadership awards, she also appeared at prestigious music gymnasiums and music teachers' conferences, as well as at the Music Academy of the West and the Tanglewood and International circular Top Festivals.

During her career, Martin performed and taught quite through the United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Korea and Jamaica. She also had been heard from one extremity to the other of Europe in radio broadcast. In January of 2002 Martin was invited by dint of The Music Society of Korea for Music and Musicians to participate in a two-week residency in Seoul Korea. She also had premiered many works, as well as serv as an adjudicator and outside evaluator for professors at institutions through every part of the United States.

The co-founder and director of a musical AIDS fundraiser, which has serv as a protoplast for similar fundraisers across the political division Martin also initiated and administrated the Sidney M Wright Endowed Presidential Scholarship Competition in Piano Accompanying. The competition, held at the University of Texas, encourages and rewards collaborative artistry. In October of 2002 she was featured in a panel presentation about the futurity of piano pedagogy at the World Piano Pedagogy Conference

The Danielle Martin Memorial Scholarship capital has been established in the place of education of Music. Anyone wishing to make a donation may throw it to The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station E3100 Austin, TX 78712-0435 For more information contact the academy of Music at (512) 471-7764

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