List organized alphabetically by last name.
Studio locations and teaching/research specializations found after names.
NCTM refers to a teacher being a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music by the Music Teachers National Association.
*denotes ETMTA leadership/chairpersons (official titles found in bios)
For more information, contact me at:
(903)-520-6199 or margieadams22@gmail.com
For more information, contact me at:
(903)-571-7830 or marn1@suddenlink.net
For more information, contact me at:
(402)-619-7635 or lbanister@etbu.edu
Susan is the current Director of Choral Music at Grace Community Schools for grades 6-12 and has been teaching piano in her private studio for over 35 years. She holds a Music Education degree with an emphasis in Choral Conducting from Penn State, where her primary instruments were piano, organ, and voice. She has taught piano all over the country as a result of her husband’s proud military service.
For more information, contact me at:
Brian was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas and was a student of Hugh Thompson Brian. He received second place and third place in the TMTA Piano Solo Competition in the early 70’s and received Critic’s Circle every year at the Guild Piano auditions. While attending North Texas State University in Denton, Brian studied with Larry Walz. Brian was awarded the first scholarship to attend Académie Maurice Ravel in St. Jean-de-Luz, France where he studied with Philippe Entremont and Gaby Casadesus–a highlight of this trip was performing the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Bayonee Symphony with Philippe Entremont conducting. Brian completed his Master’s Degree at Lamar University in Beaumont. Brian married his high school sweetheart, Dianna Montalbano, in 1975. Dianna is retired after teaching music at St. Gregory Cathedral School in Tyler for almost 30 years. Brian continues to teach piano and serve as the Director of Music and organist at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, having served for 37 years.
For more information, contact me at:
Hospitality Chair
Donna was born and raised in Tyler, Texas, and studied with Frances Huff for ten years. She participated in the National Guild of Piano Students where she received a rating of Critics Circle seven times. In her senior year of high school, Donna received the Paderewski Medal in Guild and won 3rd place in the Eva Browning Memorial Scholarship at Texas Tech University. In 1975, she began teaching private piano in Sulphur Springs. She then moved to Tyler in 1976 and taught piano for five years, serving on many Tyler Music Teacher Association committees and served as a officer. In 1981, she moved to the Ft. Worth area for three years, where she was a member of the Ft. Worth Music Teacher’s Forum. After two years in Nacogdoches, where she was a member of Nacogdoches Music Teachers Association, she moved to Whitehouse. Donna has been a member of Tyler Music Teacher’s Association and the East Texas Music Teacher’s Association for twenty-nine years, where she’s also played piano for several Baptist churches and is currently serving as organist at Colonial Hills Baptist Church and as a pianist at Whitehouse High School and Jr. High.
For more information, contact me at:
(903) 839-6368 or donnacalaway@yahoo.com
Website & Publicity Chair
Cayden Chaffin is a composer, conductor, and multi-instrumentalist. His musical endeavors have received numerous accolades from prestigious institutions such as the Texas Music Teachers Association and the College Music Society. Cayden previously served as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Teen Council President for the 2021-22 season, where he helped to foster and develop classical music outreach programs to benefit not just underserved communities, but for all his fellow peers involved in the musical tapestry of North Texas. This vision of social reform through the infinite power of art is a deeply personal pursuit, defined by his ever-evolving role of an artist-as-leader in the communities around him. He is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in Music Composition at the University of Texas at Tyler under Dr. Kyle Gullings, and is involved in the UT Tyler Piano Studio under Prof. Vicki Conway, as well as being an Honors Scholar in UT Tyler’s Honors College.
For more information, contact me at:
caydenchaffin@yahoo.com or follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Secretary
Vanessa Chisler was born and raised in Daingerfield, Texas, where she began piano study at the age of 8. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Tyler Junior College and a Bachelors of Arts in Music degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. She also holds a Texas State Educator Certificate for All Level Music. An active member of ETMTA since 2006, Vanessa has held many positions including Librarian, Publicity Chair, Achievement Auditions Chair, Student Affiliate/Theory Chair, Website co-chair/Historian, Fall Festival Chair, Vice President and President. Vanessa has also served as an ensemble director and delegate for the TMTA convention. Vanessa maintains a home studio in Lindale offering lessons for ages 5 to adult which include, but are not limited to, music theory, functional skills (sight- reading, harmonization, etc), repertoire, and technique. She also offers online lessons and teaches students as far away as Alaska. In addition to teaching, Vanessa enjoys adjudicating for local festivals and events. Vanessa lives in Lindale with her husband Jeff, son Austin, and dogs.
For more information, contact me at:
(903) 780-4141, vmchisler@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook.
TMTA Performance, Composition, & Publication Chair
TMTA World of Music Chair
Helen Elbert Collaborative Music Festival Co-Chair
Vicki Jacks Conway is a Distinguished Lecturer in Music at the University of Texas at Tyler and an organist at St. Anthony Catholic Church and Elmira Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Longview. She maintains a small private piano studio for pre-college students in both Tyler and Longview and is available for single or occasional lessons on a consulting basis for the purpose of assessing tension/pain/injury, learning disabilities, performance anxiety, or competition preparation. She is also certified to offer the Safe and Sound Protocol, a listening therapy designed to help regulate the nervous system for better connections with self, others, and the world around us.
For more information, contact me at:
(903) 238-6121, vconway@uttyler.edu, or visit my website.
Membership & Music Theory Chair
Shelly Davis is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and has maintained a private piano studio in Whitehouse since 1993. Mrs. Davis is an active member of the East Texas Music Teachers Association, serving in various capacities throughout the years. Students at SDPS are afforded many opportunities through private study (focusing on sight-reading, theory, and memory); performance opportunities, such as Piano Caroling, piano parties, and spring recital; auditions and festivals offered through ETMTA and TMTA. Shelly is the host of the Piano Parent Podcast, a weekly podcast dedicated specifically to parents of piano students. You can listen to all episodes at www.PianoParentPodcast.com. Many students at SDPS serve others by playing keyboard in youth praise bands, accompanying choirs or vocalists, and simply sharing their musical talent with family and friends. Every student is welcome to study piano at the Shelly Davis Piano Studio.
For more information, contact me at:
(903) 520-6465, shellylovespiano@gmail.com, follow me on Instagram and Facebook, or visit my website.
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Treasurer
Ensemble Chair
Helen Elbert Collaborative Music Festival Co-Chair
Stephanie Johnson is currently a Professor of Music at Tyler Junior College and enjoys teaching bright minds in the classroom and in the studio. Stephanie Johnson’s Piano Studio has been in operation for over twenty-five years. Mrs. Johnson has actively served as an active member of ETMTA where she has held many offices including that of President, Treasurer, and Grant Writer. Mrs. Johnson graduated from East Texas Baptist University with a degree in All-Level Music Education, and has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Tyler with an emphasis in piano pedagogy. Married to Samuel Johnson, guitar player, aviation specialist, and business partner, they reside in Tyler and are parents to two musical children who are living and active case studies in music education.
For more information, contact me at:
Vice President
Holiday Recital Chair
Kaden Larson began playing piano at age three as a therapeutic activity to help fight his Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. What began as a trial soon became a triumph and a calling. An avid solo recitalist and collaborative pianist, Larson is also a founding member of the Ensign Piano Quartet and the consonari ensemble project. Larson recently released his first CD, Phantasium, on the KNS Classical label. As a Professor of Piano & Music at Tyler Junior College, Larson enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities.
Accreditations:
For more information, contact me at:
For more information, contact me at:
(806) 549-8310 or pianistique@gmail.com
Immediate Past Publicity Chair
Karen McBee is the current Associate Dean of Fine Arts at Angelina College and a Music Instructor at Panola College.
Accreditations:
For more information, contact me at:
Achievement Auditions Chair
Chelsye Newland is a local piano and clarinet private lesson teacher in the Tyler area. She was a band director for nine years and quit after her second daughter was born to stay home full time. Chelsye has a double major in bachelor’s in music education and piano performance. She also has a degree with an emphasis on woodwind specialist. In December of 2024, she will graduate with her master’s in music education. Chelsye is passionate about music all while being available for her and her husbands growing family. Lastly, she has played for weddings, school UIL performances and churches.
Accreditations:
For more information, contact me at:
(903) 530-4993 or Chelsye08@gmail.com.
Immediate Past President
Theory Chair-Elect
Beverly Ryan has had a piano studio since 1980, which started in Garland and is now located in Grand Saline. She has served as President of the Garland MTA and the Vice President of Student Affairs in the Texas MTA. Her current memberships include ETMTA, JMTA, VZ County Music teachers and TFMC. Her teaching focuses on piano and music theory for ages five all the way to adult students.
For more information, contact me at:
Anna Song Saunders, a native of South Korea, is a highly accomplished individual with a diverse range of talents and roles. She is not only a classical pianist and organist but also a chamber musician, Catholic church music director, school fine art director, and a dedicated teacher. Since 2002, Ms. Saunders has been imparting her knowledge and passion to private piano students of all ages, ranging from pre-kindergarten to college-level and even adults. Recognizing her exceptional teaching abilities, Ms. Saunders was honored with the 2017 Steinway & Sons Top Music Teacher Award.
For more information, contact me at:
President
Nominating Chair
Suzanne Solum studied music at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, TX. Her continuing education includes online courses from Berklee School of Music earning a Professional Certificate in advanced rhythm, theory, composition, Finale, CuBase Pro, and other Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Her passion for her students is to equip them to play, read, create, and arrange the music that motivates them. Her private studio, Sunshine Piano Studio and Sunrise Music, is located in Combine, TX, with students hailing from Combine, Crandall, Kaufman, Forney, and Terrell.
For more information, contact me at:
(507) 259-1009, sunshinepianostudio@gmail.com, or visit my website.
For more information, contact me at:
(616) 481-0294 or tender.tenbrink@gmail.com
For more information, contact me at:
(616) 250-1603 or sthomas88keys@gmail.com
Judy Wilkins has provided private instruction for students from preschool through adults for over thirty years. Her previous teaching experience includes adjunct faculty instruction at both Tyler Junior College and The University of Texas at Tyler. She has served as accompanist for the Tyler Civic Chorale, UT Tyler and TJC choirs, theatrical productions, church services, vocal recitals, regional school contests, and school choral performances.
Accreditations:
For more information, contact me at:
(903) 520-9519 or judywilkins11@gmail.com