Recognition & Archives
2023 TMTA Teacher of the Year: Sheri Stoner-Harris
Sheri Stoner-Harris has been an active prize-winning private studio teacher for over 30 years. Her pedagogical ideas have helped numerous pre-collegiate students excel and realize their natural talents and gifts. Sheri received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Centenary College of Louisiana on full scholarship, where she won the Aria/Concerto competition, and received both the Outstanding Junior Music Major and Outstanding Senior Music Major awards. After being accepted as a graduate assistant to teach piano class at Louisiana State University, she earned her Master of Music in Piano Performance and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was primarily a student of Constance Knox Carroll but also studied with Jack Guerry, Nancy Garrett, and Michael Gurt.
Upon graduating, Sheri was hired at Centenary College of Louisiana’s pre- collegiate piano department, where she developed new offerings that enhanced the program and assisted the school financially. When she moved to St. Louis, MO, Sheri continued to teach in the private studio setting as well as studio piano classes and continued to be active in local organizations. After moving to Murfreesboro, TN ten years ago, Sheri began teaching at MTSU as adjunct piano faculty and continued her private studio. She has been a frequent adjudicator for festivals and competitions, as well as a presenter and guest lecturer.
Sheri has been an active member of MTNA as well as NFMC for over 25 years. She has served as Auditions chair in her local MTMTA for 10 years, Vice-President for several years, and is the current President. She began the annual PianoFest festival for MTMTA nine years ago to cater to all students, as well as raise funds for the local chapter.
Her students have received awards such as MTNA State level winners, runners-up and honorable mentions in Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee. She has had Tennessee area piano competition winners, acceptance to Governor’s school of Tennessee and invitational piano camps, and scholarship recipients for collegiate piano study. Most recently at the 2022 TMTA State competition she had the Runner-up in the K-1 division, runner up in the 10 th grade division, and winner of the 12 th grade division.
2024 TMTA/MTNA Foundation Fellows: Katheryne W. Bauman, Deanne Irvine, Janet Sump
2024 Distinguished Service Award: Judy Warrington
Shortly after graduating from Lee College with a Bachelors in Music Education, Judy Foister Warrington joined The Music Teachers National Association, Tennessee Music Teachers Association and Chattanooga Music Teachers Association that fall. Soon after that, she became the state Independent Music Teacher Forum Chair. In addition to that position in TMTA, she has served as Recording Secretary, Musicianship Test Committee Chair at the time the tests were written for the state, Local Association Chair, and other committees. She is the MTNA Foundation Chair. She is currently a member of CMTA and Ocoee Music Teachers Association; it was her idea to establish OMTA. She has served as president of both local associations and in many other positions at the local level. Currently, she is Treasurer of OMTA. She was CMTA's Teacher of the Year in 2005-6, and OMTA’s Teacher of the Year in 2016 for the second time. In 2021 she received the Distinguished Service Award from TMTA. She also received the Certificate of Achievement from TMTA and is permanently certified by both MTNA and TMTA. In 2024 she received the fifty year MTNA award for her years of membership and service.
A native of Greenville, SC, she began teaching while in junior high school and has taught ages from 3-90. She has taught piano, organ and theory at Cadek Conservatory of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Al Miller Music Store, Summitt Steinway Piano Store and currently at Westmore Church of God, North Cleveland Church of God and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School through their music arts programs. Her students have received scholarships, rated Superior in local and state auditions, and also in the National Federation of Music Clubs' festivals, and have had many opportunities to play piano ensembles. She began playing organ in church during junior high school. She has continued to play piano or organ throughout her life at high school, college and various churches, nursing homes and senior living facilities. She won the Tennessee Church of God adult piano award for three years. She continues to perform in ensemble recitals.
She is married to Don C. Warrington.
TMTA Newsletters
(click on a year to download the 4 issues for that year)