Remembrances
IN MEMORY OF: Billie Jenkins Murphy
Billie Jenkins Murphy was born in Albany, Georgia April 23, 1921, to William and Emma Owen and passed away on September 12, 2023.
Her family moved to Boston, Georgia where she attended Boston High School and Shorter College.
Billie married Joseph Louie Jenkins in 1939 and raised 4 children. Louie passed away in 1989 and she married Bill Murphy in 1998.
Music was a very special part of her life. She was the organist at Trinity Baptist Church in Whitehaven and later at Ridgeway Baptist Church. She was also an accomplished piano teacher. She was inducted into the Amro Music Educator Walk of Fame in 2015. Billie enjoyed traveling and spending time with family, especially reunions in Boston.
Billie is survived by her husband Bill Murphy, daughter Jayne Clark, sons Jim Jenkins and Bill Jenkins as well as a host of Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Dr. Sharon Momany, lovingly known to many as Dr. Mom, died Saturday morning, July 29, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee. She was 86 years old.
Sharon was actively involved with many organizations. They included: The Etude Music Club, the Greater Memphis Music Teachers Association (she had recently won their prestigious Music Teacher of the Year Award for the second time), the Music Teachers National Association, The Germantown Symphony Orchestra (as an original founder of the group), and she was a valued member of the congregation at All Saints Episcopal Church.
She thrived as a middle school piano teacher at Colonial Middle School, where she earned the nickname of Dr. Mom from her students. In her later years she taught Music Theory, Fundamentals of Music, and Music Appreciation at Southwest Community College. Additionally, Sharon had been recently giving private piano lessons to children of various ages. Complete Obituary
Tribute to Sharon Momany
Dr. Sharon Lee Miller Momany, affectionately known as “Dr. Mom”, passed away on July 29, 2023. I have known Sharon since 1980, when she taught as one of my graduate assistants while working on her masters and doctorate degrees at the University or Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. She was an outstanding piano teacher in the one-on-one studio as well as in group instruction. After receiving her DMA in Piano Performance, she taught for years at the performing arts magnet Colonial Middle School. I assisted in her piano classes as a Tennessee Arts Commission Artist in Residence and saw firsthand how her students admired her and excelled under her tutelage. Many of them received high ratings in local GMMTA piano auditions, and several of them were playing at an college entry level and were eventually accepted for college piano major scholarships at various universities. After that, she taught piano and other music courses at Bethel College. Her most recent college music teaching was at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Dr. Momany received several teaching awards from professional organizations.
An excellent Bridge player, Sharon was bright, clever, cheerful and was a dedicated mother to her two children, Shelley and Cory. She was an accomplished pianist, who was fair and kind to all who knew her. Sharon was a proud member and supporter of All Saints Episcopal Church, Germantown Symphony Orchestra, Greater Memphis Music Teachers Association, and many other worthy endeavors.
It was an honor and privilege to have known her.
Angeline Case-Stott, Professor Emeritus
Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
University of Memphis
IN MEMORY OF: Dr. Rose Marie Wang
Dr. Rose Marie Rong Sheng Wang, 86, of Cordova, TN passed away on August 15, 2022.
Dr. Wang was a music professor at Rhodes College, Rollins College, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music. As a music educator, Dr. Wang acquired over 50 years of teaching experience and educated countless students, who, under her tutelage, have consistently received awards and top prizes in State, National and International Piano Competitions.
IN MEMORY OF: Frances "Fran" Guthrie
Frances "Fran" Guthrie passed November 1, 2022. Connie Swett shares this reflection with us: Fran taught both voice and piano. She studied at the Metropolitan Opera Company and was soloist for many occasions. Fran, a neighbor of ours, was instrumental in encouraging me to have the DEBRA Piano Practice-a-thon. She was very concerned about the skin disease known as Epidermolysis Bullosa which our grandson, her student has. She has been in a nursing facility for the past seven years. Her son, Conrad, an attorney in Houston, has been her primary care giver. She would have been 97 this week.
Remembering Joan Gilbert
Joan Gilbert, pianist, piano teacher, professor, mentor and friend to many, and colorful member of the Memphis musical community, died Sunday, January 10, 2021.
We are saddened by her passing and extend our deepest condolences to her family.
The following "Biography of Joan Gilbert" appeared in many concert programs.
Joan Gilbert, Professor of Piano, performs in Europe and the United States as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, and chamber musician. A founding member of the Philadelphia Trio, the Memphis Piano Trio, the Gagliano Trio, and the Bellarmine Trio, she has recorded for the Musical Heritage Society and for National Public Radio. Closely connected with the Prague International Chamber Music Festival, she has served as the administrative director of the festival as well as a performer and member of the chamber music faculty. A National Merit Scholar and member of Phi Beta Kappa, she received the Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from Oberlin College, where she studied piano with Jack Radunsky. In Italy, she studied with Guido Agosti at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena and at Rome’s Conservatorio di Musica “Santa Cecilia.” As a piano student of Sascha Gorodnitzki, Ms. Gilbert received the Master of Science degree from The Juilliard School and a Juilliard Scholarship for excellence in piano performance.
Members who would like to read Joan's complete obituary may find it here. You may write a public message by clicking on "Tribute Wall" or "Share a Memory"
Shared Memories
GMMTA members having memories they would like to post, please contact André Duvall.
Announcement of the 1991 American Tour of the Steinway Grand Piano of Vladimir Horowitz.
Saturday, May 25, 1991
The Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Memphis, TN
Joan Gilbert, pianist
- Contributed by Yukiko Whitehead