Passages.(Impromptu)(Obituary)

Willis Francis Ducrest, MTNA president from 1965-1969, died April 29, 2004, at the age of 93. Ducrest served MTNA in many ways throughout his life including as national vice president for four years prior to his term as president. He also was elected national treasurer and served from 1979-1987. Prior to being elected 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 served 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 Conference, 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 Congress. In 1969-1970, he was granted honorary life membership in Phi Mu Alpha (music-men), and a citation as one 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 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 school of music in 1946. Prior to serving on the ULL faculty, he had served on the faculties of Louisiana State University and the Oklahoma College of Fine Arts. In 1962, Ducrest founded the Opera Guild at ULL, and during his tenure he managed sixty-three successful operas. In 1977, he retired from ULL.

Donations on behalf of Ducrest may be sent to the ULL School 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, P.O. Box 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 ...