Thelma (Johnson) McCoy, a Seventh-day Adventist from Port Angeles, Wash., was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame in June.
McCoy, 85, is a state- and nationally-certified piano teacher who, during her 65-year career, taught music at Walla Walla University, Laurelwood Academy and Gem State Adventist Academy, in addition to teaching in California, New York and Washington.
She graduated from Walla Walla University in 1946 and attended The Juilliard School on a four-year scholarship. In her career, McCoy organized the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association, served as a board member for symphony and community concerts, and launched the Monday Musicale Club in 1968 to provide music scholarships for high-school seniors.
For more than 30 years, McCoy and her husband, Richard, played cello and horn, respectively, with the Port Angeles Symphony.
McCoy frequently plays the organ and piano for church and public events. She continues to teach piano and many of her students are featured at state conferences and contests.
