Mary Ann and Art Winden Endowed Scholarship

Both lifelong educators and residents of San Antonio, Mary Ann is a life member of ACDA and a past Secretary-Treasurer (1977-78) of TCDA.  She taught public school music at all levels for over 30 years, while her husband, Art, switched from teaching music to teaching history to allow more time to sing professionally. 

After receiving her Bachelor of Music degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Mary Ann accepted her first teaching assignment in a brand new elementary school where she was lucky enough to have a wonderfully supportive principal and mentor.  On the first day of class, Mary Ann turned to an experienced teacher for advice, and was told, “Go in and salute the flag and say the Lord’s Prayer!” Mary Ann went on to an illustrious and fulfilling career in music.  She taught choir at Roosevelt High School in NEISD for 21 years, where her choirs received state, national and international acclaim. At Roosevelt, Mary Ann established a Madrigal Festival that attracted the finest choirs in the state. In UIL competition her choirs at Roosevelt HS were recipients of 100 first Division and 50 Sweepstakes during her 21 years there. The Roosevelt choirs were selected to sing twice at ACDA National Conventions, four times for SWACDA, and performed at NATS and TMEA conventions. Roosevelt was one of the first choirs selected to sing for the Carnegie Hall Concerts and the Friendship Ambassador Concerts. Mary Ann received a Distinguished Teaching Award in 1995.

In Summer 2014, Mary Ann became the Artistic Director of the Chapel Boychoir of San Antonio, a non-profit founded in 1999 devoted to training and celebrating the beauty of the boys’ unchanged voice.  She is a former dean of the Alamo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and currently serves as educational chair of the Alamo Chapter of Organists.

When asked why they decided to establish a TCDA scholarship, Mary Ann replied, “I found such a joy in teaching. I went on to receive my Masters in Music from the Eastman School in Rochester, NY, met Art, and we both found immense pleasure in teaching others to share their talents in music.  Both of us were helped by mentors along the way, and we are just happy to be able to give back and assist others so they can do the same.”

Sharon Lott, TCDA Executive Director, expressed her appreciation to Mary Ann and Art on behalf of the TCDA Board and its membership. “TCDA is fortunate to be a benefactor of Mary Ann and Art’s generosity.  For 62 years, TCDA has been providing scholarship funds to deserving students, and the ability to expand our scholarship offerings in 2018 is fantastic.  This means a great deal to us. There are many students who find these funds invaluable, in fact critical, to their music education, so we are profoundly grateful for an additional scholarship to offer our applicants. TCDA is grateful to Mary Ann and Art for their generosity but also for their contributions to the future of music education.”

We are happy to welcome Mary Ann and Art into the TCDA family.  The first recipient of the Mary Ann and Art Winden Endowed Scholarship was presented at the 2018 convention.