PAMTA is the local affiliate of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association. The objective of this group is to Encourage and exchange of ideas in the field; to Enrich the love and understanding of music; and to Elevate the standards of teaching music by recognizing the experience, training, and challenge necessary for professional growth.

Philippa Williams – Member of the Year

Philippa Williams has been an independent music teacher since moving to the Peoria Area in 2001 and has worked as an accompanist and church pianist since 1976.  For several years Philippa serve as a staff accompanist for the Illinois Wesleyan University cello camp.  She began her studies in England with the Royal Conservatory of Music program and then at the age of nine moved to USA and continued her lessons in Michigan.  She studied with Adelaide Banaszynski at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.  Philippa also plays the violin.  She has been an active member of PAMTA serving as President, committee member of the sonatina festival several times, and also helping with Monster Concerts.  Currently she is on the board of PAMTA serving as Past President. Philippa has entered students in ISMTA AIM exams, Monster Concerts, ISMTA piano competition, camp scholarship competitions and PAMTA recitals.  She volunteers at many of these events and regularly attends the PAMTA meetings.  Philippa says, “I am very thankful for PAMTA and ISMTA which are great places to make musical friends.  They are a wonderful resource of musical knowledge and ideas and have been a great encouragement to me.”  Philippa and her husband Barry enjoy hosting musicians from out of town that play with the Heartland Festival Orchestra which includes their daughter, cellist Charlotte Williams Muir.  When not busy with musical activities Philippa enjoys international travel with her husband and needlework.  She is past president of the Illinois Prairie chapter of the American needlework Guild and has been treasurer of the Peoria Area Stitchers Guild.