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And the Stillwater band plays on ...

Music-education foundation founders are stepping down
Terri and Tony Gasaway are stepping down from the day-to-day management of the Stillwater Foundation after 10 years. They will remain involved with Stillwater – she on the board and he in a fundraising capacity.

It’s been a slow roll-out, but it was a surprise to many when it was announced Sunday at the Winter Wonder Bands concert that Stillwater Foundation’s Executive Director Terri Gasaway is stepping down at the end of the year.

Down, but not away.

“I’ll still be on the board, just not involved in the daily management,” she said. “Jeroen van Tyn has been transitioning in for the last six months. It’s time to let someone else take the reins.”

Van Tyn, who has been with the foundation for two years, also has been a business consultant and music teacher, which makes him ideal to lead the foundation, she said. He officially will take over as executive director Jan. 1, 2015.

Stillwater offers education about the business side of music, music lessons and opportunities to perform with different types of ensembles to music students of all ages, including providing the music program for Mountain Middle School. It was founded in 2005 by Gasaway and her husband, Tony. Stillwater’s sports initiative is “in flux,” the couple said.

Tony Gasaway is stepping down from the presidency of the board.

“Stillwater’s in the best financial position it’s ever been in,” Tony Gasaway said. “I’ll stay on in a fundraising capacity, but Dan Osby will become board president, and he’ll be a stronger board president than I ever was.”

After 10 years with the foundation, the couple feels it is time for new leadership to step in. And, at 55, Tony Gasaway also is retiring from his legal practice. One of the reasons is aging parents. With hers in Oklahoma City and his in St. Louis, they want to be free to travel when needed.

“We went from 10 students the first year to 200 students this year,” Tony Gasaway said. “As we take a look at the kids over the years, they’ve gone on to so many great schools, become so many great people. Sometimes they started in the back row on the school drums in the fourth grade, and by their junior year, they were singing in public.”

One of the original goals for Stillwater was to provide affordable music lessons and scholarships for any kid who wants to play an instrument. Half the foundation’s income is from donations and grants, which has helped it achieve that goal.

There is no question the Gasaways are happy about Stillwater’s growth and stability.

“When we look back, we’re really glad we did that,” he said. “There are things you’re proud of and things you’re not so proud of; this is one of the things I’m proud of.”

abutler@durangoherald.com

Mar 6, 2014
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