2025-2026 Board of Directors
SMTA Elected Board Members
Josie Zocco, President
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada Josie moved to Seattle in 2011. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Piano Performance and Ethnomusicology at York University as well as an Associate’s Degree in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She has been an active teacher, performer, and accompanist for more than 10 years. She previously served as SMTA’s Newsletter Editor and VP of Marketing and Communications.
Email: smtapresidentofficial@gmail.com
Suzanne Grant, President-elect
Suzanne Grant has been a vocal coach, piano teacher, music teacher, music director, composer, singer and keyboard player in the Seattle area for 50 years. She taught at Seattle Talent, for Disney Musicals, and for 30 years at Seattle Children’s Theatre Drama School and as a Teaching Artist in private and public schools and colleges. She music directed, composed and performed for several professional theatres, including A Contemporary Theatre, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Youth Theatre Northwest, the Village Theatre, and Honolulu Theatre for Youth. As Music Director of Seattle Peace Theatre, she toured to Tashkent, Switzerland and Latvia, where her original compositions were part of collaborative shows written and performed by international casts of young people. She has sung with Harmonia, City Cantabile Choir and Seattle Peace Chorus. Her years with a punk rock band “The Enemy” were documented at the Experience Music Project and in five books. She sang in the premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s “MASS” in 1971 at the opening of The Kennedy Center, at The Metropolitan Opera House, and on the cast recording. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She currently teaches singing in her home studio. She sang her song “There’s a Hole in the Sky” to the Seattle City Council in 2020 as testimony regarding saving mature trees. Her performance went viral and her song can be viewed on her YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/_JOuZg7Q1_w
Ryan Worswick, Immediate Past President
Having studied and played the piano for over twenty years, Ryan enjoys collaborating with students of all ages to explore how the wonder and beauty of music fills our life. Possessing a math background as well he founded Notes & Numbers, through which he's taught piano and tutored math in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle for the past five years. Today he's looking forward to perfecting online lessons and helping others do the same, in addition to continuing to hone his musical practice. Ryan previously served as SMTA secretary and is the WSMTA Technology Chair.
Ann Simonson, Treasurer
Ann Simonson is a longtime SMTA member, currently serving as Treasurer on the Board. She teaches piano in the south end of Seattle, and is the Director of Music at Magnolia Lutheran Church. In her many years as a member of SMTA she has served as President, and as Adjudications Chair.
Email: smtatreasurerofficial@gmail.com
Mengyiyi Chen, Secretary
Eric Branner, Board Member at Large
Eric is the CEO/Co-Founder of Fons Inc. (fons.io). He’s taught guitar for twenty years, and owns the Blackforrest Music School. Eric has also taught for Holy Names Academy, American Music School, and Shenandoah Academy. He’s the author of Blackforrest Guitar Companion. Eric has also worked in marketing/development for Seattle Opera, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and ACT Theatre.
Laura K. Dean, NCTM, Board Member at Large
Laura’s music career spans over thirty years and includes audiences in the United States, Europe, and Mexico. Originally from Montana, Laura lives in Seattle where she performs, teaches, and offers educational music workshops. Her first book, Music of the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier, was published in May of 2022. She holds a M. Music Education.
