Margaret Saunders Ott, pianist, lecturer, and teacher, was born on July 18, 1920 in Fairfield, Washington. She married James Franklin Ott (a farm implement dealer in Fairfield, and a distinguished member of the Whitworth College Board of Trustees). Ott has been involved in teaching piano music most of her life. She began giving private piano lessons at age 11, and entered the University of Washington at age 16. She received her Master’s Degree in Piano from the Julliard School of Music in New York City. She was a member of the Whitworth Music department for 25 years, retiring in 1985. Whitworth College conferred on her the title Whitworth Honorary Professor Emeritus of Music. Ott was Visiting Professor of Music at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the 1990-1991 academic year. A number of her students have gone on to distinguished careers as professional musicians.
From the guide to the Margaret Saunders Ott Papers, 1935-2008, 1935-1999, (Whitworth University Archives)
