Henderson, Betty, 1923-1985

Betty Henderson was a private music teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada and dedicated member of the Nevada Music Teachers Association. She was born on January 23, 1923 in Portland, Indiana. She wanted to pursue a career in music and enrolled at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, but was forced to drop out after she started to become deaf. She married Charles B. Henderson, a civil engineer, in 1948 and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She had many different jobs in the city including secretary and company auditor.

After a surgery in 1953, she regained her hearing and pursued a career as a private piano teacher. She attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and studied music and music theory. Henderson also earned certificates in piano instruction, performance, and music education. She was a well-known and respected member of the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA). At several points in her career, she held elected positions in the organization, including Treasurer, Secretary, and President. She also held leadership positions in the Southwest Division of the Music Teachers National Association and was also the State President of the Nevada Federation of Gardening Clubs, Inc. In 1974 and 1975, Betty Henderson traveled to Eastern Europe as an ambassador for People-to-People. During both of these trips, she traveled with other music teachers to a number of countries, including those within the Soviet Union. She is most known for her original composition “Mesa in the Desert,” a piece commissioned by the NMTA in 1979. At the end of her career in 1984, Betty Henderson was awarded the first Distinguished Service Award from the Nevada Music Teachers Association. She died in August 1985.