Viola Voight’s children want Platte County residents to know that Vi Voight Memorial Piano Scholarships are available to county residents age 50 or older who have not taken more than two months of private piano lessons.
Teresa (Voight) Baker explained during a telephone interview March 7 that she and her siblings created the scholarships to honor their mother, who was in her 70s before she learned to play piano. She said after their mother passed away in 2009, people donated to a memorial in Voight’s name, to which the three siblings also contributed.
“She was very musical,” Baker said. “She made sure we all had lessons, even though she didn’t … looking back, Mom and Dad sacrificed for us. You always give up things so your kids can have them.”
Baker explained that one year, her mother expressed that she was tired of “getting stuff” as gifts that took up space in her house. Baker was sad until she called her brother and sister to brainstorm, and the three decided to give their mother piano lessons as a gift.
“She loved it, yes, to get to do that – never having gotten the opportunity,” Baker said. “She came from big family of nine. There was no opportunity for any kind of lessons when she was growing up. But she did sing in the Harry Dearinger Band, though, his dance band.”
Baker’s sister Lucinda (Voight) Houtchens said during a telephone interview March 14 that Voight sang with the Harry Dearinger Band in the mid-1940s.
“How fun and exciting it was for Mom to take piano lessons,” Houtchens said. “She was a great singer all her life.”

“She had a big, beautiful, resonant voice,” John Voight, Baker and Houtchens’ brother, said during an interview Thursday.
Baker said it has been a few years since the siblings have advertised the scholarships, which have always been for older adults. Previously they solicited students age 65 and older, but they didn’t have many takers so they decided to lower the minimum age to 50.
“We just hope people will take advantage of some free lessons,” Baker said.
Baker said the siblings would offer the scholarships yearly “if we were more organized.”
“It’s just something to give back to the community … It’s a good cause, we figure,” Baker said.
Baker clarified that she and her siblings are not teaching, but have agreements with Cathaline Cass, their mother’s piano teacher, and Jerrene Owens at Maue Music Studio, 971 Gilchrist. She said the scholarships are for 10 free lessons with Cass or Owens.
“It’s worth quite a bit, really,” Baker said. “Where Jerrene works, they charge $15 for half an hour.”
Voight said their mother had fun taking piano lessons. He said the siblings didn’t know what to do with their mother’s memorial fund at first, until they contemplated her love of music.
“It’s actually a great idea, scholarships for seniors to take piano lessons,” Voight said.
Baker mentioned some instructors do not like to teach adults.
“We really appreciate the teachers who are willing to accept senior students,” Voight said.
Voight developed his own one-man band for dances. He once owned the Stampede Saloon in Chugwater because he had wanted its venue to perform, but he said the Stampede kept him so busy being a restauranteur that he only got to play two or three times on his own stage. No longer the owner, Voight now plays his one-man show at the Stampede every month or two.
“It’s a neat place — great stage, good acoustics,” Voight said of the Stampede. “Musicians just love it there, love to play there. It’s got a certain feel about it.”
To apply for a 10-lesson Vi Voight Memorial Piano Scholarship, call Lucinda (Voight) Houtchens at 979-218-2205, John Voight at 307-640-8885 or Teresa (Voight) Baker at 307-422-3502.