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Marsha Banner  DENISON NATIVE BEGAN COMPOSING AT AN EARLY AGE
by Pat Welch, Family Editor Anyone listening to symphony music composed by Marsha Banner, would never believe she was a small child living in Durant before the family moved to Denison. Now she has received national attention after composing "Antebellum Reflections Suite," that was performed by both the Ft. Worth Civic Orchestra and the Arlington Symphony Orchestra. She received praise for this composition from Hugo Florat, conductor of the New York Ballet, and composer Marvin Hamlisch. This is quite an honor for the former Denisonian who has finally "made it" after much hard work and study. "Music has been running around in my head ever since I can remember," Marsha said in a recent interview at the country home of her mother, Mrs. Frank Banner, west of Denison. Mrs. Banner said Marsha was composing at a very early age. One day she recalled hearing the violin as she and Mr. Banner arrived home. (Mrs. Banner played but no one else in the family did.) When they opened the door they found Marsha actually playing a tune (left handed, no less) but a tune. When asked what she was playing Marsha said, "I don't know, it's in my head." Her mother added that when Marsha was sent to piano lessons she wouldn't show. Actually she would go but not inside because after learning the basics Marsha didn't like the practice tunes so she wouldn't practice. Instead she sat outside on her bike until her hour was up. Finally her teachers realized what she was doing and called Mrs. Banner and told her not to send Marsha back because she was only wasting money. But the money was not wasted, all Marsha needed was the basics, she taught herself the rest. She would compose her own tunes for hours. She still writes at least one number a week. She doesn't feel right not composing. Many of her creations are put aside for more work later. Although music has always been a part of her life, Marsha first went into medicine after graduating from Denison High School and worked at St. Paul's Hospital in Dallas. After several years she said she just couldn't cope with all the illness and diseases. She decided to take a break, a vacation to get her thoughts together. She traveled 6 months in Europe and upon arrival home she approached her mother and father about going back to school to study music. After much discussion of the pros and cons, she enrolled at Tarrant County Junior College and Texas Christian University. She majored in music education and directed orchestra and band at TJC where she was the recipient of many awards. She studied an extra year at TCU in order to learn different instruments so she could write music for those particular instruments. By knowing each instrument, I knew the sounds each made and how to write the music to fit the sound." Marsha said. She spent a great deal of time on strings and played violin and cello. After graduation, Marsha played with an orchestra and opened a music school. Later she and Nina Reed opened a school they called Reed Banner School of Must at Ft. Worth and moved it not long ago to Stringtown. She met her partner when Nina's son wanted to study trumpet. She called and Marsha, ready for any challenge, said "okay" only to be alarmed when she found that Nina had a master's degree in music and was a top-notch violinist with Ft. Worth symphonies. Marsha knew that Nina would be watching and probably would be a tough critic. She was, but the 2 became good friends. Nina is still a hard critic but Marsha's most avid fan. She takes her partner's recording compositions everywhere she goes and offers them tapes and tells them about her. Marshal says she finds it hard to push her own work. Nina doesn't. Marsha and Nina realized that it is not always the music you like that makes a living. Determined, Marsha branched out into composing music for commercial, singing and composing country western numbers (where the money is, she says) and a little disco on the side plus operating their school at their home/recording studio. Marsha said the school is a major source of their income but they also find making commercials for radio and television enjoyable and "something different." Marsha composed and recorded, "D'Ellen Fantasy" for her sister who lives here and while recording in Dallas was heard by a nationwide jewelry chain head who commissioned them for his radio advertising. She and Nina have blended country music with orchestral instruments to create bluegrass music and are in demand for public appearances. They are billed as Strawberry Blue Duo. They recently performed "Cowtown Suite" at Ft. Worth's Chisholm Trail Days, a commissioned work by Marsha. Taking part in the presentation were their students "The Texas Buckaroos."  Strawberry Blues is the stage name for Nina Reed, left, and Marsha, who perform for private parties and other functions. Marsha sings and plays keyboard with Nina, who is a violinist with Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra. She has written a new country western number "Whispering the Night" which is being considered for an album by a noted recording company at Nashville. Who knows, the next time we hear from Marsha she may be in Nashville. This is a far cry from the music she loves but according to Marsha, all music stems from the classics. She is teaching a rock star who walked in while a symphonic number was playing and thought it was great. Now he is doing his own version of the piece. Marsha can play most any instrument and just plain likes music, that's all there is to it, but the hard rock is taking awhile for her to really appreciate. But then so was disco. When she was asked to write a disco tune for a commercial she didn't really know much about the beat but agreed. This is when the trial began and she locked herself in her recording studio and listened to disco for 72 hours just to see what really made it different. She undoubtedly found out for she sold the commercial that is really going great guns. At Reed Banner School, Marsha teaches what she preaches. Most come to her knowing basics and she gives assignments including asking them to compose tunes and bringing in at least 2 melodies by the next lesson. She teaches composition. She takes melodies from old masters and fools her students. Now she has even her rock and rollers playing classical but to their own beat. She laughed and said, "I don't think the masters will care, do you?" Nina, who accompanied Marsha on her visit here, said Marsha does all the composing. She offers advice. Another friend, Faye Murphree, who is judge of Springtown and an author, has joined the duo in writing words to the melodies. Marsha said, "I don't like getting bogged down in words. I leave that to Faye. I like the music." Nina went on to explain that Marsha has the last word on any piece. After a composition, the demonstrators are cut at their own studio, a 4-track by the way, but Marsha has it down pat and can do wonders. Marsha laughed and said, "Nina and Faye stay with me though to the end. We work as a team and enjoy every minute. I feel very fortunate to have met the two and especially to have them as friends." "A lot of times we try out music out on teenagers. When they like your music it is usually a good sign. I want and will do other symphonies" she said as she displayed folder after folder of music, but sighed as she said "so much ends up in the closet." "I spent hours and hours and hours with music. Sometimes I ask myself why am I doing this?" The answer is simple for this multi-talented young woman. "It's because I love music. I love to compete - it's my life."   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