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Judith Feuss grew up on a farm in Kansas and was always in a hurry to achieve the next goal. Her earliest memory was following her older sister two miles down the highway, riding on the school bus to town and introducing herself to the kindergarten teacher by saying, “I am four years old, but if you give me just one day, I will prove to you that I am old enough to be in kindergarten.” Because her mother didn’t drive, Judith rode back to the farm in a police car. After passing an aptitude test, she started her educational journey a year early.
Music was always an important part of her life. Her parents couldn’t afford to buy a piano, so she was given permission to leave school each day to spend the lunch hour at her cousins’ house to practice on their piano. She was eight years old and taught herself all of the first piano book before her parents surprised her with a piano of her own. It cost $20 and most of the ivory keys were missing, but she was thrilled! When she was thirteen, she started studying the piano and clarinet. In order to help pay for lessons on three instruments, Judith started her own studio and gave fifteen to twenty lessons each week. High school was a flurry of activity — band, orchestra, chorus, every school play, student council, church FIVE times a week (six if you count choir rehearsal).
After graduating third of 159 in her high school class, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree (Magna Cum Laude) at Wichita State University in 4-1/2 years, getting married and having two babies during that time. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree (music) at Long Island University with a 4.0 grade average, teacher certification at Queens College (New York City) and did post-graduate work at The Juilliard School. Like Forrest Gwnp, she just kept “running” and earned 75 credits above her Master’s degree (a Ph.D. is 60 credits).
In her spare time she enjoys going to classical concerts, designing and sewing her clothes, reading biographies and history, geneology, traveling, and skiing. (She was in her fifties when she put on skis for the first time.) Of course she loves every moment she can spend with her family — her husband, Roger; her two daughters and sons-in-law; and the two cutest, brightest grandchildren in world.
Judith was almost sixty when she decided to walk away from her career in fashion to fulfill her dream of being a public school music teacher. When she went back to school for teacher certification, her husband was almost alone in supporting her decision. Her friends told her no one would hire her at her age.
Today she enjoys being the organist at a large Congregational church. (The replacement value of the organ she plays is approximately $5 million.) Judith heads to an elementary school each morning, where she teaches music K-4 and is the director of the chorus and recorder ensemble. She also maintains a large studio of piano and clarinet students. One of her favorite adages is, “You rest, you rust!”
At a large Long Island church Judith held a position as organist and director of five choirs, but when she attempted to apply for a prestigious organ position in New York City, she was told women need not apply. In disgust she decided that fashion would be a field in which women could compete. Eventually Judith worked her way up the ladder to become Buyer of Designer Sportswear at Lord and Taylor and then an account executive in the garment district for many years.
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The Ms. Senior America Pageant is
the world's first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to
women who have reached the "Age of Elegance." It is a search
for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity and
inner beauty of all senior Americans. The Ms. Senior America philosophy
is based upon the belief that seniors are the foundation of America, and our
most valuable treasure. It is upon their knowledge, experience and
resources that the younger generation has the opportunity to build a
better society.
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