The first pioneer award was given in 2025 LMTA State Conference. It is reserved for musicians who have made deep and long-lasting impact on our profession.
The article about the pioneer award was written by Dr. Pamela Pike and you can find it on the LMTA Score Winter 2026 issue
Dr. Wilfred Delphin, one half of the internationally renowned piano duo Delphin and Romaine, debuted in 1977 at Carnegie Hall with Edwin Romaine. The two of them toured the United States, South America, Europe and Asia. After Romain passed in 1995, Delphin continued performing and teaching. After retiring from the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) School of Music in 2004, he volunteered with the United States Peace Corps for several months in the West African country of Senegal, leaving that country for New Orleans to help with the recovery effort after Hurricane Katrina. He then served as a faculty member and artist-in-residence in the Department of Music at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, where he also is an alumnus, until his retirement in 2019. Founding and Principle Pianist of Opera Creole, Wilfred was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tribute to Classical Arts Awards and a Recognition Award from the Louisiana Creole Research Association for his contribution to the Arts and greater good of the community.