Steve and Iris Maytan met while working in a dance band together in the late 1940’s in Reno. Having moved to Reno from Great Falls, Montana, Iris (Hultberg) earned her living teaching piano and playing piano in the Trocadero, located inside the El Cortez Hotel, where she took song requests from loyal army GI’s, astounding them with her terrific repertoire.

Steve Maytan decided to move to San Francisco from Little Falls, New York following WWII where he played his clarinet, flute and saxophone with the US Army Band. Having run out of money during his move to the west coast, Steve stopped in Reno to try to get employment and continue his journey to San Francisco. Having slept in his car then awakening in the morning to see the spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains, he decided Reno was the place he wanted to live.

Needing a job, Steve sought out the club owners where live music was played, Harold’s Club, Club Cal-Neva and Harrah’s. He was hired on the spot to play saxophone in the local show bands largely because he not only was a fine musician, but he could read music! Shortly thereafter, he met Dick Woodward of the Emporium of Music where he worked as an instrument repairman and piano tuner. Steve’s newly-found friendship with a local church, The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, soon became a solid relationship for Iris as well; so solid that they were married and she became the church organist, a position she held for over 50 years.

After their marriage, Steve and Iris continued to be involved in the music community. Iris as church organist and oboist with the Reno Municipal Band and the University Community Orchestra. She was a member of a woodwind quartet which toured the elementary schools under the Young Audiences program, sponsored by the Reno Musicians Union. Steve continued to play his instruments with the Paul Jones Orchestra, traveling to many areas from Portola to Bishop, California delighting crowds with their Dixieland sounds.

In 1959, Steve and Iris purchased their own music store, Modern Music Center, located on South Center Street in Reno.

Through this endeavor, Steve was able to realize a long-time dream to provide the means for every child to be able to learn music and play an instrument. He worked with the Washoe County and Carson City school districts to establish a music program for students to pursue music education and provided instruments through a rental program to make such an experience possible and affordable. To this day, the music program in Northern Nevada schools is a strong and valuable part of the education curriculum, producing students of such calibre as to be selected to perform in the National Student Orchestra and Band.

In 1969, Iris was approached by Gregory Stone to give him suggestions on local musicians whom he could use as the foundation of the Reno Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. She was the first principal oboist of this organization until Maestro Stone needed a bassoon player. Iris, undaunted, borrowed a bassoon from the University of Nevada and taught herself to play. For several years, she bounced back and forth from bassoon to English Horn, covering whichever instrument was needed. She did the same for Ted Puffer when he founded the Nevada Opera Association; she was always there, whenever and wherever she was needed.

Steve continued to play his saxophone in his Dixieland Band known as “The Dirty Old Men” until his death in 1997. He was the piano technician of choice by all the major performers who came to Reno and Lake Tahoe Showrooms.

Iris continues to play her oboe with the Reno Municipal Band and with the Reno Wind Ensemble under the direction of A.G McGrannahan III.

Maytan Music Center was the hub of many musical events, concerts, and lessons until it closed on March 31, 2014.

Steve and Iris Maytan have indeed left their marks in the Reno area by providing life-times of music as well as opportunities for others to make music.