George R. Bishop, CMEC Founder, Director Emeritus and Honourary Life Member, Stouffville, Ontario
George Bishop's music career can be traced back to 1950 when he began as salesman, then Sales Manager and finally President of Turner Musical Instruments Ltd. until 1972. He was the founder and first President and Director of MIAC - Music Industry Association of Canada and Honorary Life member of MIAC - 1972 to the present time. He was also the Director of the Canadian Bureau for the Advancement of Music from 1966 until 1973.
George Bishop's leadership led to the following impressive contribution to keeping music education available to students of all ages.
Co-owner and president of Greene Music Ltd. 1972 to 1978
Co-owner and president of Bishop Music Ltd. 1978 to 1981
Founder, first president and Director of CMIEC, Canadian Music Industry Education Committee, 1976 to 2003
Education Manager for Long & McQuade Music Ltd. 1981 to 2002
Founder, First President and Executive Director of the Coalition for Music Education Canada, 1992 to 2004
Industry representative to OMEA (Ontario Music Educators Association)
1982 to 2001, Board member 2001 to 2004 - Honorary Life Member
Industry representative and Director of the Canadian Music Educators Association
CMEA 1982 to 2002. Honorary Life member and recipient of Jubilate Award of Merit
Member of the Music Task Force for the Toronto Board of Education 1997 to 2002
Member of the Music Advisory Committee for the Toronto Board of Education 2002 to present.
Russell D. Stachiw, Scarborough, Ontario
Russell Stachiw spent 36 years as a music educator teaching instrumental music in elementary and secondary schools of the City of Toronto. He has toured North America, Caribbean, South Pacific, Europe and Asia conducting award winning student ensembles and giving workshops to local students and educators. He retired from the Toronto Catholic District School Board having spent his last 7 years as Supervisor of Music.
Russ is past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Band Association (Ont.) and a voting member of the Canadian Music Centre.
Douglas Riske
Douglas Riske has spent his life saturated in the arts. He has been Executive
Director of the Manitoba Arts Council for the past eleven years. In addition, Riske
has 40 years of experience in the Canadian professional arts and cultural sector,
including work as an actor, stage manager, director, artistic director, producer,
consultant, teacher and cultural manager. He has always had a heart for investing
in young people and founded Alberta's first professional company for young people –
committed to original plays for schools and to extensive theatre in education
programs throughout the province.
His work as an Artistic Director and director has taken him to theatres across
Canada. He has been active in various industry associations and is the Past Chair of
the Canadian Public Arts Funders. Prior to joining the Council he was Executive
Director of the Yukon Arts Centre Corporation in Whitehorse.
He has received the both the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals, recognizing
his work in the sector.
John Balsillie, Winnipeg, Manitoba
John is currently the Band Department Manager for St. John's Music in Winnipeg Manitoba. John has been with St. John's Music for the past 13 years, beginning in 1993 in Toronto and moving to Winnipeg in 2000. John has developed New Horizon Bands in both London Ontario and in Winnipeg. John was the Director for the Southwestern Ontario MusicFest Regional Band, Jazz & Choral Festival from 1997 -2000, and is currently the Chair of the Optimist International Band Festival in Winnipeg.
John graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Music in 1992 with a Bachelor of Music Performance on Trombone. John has taught private Trombone studies and coached brass ensembles including instructing at Upper Canada College in Toronto, Montessori School in London, and Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. John has performed with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, and the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble.
John attributes much of his passion for music making to his uncle, the late Dr. Elmer Iseler. John enjoys regular fishing trips in North Western Ontario and living in Winnipeg with his wife Janet Brenneman and their two daughters Lydia & Naomi.
Roberta Baril, Edmonton, Alberta
Roberta Baril is the music director at W.P. Wagner High School in Edmonton. Prior to being hired at Wagner, she taught for 22 years in various junior high band programs for Edmonton Public Schools. Her ensembles have received numerous awards including the Top Honoured band in northern Alberta on several occasions. Mrs. Baril has been a sought after speaker at many conferences and has become known for her work in the areas of Music Advocacy, Recruitment and Retention, and Mentorship. She is an active tuba player, currently performing with the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia, under the direction of her husband, Raymond Baril. She has acted as a guest conductor and clinician on numerous occasions and was an associate conductor with the Cosmopolitan Music Society. For the past five years, she has also been a member of the board of directors of the Alberta Band Association where her portfolios include chairing the Northern Alberta Junior High Band and the Provincial Senior High Honour Band programs.
Mrs. Baril holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Music from the University of Alberta where she was the recipient of several awards including the Margaret Ann Brine Scholarship in Music Education. She completed a Masters in Education degree in 2005 in which her thesis was based on the mentoring of beginning music teachers. In 1998, Mrs. Baril was inducted as a member of the prestigious Phi beta Mu fraternity and in 2000, she received a Provincial Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2003, she was presented with the Elkhorn Award for Director of the Year in the province of Alberta and in 2006, she was awarded the David Peterkin Memorial award for outstanding contribution in band. In 2007, she was the proud recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship Award for contributions to arts education by the Rotary Club of Edmonton.
Mrs. Baril firmly believes in music’s vital role in the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle in the 21st century. She is proud that the music room at Wagner is a place where students strive for excellence, experience the aesthetics of the art form and, most importantly, learn to be happy and confident citizens. In recent years, she has become very concerned with the shortage of music educators in the province and is very interested in studying the current teaching climate and the consequent changes required in teacher training in order to survive and to thrive under these conditions.
She is married to Raymond, head of the wind department at Grant MacEwan Community College, and the proud mother of two wonderful daughters, Lauren and Amanda.
Lyle Bennett, Calgary, Alberta
Lyle, grew up in Moose Jaw SK and joined the local community band at the age of 8 playing trumpet and later switched to euphonium. He continued playing euphonium through public school and University and graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Education including a music minor. He taught in Swift Current and Regina until 1978 when he joined St. John's Music, where he is still employed in Calgary as the Director of Institutional Sales.
His career has included significant volunteer work serving on the Board of Directors for Music Alberta, National Association of School Music Dealers, Alberta Band Conference and the Optimist Club of North Calgary and he currently sits on the Board of the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival, the Alberta International Band Festival and is a member of the local Phi Beta Mu chapter.He is interested in serving on the Coalition's Board of Directors to help the CMEC connect better with schools and music directors in Alberta to garner more support for Music Monday and the National effort to promote music and music education. After over 25 years in the Music Industry in Alberta he is well connected with schools, School District's and individual teachers and believes that he could assist the organization in obtaining more participation from Alberta.Lyle is married to Wendy and they have 2 boys age 13 and 16.
Steve Butterworth, Oakville, ON, Treasurer of the Board
Originally from Burlington Ontario, Steve Butterworth has been involved in the music business since 1988. First in Sales from 1988 to 1996 at Lakeshore Music in Burlington as a school band specialist, and then for the past ten years at Yamaha Canada Music in Band & Orchestral Sales and Marketing. Steve is currently the Manager of the Band & Orchestral Sales Department at Yamaha Canada. Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from McMaster University where his studies focused on Brass Performance, Music Education and Conducting.
Steve is a founding board member of the Ontario Band Association where he served as vice president for four years and has been a board member and now currently the secretary of the Canadian Music Industry Education Committee since 1998. He is also a board member for the Hannaford Street Silver Band organization.
Steve remains active as a player and conductor with the Naval Reserve Band in Hamilton as well as freelance trombone and tuba performances as his travel schedule allows. Steve is married to Vivian Hingsberg, Performance Administrator at the U of Toronto Faculty of Music, and enjoys activities and volunteering that benefits arts organizations.
Jane Cutler, Toronto, Ontario
Jane is the Arts Coordinator for the York Region District School Board, just north of Toronto. She is also the Student Success Coordinator, the Ministry of Education project which supports at-risk students, grades 7 - 12. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Music, and the Faculty of Education, U. of T. and holds a M. Ed. from OISE/UT.
Jane has taught at the elementary and secondary levels in the former North York and York Region District School Boards. She is the Past-Chair of the Arts Education Council of Ontario (AECO) and is a Director of the Ontario Music Educators' Association (OMEA). She is the Chair of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada (CMEC) and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre (OELC). Jane was one of the founding directors of the Ontario Arts Education Institute (OAEI). She was co-chair of the Arts and Education in Canada Summit (November, 2000) and co-chair of the Arts and Education 2000 Conference.
Jane was a member of the Ontario Ministry of Education Arts Expert Panel in 1997. She was on the team which developed the Ontario Curriculum Elementary Arts Implementation Planning Guide in 1998, has represented the OMEA on the Ministry's Secondary Arts' Curriculum feedback group, and was a member of the review team for the secondary school Music Course Profiles. This summer, Jane reviewed the Think Literacy Music Resource document, grades 10 - 12. As well, Jane represents OMEA on the Ontario Teachers' Federation Curriculum Forum.
Jane is a proud member of the Bell'Arte Singers and is the Chair of their Board.
Mary Dinn - CMEA President, Newfoundland
Mary, a music educator with over 19 years experience, has delivered Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial K-12 music curriculum in classroom, choral, band and strings settings, at various grade and school configurations within St. John’s. She was among the first recipients of the provincial government’s ‘Arts Work Educator Award’, “recognizing a teacher who has made a significant contribution to arts education within their school community.”
Spanning 1991 - 2005, Mary served in multiple capacities on both regional and provincial executives of the NLTA Music Special Interest councils. In 2006, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association awarded her the Barnes Award, “in recognition of, and appreciation for outstanding service to the professional development of teachers in the province.”
Nationally, over the past decade, her involvement on the CMEA/ACME board has also spanned a wide range of roles and responsibilities and is presently serving as president.
Mary currently works at the Department of Education of Newfoundland and Labrador as a Program Development Specialist for Music/Fine Arts and member/co-chair of the management team for the province’s K-12 Arts and Cultural Strategy.
Ken Epp, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ken Epp is Executive Director of the Manitoba Band Association, a non-profit service organization dedicated to developing and promoting band in Manitoba.
A graduate of the University of Winnipeg (B. Ed), Epp began the band program at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate in Winnipeg. In 1986 he began his position with the MBA. Under Epp's direction the association has quadrupled its membership and now offers more than 25 annual programs and services.
In addition to his MBA responsibilities, Epp is Executive Director of the Canadian Band Association and serves as Manitoba Music Conference registrar and treasurer. He is the 2006 recipient of the Canadian Band Association's National Band Award.
Michel Fortin, Frontenac, Quebec
Michel Fortin has been a music teacher as well as head of the music department at Monseigneur Parent High School in Saint- Hubert, Québec, for more than 30 years. He has also been teaching music at elementary, college, and the university levels.A born organizer and a teacher with a lot of experience, he has made a name for himself in numerous musical events around Quebec and Canada. An adviser with the province of Quebec Ministry of Education for the music curriculum, he also works in close collaboration with University du Québec à Montréal in training future music teachers
Michel has launched the « Douance-musique » project in the Marie-Victorin School Board; he is also the founder and musical director of concert bands in the Chambly Regional, Taillon and Marie-Victorin school Boards. Several of these bands have been awarded gold medals in province of Québec and other cities around Canada and United States.
What’s more, he has worked with the Montreal conservatory symphonic orchestra and a few others: Sherbrooke, Taillon....... For several years, he was a teacher and conductor at the world renowned music summer camp at Domaine Forget, near Quebec City. Mr. Fortin has participated in the recording of numerous educationnal CD’S; he his also the author of « Je M’amusique and Mélomanie », a set of books, cd’s and cassettes for the teaching of music at the elementary and high school levels.
On several occasions, he has served as adjudicator and clinician at Musicfest Québec, Halifax Atlantic band festival, Winnipeg Optimist band festival, Moncton music festival, Musicfest Canada, Clermont Pépin festival in St-Georges, festival des harmonies du Québec, Ottawa concert band festival, Kiwanis festival and many others.
M.Fortin is also regularly invited as a guess conductor and clinician all around Canada.
Mary Ann Fratia, Oakville Ontario
Mary Ann is presently the Instructional Coordinator for Music, Dance, Drama , Visual and Media Arts and Health and Physical Education (K-12) for the Peel District School Board. She has taught Music for that last 27 years at the elementary, secondary and college levels in both Manitoba and Ontario and has a strong interest in arts education and advocacy, instrumental, world music and jazz education as well as curriculum, instruction and assessment. In her tenure as Head of Music at Cawthra Park S.S., home of one of Peel's regional arts programs, she has directed numerous award winning ensembles from wind ensembles to vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles/combos who twice represented Canada at the annual IAJE conference. A frequent contributor to The Recorder, and presenter at numerous local and provincial arts and literacy symposiums and conferences for teachers and administrators, Mary Ann has also been the recipient of two IAJE Outstanding Jazz Director Awards, various Peel Board Awards of Distinction, and OSSTF Teacher Recognition Award, and an OASPHE Advocacy Award for Health and Physical Education advocacy in Ontario.
Ardith Haley, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ardith Haley received her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Education degrees from Acadia University, Wolfville Nova Scotia. She was recently appointed Arts Education Consultant for the Department of Education of the Province of Nova Scotia, responsible for the delivery of education programs in drama, visual arts, dance and music. As a part-time faculty member at Acadia University, Ardith conducts the Acadia Symphonic Band and teaches music education courses. She is the Director of the Acadia Summer Band Camps, New Horizons Band, and is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. A passionate and widely respected music educator, Ardith is well-known for her innovative teaching strategies, and students as well as teachers, benefit from her engaging workshops and professional development sessions. She is a recipient of the Musica Viva Award, in recognition of significant and continuing contributions to music education in Nova Scotia,. Before moving to the Department, Ardith enjoyed a 27-year teaching career, successfully teaching instrumental and choral music to students in elementary, middle and high school.
Kayla Hough, Ottawa, Ontario
Originally from Northern Ontario, Kayla will be graduating from the University of Ottawa in the spring of 2009 with a Bachelor of Music and a Minor in Arts Administration. During her years at university, Kayla was very involved in student life, both as Vice President of Social Affairs (2006-2007) and as President (2007-2008) of the University of Ottawa's ADEMSA (Association des étudiants en musique/Music Students Association). She has been working in the Music and Music Education Departments of the National Arts Centre since 2007 in various capacities, including Music Education Intern, Assistant to the Manager of the Summer Music Institute, Assistant to the NAC Orchestra Librarian, and as the Junior Logistics Coordinator of the NAC Orchestra's 2008 Western Canada Tour. Since May of 2008, Kayla has been Champion of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada's Youth Network, an initiative she proposed to the Coalition whose goal is to connect the new generation of music educators and youth with a passion for music all across Canada in order to help shape the future of music education. The goal is also to increase awareness and ensure that the efforts of the Coalition amongst new generations stay current and relevant. She is also the chair of a Music Education for Social Change conference being organized with the help of the University of Ottawa's Music and Arts Administration Departments, as well as the Music Students' Association. The conference will be held in March 2009, with the goal of raising awareness of the concept of Music Education and Social Change and to empower music educators to make positive social change a part of their daily teaching. In the near future, Kayla plans to pursue both a degree in French language studies and a Masters in Education.
Russell Kelley, Ottawa, Ontario
A former professional musician, Russell Kelley has been head of the Canada Council’s Music Section since December, 2001. Prior to that, he was appointed the acting executive director of the Culture Division of Nova Scotia’s Department of Tourism and Culture from August 2000. He previously served as the founding executive director of the Nova Scotia Arts Council from 1997 to July 2000. During that period, he was a founding board member of the Foundation for Heritage and the Arts, Nova Scotia’s stabilization program.
Originally from Montreal, Mr. Kelley had a successful career as a singer, songwriter and music producer in Montreal and Halifax between 1969 and 1992. He was elected for five two-year terms as a member of the executive board of the Atlantic Federation of Musicians.
From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Kelley was a Program Officer in the Music Section at The Canada Council for the Arts, responsible for a range of programs that included the choir program, the sound recording program, and the operating programs for both opera organizations and orchestras.
Jeff Long (Long & McQuade)
VP Sales and Marketing Long and McQuade Musical Instruments
Jeff has worked in the music business since 1979 when he joined his family’s business, Long and McQuade, as a teenager on a part time basis. Long and McQuade is Canada’s leading musical instrument retailer with 42 locations across Canada.
Born and raised in Toronto, Jeff graduated from York University’s Glendon College in 1985 with a degree in Economics. During his time in school, Jeff also played keyboards and saxophone semi professionally, gigging regularly around Toronto.
Jeff started his full time career at Long and McQuade in 1985 and has been active in day to day operations ever since.
An advocate for the Coalition for Music Education, Jeff has organized several fundraisers including the “Guitar Summit” series of concerts which have raised more than $20,000 for the Coalition.
Norman Mould, Vancouver, B.C.
President Coalition for Music Education in British Columbia
Member of the Board Coalition for Music Education in Canada, North Vancouver, BC
Norman Mould was born in Toronto and educated there, in South Africa and England. He lived and worked in London for 25 years before moving to Vancouver with his family in 1990.
He was drawn into advocating for music education when the programme in which his two daughters were enrolled was threatened with extinction. For him, the value of school music, which he had always accepted almost as an article of faith, was reinforced when his older daughter - then in the throes of adolescent angst - remained in high school purely because music offered her the stability, focus and discipline she needed. (She went on to win a scholarship to study jazz and is now an early childhood educator in Toronto.)
His experiences in British Columbia make it clear that we cannot afford to take our music programmes for granted. Politicians and administrators at the provincial and municipal levels often overlook the importance of the arts in general, and music in particular, in the creation both of well-rounded individuals and of a society capable of focusing on more than just the commercial. They need to be reminded, continuously and in as many ways as possible, that music matters.
He became President of the BC Coalition for Music Education in 1997 and joined the board of the national body in 2006. Norman is a marketing research consultant and editor of the Coalition eNewsletter.
Christina Murray, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Christina holds a double undergraduate degree in Music (Honours voice
and choral conducting) and Philosophy, a certificate in Education
design theory, and is part way through her masters degree analysing
Arvo Pärt's Magnificat as an instance of feminist reformed theology.
Christina studies conducting privately with Michael Zaugg (Chorus master of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra) and has been selected for numerous masterclasses
including the National Conductor's Symposium under Jon Washburn and
the Association of Canadian Choral Conductor's biennial masterclass
under Diane Loomer. As a singer, Christina tours regularly with the
Canadian Chamber and sings with the Halifax Camerata Singers.
After two years teaching choral studies and the music curriculum at an
International Baccalaureate school in South India and another two
doing education and outreach work in Ottawa, Christina now serves as the Education & Outreach Manager for Symphony Nova Scotia. In addition,
Christina is the conductor of Camerata Xara Young Women's Choir and The Bay Chorale. Christina is also secretary of the board for
the Nova Scotia Choral Federation, chairs the steering committee for
the NSCF's Institute of Choral Conducting, and maintains a small
private voice studio.
Scott Peters, Regina, Saskatchewan
Scott Peters, an active participant in the Saskatchewan music scene, is a teacher and professional musician.
Scott teaches Grade 6 to 12 band at Lumsden High School and Lumsden Elementary School. Under Scott's direction, the band program has grown and now numbers 240 students in five concert bands, four Jazz bands, concert choir, a jazz combo and a pep band. Scott is also sessional instructor at the University of Regina teaching third year Music Education students. In addition to his position as a music teacher, Scott is a member or has performed with the following musical ensembles: The Rory Allen Band, The Regina Riot, The Drifters, The Regina Symphony Orchestra, The Bob Moyer Big Band, Saskatchewan Express, The Regina Jazz Society Big Band and the University of Regina Big band. Scott also plays throughout the province as a freelance trombone player.
Scott has acted as conductor and clinician for the Lumsden Community Adult Band and Jazz Band, the Regina Adult Band Workshop, the Dauphin High School Jazz Bands, The Saskatchewan Band Association Adult Band Workshop, the Regina Catholic Schools Alumni Band, the Saskatchewan Music Conference and the Saskatchewan Band Association Summer Band and Jazz Camps. Scott has previously participated as a clinician for Spring Fest Canada and several local jazz groups. He was also a founding member of the Cottonwood Jazz Festival, an educationally focused opportunity for young Saskatchewan musicians. Scott has been a member of the Saskatchewan Band association and a member at large.
Scott has just completed his Masters of Education at the University of Regina.
Valerie Peters, Quebec, Quebec
Valerie Peters is currently a Music Education Professor at the Université Laval in Quebec. She has taught secondary school music in Quebec for fifteen years and during that time was a cooperating teacher for students from McGill University and Université de Québec à Montréal. In addition, she also supervised student teachers during her doctoral work at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. She has an excellent knowledge of the research literature in music education. Her personal research interests touch on cultural diversity and music education, creativity in the secondary music curriculum, music education evaluation and music teacher identity. Valerie is active in professional development for secondary music teachers in the province of Quebec. In addition, she is working on several large provincial and federal research grants in order to study music education practices across the province.
She believes that all children should have access to a quality music education program in every school in this country. Music is core curriculum. It is not simply “a frill” or an addition to the core curriculum Unfortunately, schooling has not changed much in the last hundred years and reading, writing, and math continue to be considered by the general public as “core.” It is important to raise awareness through media coverage about the importance of music to people’s lives. In Quebec, the general public, school administrators and university administrators lack a basic understanding of the importance of music education to students’ overall development.
She looks forward to exchanging with other concerned individuals from across the country about effective ways to boost awareness about the importance of music education in our schools.
Dennis Tupman
Dennis Tupman. Teacher, administrator, adjudicator, choral conductor, b Victoria, BC, 19 May 1936; B ED (British Columbia) 1964, M ED (British Columbia) 1969. After teaching elementary and secondary school in Kitimat, BC he became performing arts district principal for the Vancouver School Board in 1971. Tupman has dedicated himself to promoting the notion that 'the arts are for everyone and that we should strive for excellence in artistic performance and learning.' He has been active in support organizations including the Vancouver Foundation, and the BCMEA, of which he was president 1975-7. He became president of CMEA in 1991. Tupman has been director of many church and community choirs, and in demand as an adjudicator of choral and instrumental ensembles at music festivals across Canada. A frequent guest lecturer on the arts, he has contributed to educational journals including the Canadian Music Educator, BC Music Educator, and BC Teacher. In 1988 the BCMEA recognized Tupman's influence on music education in the province by awarding him honorary life membership.
Dennis was a member of the Coalition board for a number of years. His term ended in 2008. His commitment to Coalition goals is unparalleled and his support of our work, even though he is no longer on the board, is impressive. He continues to talk and write about the Coalition and our activities. He has been responsible for securing hundreds of names for the National Effort and there are numerous advocacy articles by Dennis on the Coalition website. He truly exemplifies what the Coalition is all about and deserves very much to be recognized as an Honorary Life Member.
Eric Favaro
Eric Favaro is respected nationally and internationally as an innovator and advocate for effective programs in Music and Arts Education. Trained as a music educator, Eric taught instrumental and classroom music in Calgary and in Cape Breton. He served as Arts Education Consultant with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, and later as Arts Education Consultant with the Nova Scotia Department of Education. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Education, as well as a doctorate in Organizational Development and Leadership. Eric publishes frequently and continues to work on curriculum committees and other projects through provincial Ministries of Education and Federal agencies.
Eric served as president of the Nova Scotia Music Educators’ Association from 1993-95, and president of the Canadian Music Educators’ Association from 1995-97. He initiated and chaired the first National Symposium on Arts Education (Cape Breton, 1997), and served on the board for the International Society for Music Education from 2000-04. He has received numerous honours and awards, including the Musica Viva award and NSMEA Honourary Life Member designation for his contributions to music education in Nova Scotia, and the Jubilate Award of Merit and Executive Award from the Canadian Music Educators Association for his national and international work.
Eric feels his experiences as a music educator, arts administrator and member of many boards ranging from education to government to corporate, have prepared him to contribute to the Board of Directors for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada. He also brings to the table a strong network of national international contacts who also share his passion for the importance of music in everyone’s lives. He looks forward to contributing to the Coalition in a meaningful way.
Robert Barg
Rob began his career with Yamaha in 1971 in Winnipeg. He distinguished himself as Yamaha’s first Guitar teacher in Canada, and worked as well in retail sales. He taught the pilot Yamaha Classroom Guitar course “Get into Guitar” that was developed by Lee Bartel as part of his Masters Degree. Teaching in both the Yamaha Music School and Junior High classes in the Winnipeg School System, Rob often taught over 300 guitar students per week, and motivated many young students to start their musical careers.
As the Yamaha Music School programs continued to grow across Canada, Rob transferred to the new Head Office in Toronto (1980), where he became the Regional Sales Consultant for Ontario. In 1986 he was appointed the Keyboard Division Sales Manager. Rob was promoted to Director of the Music Instrument Division in 1999, and in 2002 he became the Vice President Music al Instrument Group. In 2006, Rob was appointed Corporate Vice President Planning and Relations Division, the position he currently holds.
Rob and his wife Rose have three grown children and enjoy spending time with their 4 grandchildren. Rob still enjoys music as a personal hobby, and works actively for music education at Yamaha, to continue to promote music, particularly among children, whom he sees as the key to music of the future. Rob looks forward to offering his experience and support to the Coalition for Music Education in Canada.
Vicki Cummings
For over 25 years Vicki Cummings has been actively involved as a volunteer with MusicFest Canada and was the founding Festival Director of the Capital Region MusicFest. Prior to her present appointment as Director, Corporate Giving at CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), Vicki has held senior fundraising positions with both the National Arts Centre Foundation and the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival. These experiences, added to her passion for music and the arts, have helped shape an appreciation and understanding of the role that music education plays in the learning process and in community building.
Ms. Cummings was at the NAC when the first Music Monday launched and looks forward to the opportunity to leverage her experience working with national organizations to increase organizational integration. She would also like to to assist the Coalition in developing a national voice at a community level.
Claire Speed, Ottawa, Ontario
A management professional with a masters degree (music), two undergraduate degrees (music and teaching) and 19 years work experience in the fields of music and education including two years teaching music in Bogota, Colombia (1986-88). Currently directs overall conception and development of the Music Education programs of Canada's National Arts Centre, leads an exceptional team of university-educated professionals, represents the NAC nationally and internationally, and oversees a budget of over $1 million. As a member of the NAC Senior Management Committee, leads dialogue among all the NAC departments relating to education, a major corporate priority slated for expansion, and frequently represents the NAC's educational programming to increase the Corporation's profile and to promote constructive working partnerships in the community, nationally and internationally.
Greg Way, Aurora, Ontario
After receiving his B Music (majoring in music education) from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio, Greg taught school music in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Greg is a founding executive member of both the Saskatchewan Band Association and Ontario Band Association, past president of the National Association of School Music Dealers, and is currently on the boards of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, the NAMM (The International Music Products Association) Foundation Research Division and the Music Achievement Council. Greg played professionally for 25 years as the principal percussionist of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
After spending 36 years in music education and music retail, he is semi-retired and lives in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Optimist Club of Aurora.
John White, British Columbia
John White began his teaching career in Whitehorse, Yukon as the music teacher at F. H. Collins Secondary School. .After leaving Whitehorse, he taught elementary band in Langley School District and then spent time in the Kamloops and Coquitlam School Districts as Fine Arts Coordinator. .A former Director of the New Westminster and District Concert Band, he is now working with the Senior Band once again.
John is a Past-President of the British Columbia Music Educators' Association, the British Columbia Choral Federation, the British Columbia Administrators of Arts Education, the Pacific Coast Music Festivals Association, Art Starts in Schools and a Past-Chairman of MusicFest Canada: Canadian Concert Band Festival.
Mr. White has served extensively as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughout British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. He has just retired after 16 years with the Burnaby School District where he served as Director of Instruction responsible for visual and performing arts programming for students K – 12. During his tenure he showed a commitment to developing innovative music programs.
John White has demonstrated outstanding and enduring personal commitment to BC’s arts and education community. He has worked as an educator and arts-in-education advocate for over 20 years. He serves on the Board of Vancouver Opera.
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