In June 2006, the Coalition for Music Education in Canada co-hosted a very important initiative for music education together with the Canadian Music Educators Association and the National Arts Centre. It was a significant gathering of mopre than 30 key music and education stakeholders that included representatives of national and provincial music educator associations, major professional orchestras, national music organizations, and special guests. Our goal was to identify opportunities for collaboration in order to create a national movement to strengthen the delivery of music education in Canada.

Discussion was lively and we discovered much common ground. Plans are underway to continue the dialogue electronically and develop strategies for action.

We are grateful for the financial support of many organizations who made this ground-breaking gathering possible. Thank you to all of our sponsors: American Express ( www.americanexpress.ca), the Canadian Music Educator’s Association (www.musiceducationonline.org/cmea), the Canadian Music Industry Education Committee, the Coalition for Music Education in Canada (www.coalitionformusiced.ca), the Music Industries Association of Canada (www.miac.net), the National Arts Centre (www.nac-cna.ca), the Ontario Music Educators’ Association (www.omea.on.ca), Ontario Orff Chapter (www.orffcanada.ca), Music for Children - Carl Orff Canada - Musique pour enfants and Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. (www.yamaha.ca).

The steering committee for UOV included Jane Cutler, Lee Willingham, Ingrid Whyte, Claire Speed, Nineete Babineau and Dennis Tupman. The CMEA’s journal editor, Lee Willingham, prepared the following article for publication in the next issue of the CMEA journal reflection post symposium. We are pleased to share the full article by clicking here.

Uniting Our Voices