Board members
QMEA is presently recruiting board members that reflect regional representation on the executive committee for the 2009-2011 term, as per agreement with the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport. Please refer to the following document that outlines the potential candidates profile, obligations and compensation.
Valerie Descombes, President, is a graduate of McGill University (BMus, MA). She teaches music to k-6 at Harmony Elementary School (since its opening in 1997) in Chateauguay, QC (New Frontiers School Board). She is a founding executive member of the QMEA.
Theodora Stathopoulos, past president (2007-2009), is the recipient of the 2006 Prime Minister's
Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2007 Annual Achievement Award from the Business and Professional Women of Montreal and 2007 Diplome d'Honneur from the Hellenic Community of Montreal. An active music educator since 1977 in various school boards, she has been a music specialist at FACE (Fine Arts Core Education) School since 1992 while in 2000 she became head of its string department. Under her leadership, FACE School musical ensembles have won several distinctions and awards. She is frequently invited to present in several provincial, national and international conferences in the arts and collaborates regularly with the Universite de Quebec a Montreal(UQAM) in their teacher training and preparatory school programs.
Amy Henderson, Treasurer, holds a Bachelors of Music and Bachelors of Education degrees from McGill University (2006) as well as a Masters in Music (Choral Conducting) from Memorial University of Newfoundland (2008).
In the summer of 2004, Amy was Assistant Choral Conductor of M. Schafer's production "The Enchanted Forest" and in February 2007 she was one of six finalist conductors to participate in the National Conductors' Symposium hosted by the Vancouver Chamber Choir, while in May of 2007 she was the recipient of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada "Canada Graduate Scholarship" for her work focusing on the pedagogy surrounding Schafer's choral works.
Amy presently teaches instrumental music at Royal West Academy in Montreal West and is conductor’s I. Edwards’ Assistant Conductor for the Choeur des Enfants de Montreal and Concerto Della Donna.
A passionate advocate for music education, Amy joined the QMEA executive in 2004, while still an undergraduate student, and served as the 2005 QMEA Festival coordinator.
Chantelle Edwards, Interim VP, is in the process of completing her Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education degrees at McGill University.
Chantelle is the President of McGill's Music Education Undergraduate Student's Association (MEdUSA) and was one of its' founding members in the last academic year.
After completing her studies, Chantelle hopes to begin her career as a high school band director with the eventual goal of being involved in Educational Administration or Arts Management.
As the QMEA's Vice-President, Chantelle aims to represent the interests of Quebec's music educators. She hopes to forge a link between McGill students and the Montreal music education community, as well as to help coordinate the QMEA Annual Music Festival and Workshop Series.
Erin O'Connell hails from upstate New York. She moved to Montreal in 1999 to attend McGill University and graduated with a Bachelors of Education in 2004. She has performed throughout North America on her primary instrument, the tuba, including concerts at Place des Arts and Carnegie Hall. Not only a performer, Erin has taught tuba and lower brass to students from cycle II to secondary V.
Isabelle Plante, Membership Coordinator, currently teaches Music and Art Education at LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School. She graduated from McGill University in 2004 from the concurrent Music Education Bachelors Program. Upon graduation, she received the Chantal Malard Memorial Prize by demonstrating leadership qualities and involvement in volunteer activities while maintaining a high academic standing. Isabelle is an active member in several community orchestras in Montréal
Anne-Marie Lozier, music festival coordinator, has been singing for the past ten years. She was initiated to singing and to choral music at the École secondaire De La Salle, an arts high school in Ottawa. She spent four years in their vocal music program. She has returned to De La Salle as a teacher, and has been teaching voice there for the past five years. She then went on to complete a Bachelor of Music at the University of Ottawa where she studied with Laurence Ewashko. During her time at this university, she performed the roles of Barbarina in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro and of Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni. Anne-Marie completed a Master of Music from the Université de Montréal in the spring of 2009, where she studied with Yolande Parent. She has sung with many choirs, such as the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, the Ontario Youth Choir, the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, the Ottawa Bach Choir, the Calixa-Lavallé Ensemble, the Anglican Chorale of Ottawa and Concerto Della Donna, a choir she is still a member of and also its president.
Tammy Lynn Déry, Webmaster, is a graduate of Concordia University in flute performance (2007) and is working as a freelance flautist, performing in halls such as the Place des Arts, Claude Champagne concert hall, and many other prestigious venues in Montreal. She is also coordinator of the Brossard music school.
Charlene Ryan, past President of the QMEA (2004-2005), is Assistant Professor of Music Education at McGill University and Director of Early Childhood programs for the McGill Conservatory of Music. While she specializes in early childhood and elementary music education, she has taught at all school levels from preschool through secondary school.
Christine Beckett is past President of the QMEA (2005-2007). She is an Assistant Professor of theory, ear training and keyboard skills at Concordia University’s Faculty of Fine Arts music department. Dr. Beckett does research on music perception/cognition and pedagogy, and is a founding member of the Montreal research centre for Brain, Music and Sound (BRAMS) directed by Dr. Isabelle Peretz and Dr. Robert J. Zatorre. Christine has taught in private studio, public school classrooms, CEGEPs and universities, in both English and French. A pianist and freelance violist, Christine is a long-time member of the Guilde des Musiciens du Quebec.
|
