Delegates’ Reports – CFMTA
Peggy L’Hoir - Honorary President
October 2024
CFMTA Delegates: Laureen Kells and Laurel Teichroeb
As President and Vice President of SRMTA we are delegates to the CFMTA. It is our pleasure to present this report to our members. In our role we represent Saskatchewan at the CFMTA AGM held annually in July as well as at the Semi Annual Meeting, held yearly in February.
At the most recent AGM, Marlaine Osgood of Alberta was elected to the position of President, Laura Grey of Ontario moved into the role of Past President and Barbara Siemens of B.C. was elected as Vice President. Lois Kerr is the Treasurer and Heather Fyfe is the Administrator. These individuals are a strong team and are working hard to run our national organization.
We would like to draw your attention to the following programs which will be of interest to you:
1. CFMTA Piano Competition. Our next competition will be held in Montreal in July 2025. The deadline for registering is March 1, 2025.
2. Connecting Canada. This Zoom event is held monthly and presents pedagogical topics of interest to all teachers. Invitations and details are found in your monthly Of Note email.
3. Essay Competition. This competition is open to everyone. There is no fee to enter and prize monies total $2500.00.
4. 2025 CFMTA Conference will be held in Montreal.
5. Strategic Planning Survey. All members would have received this survey. The CFMTA runs several programs, all of which require volunteers. We encourage everyone to investigate where their talents can be of most use.
Details of all these programs and much more can be found on the CFMTA website.
Other Items:
Individual members are invited to add “Member of CFMTA” to their credentials.
The CFMTA logo is available for download from the website. Please include this logo on your recital programs.
In 2035, CFMTA will be celebrating it’s 100th anniversary.
We have found our roles as your delegates quite interesting. We have met teachers from across Canada and have learned a lot from these peers.
July 2023 - AGM
Laureen Kells and Amy Boyes were SRMTA Delegates at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations, July 3rd and 4th in Edmonton, Alberta.
Highlights from the meeting:
– Funding put in place for the 2023/2024 CFMTA Essay Competition. There are four levels – High School – $250. Undergraduate – $500. Graduate – $750 and Doctoral – $1000. The Doctoral award is now named for Dr. Lorna Wanzel who has donated over $40,000 over the last 10 years to this competition. Dr. Wanzel is a former president of CFMTA and lives in Nova Scotia.
Teachers are reminded there are a variety of professional development videos on the CFMTA website that can be accessed at no cost.
– Connecting Canada 2024 is confirmed for next July 5 and 6. Connecting Canada monthly Zoom sessions will be continuing in the fall.
– Plans beginning for the 2025 CFMTA Conference in Montreal. – A “A Meeting of Musical Cultures” is the theme.
– Volunteers acclaimed for all positions and portfolios on the CFMTA. President Laura Gray – Ontario. First VP – Marlaine Osgood – Alberta. 2nd Vice President – Barb Seimens – BC.
The process of hiring an Admin Assistant is underway.
Canada Music Week compositions are available for download from the CFMTA website. These make excellent pieces for a Canada Music Week recital
2023 – 2024 Branching Out Initiative – “Random Acts of Music”. Individual branches can receive $100 from CFMTA for hosting an event with this theme.
Congratulations to Peggy L’Hoir of Biggar on receiving the Hugheen Ferguson Award for Outstanding Teaching. This award was presented to Peggy at the CFMTA Luncheon held on the last day of the conference.
2035 CFMTA will celebrate its 100th anniversary!
Laureen and Amy were pleased to see an enthused CFMTA Executive, strong financial planning, and a spirit of teamwork from the delegates across the country.
Following 13 hours of meetings (!), the CFMTA National Piano and Voice Competitions began with performers from across Canada.
The two-day Conference was successfully hosted by the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association. Laureen and Amy enjoyed workshops, masterclasses, concerts, and social events. SRMTA executive member, Laurel Tchieroeb presented on the importance of music education for young children.
Other SRMTA members were active in the tradeshow–Wes Froese for CNCM and Janet Gieck for Red Leaf.
