Beth Douglas

Beth Douglas

Beth (Martha Elizabeth) Douglas. Educator, choir conductor, b Winnipeg 28 Apr 1913, d there 9 Nov 1987; BA (Manitoba) 1959, B ED (Manitoba) 1964. After teaching music 1943-56 at the Manitoba Teachers' College, she was assistant director of music 1956-75 in Winnipeg schools and a member 1975-6 of the faculty of education, University of Manitoba. She was active for many years in Manitoba school music broadcasts and became music consultant to the Winnipeg school board in 1976. With Lola Smith MacQuarrie she prepared the elementary school music texts Melody Makers (two volumes), Treasure Tunes, and Happy Harmonies (Toronto 1959, 1961, 1965). With Glen Harrison and Colin Walley she wrote the junior high school texts Fanfare Act I and Act II (Toronto 1968, 1970). Douglas was conductor 1940-52,1958-62 of the Winnipeg Boys' Choir (initially, 1940-3, co-conductor with Ethel Kinley), choir director at Bethesda Church for over 30 years, and director of the Vivace Ladies Choir. She was awarded various honours by the MMEA and the city of Winnipeg and was made a Captain of the Order of the Buffalo Hunt by the Province of Manitoba in 1981.