Prince Edward Island Music Educators' Association

Prince Edward Island Music Educators' Association

Prince Edward Island Music Educators' Association. Formed 6 Jun 1962 at a meeting at Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown, the organization has concerned itself with setting higher standards for teachers, ensuring musical instruction in schools, identifying deficiencies and suggesting changes in the provincial music curriculum, and sponsoring musical events.

The PEIMEA has not held its own annual convention but has provided representatives for the committee of the NSMEA autumn convention, and many of its members have attended that convention. It has become the custom of the PEIMEA to arrange workshops for school music teachers each spring and fall, and during the 1980s music teachers from Prince Edward Island have had increasing opportunities to attend professional development days in their own province. In 1971 the PEIMEA was host, in Charlottetown, to the CMEA convention, and in 1973 it became an affiliate of the national body. As a supplement to the publications of the CMEA, the PEIMEA in 1970 began issuing to its members the newsletter Crescendo, published as often as four times annually but generally once or twice a year.

Christopher Gledhill was the first president, followed by Gabriel Chiasson 1964-6 and 1970-2, Sister Mary Winnifred 1966-8, Royston Mugford 1968-70, Cornelius Zaat 1972-4, Allan Graham 1974-6, Gerard Rutten 1976-8, Joan Davies 1978-80, David Voye 1980-2, Peter Robinson 1982-4, Joan Davies 1984-6, Sheridyth MacNeill 1986-8, and Perry Williams 1988-9. Williams was succeeded by Gerard Rutten in 1989.

The association made Sister Mary Winnifred an honorary life member in 1975 and conferred the same honour on Royston Mugford in 1979, and on Gabriel Chiasson in 1985.