Our History
The federal charter for the Kodály Institute of Canada (KIC) was granted in 1973. The announcement that the organization was formed was made at the First International Kodály symposium held in August 1973 in Oakland, California. In order to parallel the International Kodály Society, the name of the Canadian Kodály organization was changed to the Kodály Society of Canada in 1986. The history of the Kodály movement in Canada has been chronicled in The Canadian Encyclopedia (2013), Lois Choksy’s Kodály Method I (1999), as well as through our official publications and newsletters which can be accessed through our Members Only page.
The Kodály Society of Canada has hosted the International Kodály Symposium twice in its history, first in 1991 at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, and the second in 2017 at University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, in Camrose, Alberta.
At present there are four branches within the organization: British Columbia (KSBC), Alberta (AKA), Ontario (KSO), and Nova Scotia (KSNS). Individual members in other provinces and territories outside of these branches are invited to join the branch of their choice.
Since its inauguration, the Kodály Society of Canada has had 13 Presidents:
Carolyn Neumann VanderBurgh 2012-2014
Darlene Ngo 2014-2014
Carolyn Neumann VanderBurgh 2014-2016
A. Kim Eyre 2016-2020
Jody Stark 2020-present
Gordon Kushner 1973-1978
Ken Bray 1978-1980
Pierre Perron 1980-1984
Lois Choksy 1984-1988
France David 1988-1991
Ki Adams 1991-1995
Amanda Montgomery 1995-1999
A. Kim Eyre 1999-2004
Velvet Sulymka 2004-2008
Connie Foss More 2008-2012
REFERENCES
Choksy, L. (1999). Kodály method 1: Comprehensive music education. 3rd ed. Prentice Hall.
Corneille, M.,, & Orford, E.,, & Choksy, L., Kodály method (2013). In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kodaly-method-emc
Honourary Members
The Kodály Society of Canada is pleased to pay tribute to those who have worked tirelessly to further the work of the KSC throughout its history:
Edit Lantos (D)
Gabrielle Létourneau (D)
Jeanette Panagapka
Pierre Perron (D)
Kaye Pottie
Ardelle Ries
Sister Therese Potvin (D)
Miklós Takács (D)
Lászlo Vikár (D)
Riet Vink
John Whitehead (D)
(D) denotes deceased
Ki Adams
Ilona Bartalus (D)
Gyula Budai
Malcolm Bradley
Lois Choksy
Helen Creighton (D)
Mae Daly (D)
Malcolm Edwards
Beatrix Finta
Gabor Finta
Katalin Forrai (D)
Connie Foss More
Edith Fowke (D)
Marta Csikos Green (D)
Lyell Gustin (D)
Alastair Highet
Richard Johnston (D)
Edna Knock