Welcome to the Ontario Music Educators’ Association. I am very pleased to serve as President of an organization with such a long and effective history of Music Educators in Ontario.

The history of the OMEA dates back to 1919 with the creation of the Music Section of the Ontario Music Education Association. In 1949, it was reorganized as the OMEA and continues as a volunteer organization, comprised of teachers who are dedicated to working on its members’ behalf by offering ongoing professional development, networking, resources, and advocacy to improve teaching practise and quality music education in Ontario.

There will be much to celebrate in the coming year. We will be celebrating our 60th Anniversary of the OMEA, and also celebrating the 90th Anniversary of our organization going back to our roots as the Music Section and the implementation of the newly revised Arts curriculum will begin. Please do join us for these wonderful celebrations in Music Teaching!

Our goal as an organization is to be an effective, reliable resource for Music Educators working in a wide variety of environments, and with a range of backgrounds. We want the OMEA to be equally useful to the program leader of a dynamic, multi-teacher music program, and to the classroom teacher bringing music to his/her students in a rural school.
Welcome to you all.

Membership Benefits:
· Quarterly subscription to the OMEA Journal, The Recorder
o Full of great resources
o Written by Teachers for Teachers
· Quarterly subscription to the Canadian Music Educator newsletters
· Think Literacy Music Companions for teachers Grades 1-6, 7-9
· OMEA E-Notes, our very own electronic journal
· Regional Workshops
· Annual Conferences:
o Con Brio 2009 Harmonizing Past, Present & Future - Toronto, ON
o FUSION 2010 – London, ON
· Leadership Retreats
· Curriculum Supports created by OMEA members

OMEA Represents Music Education at:
· Ontario Ministry of Education
· Ontario College of Teachers
· Canadian Music Educators’ Association
· Ontario Teachers Federation Curriculum Forum

OMEA provides:
· OMEA student chapters at Ontario Universities
· Scholarship Awards for graduating students of High School, University & Pre-Service Programs
· Recognition and awards for music educators and those who contribute to music education through Awards of Commendation & Honourary Life Membership

OMEA works with and is affiliated with:
· Canadian Association of Jazz Educators (CAJE)
· Canadian Band Association (CBA)
· Canadian Music Educators’ Association (CMEA)
· Canadian Music Industry Education Committee (CMIEC)
· Carl Orff Canada – Ontario Chapter (COCMFC)
· Choirs Ontario (CO)
· Coalition for Music Education in Canada (CMEC)
· Kodaly Society of Ontario (KSO)
· Ontario Band Association (OBA)
· Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association (ORMTA)
· Ontario Vocal Festival (OVF)
· Music Therapy Association of Ontario (MTAO)


All OMEA members are welcome to attend our quarterly board meetings and are entitled to vote. We welcome any feedback you may have or issues that affecting music education either locally or provincially. Our upcoming meetings are scheduled for January 24, 2009, March 28, 2009 & May 30, 2009.

Remember the OMEA is comprised of teachers who are dedicated to working on its members’ behalf by offering ongoing professional development, networking, resources, and advocacy to improve teaching practise and quality music education in Ontario. Please let us know how we can better serve the needs of you in your classroom.

I look forward to having the opportunity to meet with many of you over the next two years at conferences and regional workshops.

Please do feel free to contact me at lmatthie0812@rogers.com