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 three times in its history. Under the former name of the Kodály Institute of Canada, the 3rd IKS Symposium (1st, in Oakland, CA, USA; 2nd, in Kecskemét, HU) was held in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 1977. The 10th IKS was held at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta in 1991. The 23rd IKS was held at the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, in Camrose, Alberta in 2023.

At present there are six branches within the organization: British Columbia (KSBC), Alberta (AKA), Manitoba (MKS), Ontario (KSO), Québec (KQc), 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 17 Presidents:

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:

Honourary Members / Membres Honoraires

Ki Adams, Malcolm Bradley, Gyula Budai, Kim Eyre, Beatrix Finta, Gabor Finta, Connie Foss More, Edna Knock, Jeanette Panagapka, Kaye Pottie, Ardelle Ries

Deceased Honourary Members / Membres Honoraires Décédés

Ilona Bartalus (D), Lois Choksy (D), Helen Creighton (D), Marta Csikos Green (D), Mae Daly (D), Katalin Forrai (D), Edith Fowke (D), Dr. Lyell Gustin (D), Alastair Highet (D), Richard Johnston (D), Edit Lantos (D), Gabrielle Letourneau (D), Pierre Perron (D), Thérèse Potvin (D), Miklós Takács (D), László Vikár (D), Riet Vink (D), John Whitehead (D)    (D) = deceased