CELEBRATING 90 Years
INTRODUCING JOEL COPELAND AS WE EDGE CLOSER TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CANBERRA GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL MUSIC ACADEMY, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW DEAN OF MUSIC, MR JOEL COPELAND. JOEL JOINED THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF TERM 4 AND BRINGS WITH HIM A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND THE BELIEF THAT MUSIC LEARNING SHOULD BE FUN AND ENGAGING. Hailing from country New South Wales, Joel has experience in teaching students from Pre-Prep through to Year 12 as well as adult learners in a community setting. He holds a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Music), an Advanced Diploma in Leadership and Management and he is currently undertaking a Master of Education (Educational Leadership). As an exponent of the Kodály philosophy throughout his teaching career, Joel received the Australian Kodály Certificate in Secondary Music Education in 2015. He is currently serving his second two-year term as the National President of the Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia (KMEIA Inc.) Prior to joining our School, Joel held the position of Head of Music and Director of Choirs at Radford College, where he also spent twelve months as a Director of the College Board. He has also worked abroad, holding the position of Assistant Director of Music at Kent College, Canterbury in the United Kingdom. Joel has directed choirs, bands, orchestras and ensembles across all year levels and
was heavily involved in the development and implementation of an International Bachelorette inquiry-based music curriculum in the Radford Junior School. He is the Immediate Past President of the ACT Music Educators Network and has previously held positions on the National Council of the Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) and is a passionate advocate for music education. When he’s not teaching, you’ll find Joel on the sporting field. “I love to play sport. Cricket, rugby, touch, anything really. I enjoy being outside,” says Joel. Don’t let that sports-mad persona fool you though. Joel began playing the piano at age six and has since extended his repertoire to include the saxophone, drums and guitar – and it doesn’t end there. “I have always wanted to play the double bass and with the CGGS Music Staff all taking part in the Level 1 Strings group, I may find my opportunity comes sooner than expected.”
Growing up in Wagga Wagga and later in Yass, NSW, Joel “ventured across the border to school at St Edmund’s College,” where he was “fully immersed in music.” “I had the opportunity to learn the clarinet, saxophone and be involved in concert and jazz bands. My father was a keen musician and conductor in his own right and was always encouraging and fostering my passion for music. One questions remains – what is his favourite piece of music? “I have a fairly broad taste in music: classical – Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G Minor; jazz – Miles Davis, All Blues; contemporary – City and Colour; and home grown – SAFIA.”
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1955 Choir with Burilda Millett in Boarding
House Sitting Room (Courtesy of Anne Tully).
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1986 Madrigal Group with Brian Hingerty (Courtesy of Jane Crawford).
Chapel Choir in 1993 with Mary Tatchell. 4 Mr Viv Martin and the intermediate 3
concert band.
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