Explore Our History
In 1942, Mary Covert, a piano teacher, music critic and correspondent for the Musical Courier invited several prominent Montreal music teachers to a discussion group which led to the creation of the Quebec Music Teachers’ Association. Subsequent meetings laid the groundwork for the Association’s constitution which would bring together qualified teachers holding music degrees from recognized institutions.
The QMTA was legally incorporated in 1944 as a bilingual non-profit organization. At that time, its constitution was drafted and adopted, being subsequently revised in 1960. In 1945, the QMTA joined the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA). A review of the QMTA archives produced a newspaper clipping from The Montreal Gazette dated June 8, 1945, with the heading "Music Teachers Hold Annual Meeting". Rose Goldblatt and Violet Archer's names were listed as attendees at the meeting (See picture gallery). Founding members included Félix Bertrand, Rose Goldblatt, Frances Goltman, Edna Marie Hawkin, Marie-Thérèse Paquin et Anthony Zaplaski.
The QMTA began organizing regular activities and meetings, inviting internationally recognized Canadian, American, and European musicians to feature as guest lecturers and/or performers.
The music of Canadian composers is regularly showcased at QMTA events, especially during the “Canada Music Week” recitals held every November. The first recital of this kind occurred in Montreal in 1944, with the cooperation of the Oxford University Press. Various symposiums were organized, being led by music critics, teachers and even the parents of students.
In 1969, the first Provincial Council was elected with Daphné Beauchamp-Huppé as President. An Eastern Townships branch was established in February 1980 which saw the return of the Provincial Council as an overall supervisory body.
Presidents of the QMTA
1942 – 1945 Edna Marie Hawkin
1945 – 1947 Marie-Thérèse Paquin
1947 – 1949 Ruth Blanchard
1949 – 1951 Roger Filiatrault
1951 – 1953 Frances Goltman
1953 – 1955 Felix Bertrand
1955 – 1957 Leon Kaufman
1957 – 1959 Françoise D’Amour
1959 – 1961 Anthony Zaplaski
1961 – 1965 Madeleine Provost
1965 – 1967 Daphne Sandercock
1967 – 1969 Maurice Valentyne
1969 – 1971 Muriel Shoobridge
1971 – 1974 Juliette McLaren
1974 – 1977 Viola Benson
1977 – 1979 Georges Lindsay
1979 – 1981 Susan Giday
1981 – 1983 Laure Fink
1983 – 1985 Rose Goldblatt
1985 – 1987 Yolande Gaudreau
1987 – 1989 Margarete Palos
1989 – 1991 Christiane Claude
1991 – 1993 Rita Barg
1993 – 1995 Yolande Gaudreau
1995 – 1998 Carl Urquhart
1998 – 1999 Rita Barg
1999 – 2001 Hélène Lord
2001 – 2002 Viktorya Kasuto
2003 – 2005 Christiane Claude
2005 – 2007 David Côté
2007 – 2010 Lynne Gagné
2010 – 2012 Yolande Gaudreau
2012 – 2015 Lynne Gagné
2015 – David Côté
Other Highlights
1963 - Montreal hosts the 14th CFMTA biennial convention, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, under the direction of Madeleine Provost.
1997 - Montreal hosts the CFMTA convention once again. A double CD titled "Canadian Music for Young Pianists" is recorded under the direction of Christiane Claude, in collaboration with the Canadian Music Center and Guy Soucie from the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur.
1983 - Henry Finkel, Rose Goldblatt's husband, designs our logo.
1995 - Creation of the Quebec Music Education Foundation by Rita Barg, past QMTA president.
2000 - Gayle Colebrook transforms our newsletter into a print and online journal called MusiFax. Danielle Langevin takes over as editor from 2003 to 2015. In 2013, MusiFax is replaced with a webzine called MusiWeb. Since 2015, Melissa Faustin is the editor of MusiWeb.
Our website, apmqmta.org is created.
The NDG Arts and Letters Festival becomes the Montreal Classical Music Festival. The QMTA undertakes management of this event which replaces its traditional Spring Festival.
