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Renowned New Brunswick Music Educator Gloria Richard Receives Lieutenant Governor’s NBYO Award
Buctouche, NB: Soprano and long-time music educator Gloria Richard, has been honoured with the Lieutenant Governor’s NBYO Award for her outstanding contribution to teaching and supporting the growth of music throughout New Brunswick. For more than 50 years, Richard has dedicated herself to developing the province’s music education curriculum as well as to representing New Brunswick as a soloist and pianist.
“Throughout my life, music has been the one constant that has given me joy and purpose,” says Gloria Richard. “It has been a wonderful journey to be able to have this career in music. To create opportunities for young people and inspire them is a gift, for which I am grateful.”
President of the Jeunesses Musicales Nouveau-Brunswick, Pauline Banville-Pérusse says Richard is most deserving of this award. “This great lady of New Brunswick’s music community has always believed that, ‘Music should be the second compulsory language in all schools of the world,’” says Banville-Pérusse, whose organization nominated Richard for this award. “Her efforts in making this the case in New Brunswick is something that we are forever grateful for.”
Born in Ste-Anne, NB, Gloria Richard began singing in her school choir where it was discovered she was a gifted vocalist. She enrolled at the Notre-Dame d'Acadie College in Moncton to obtain her professional teaching diploma for piano and singing. Richard went on to study at the University of Montreal where she earned Bachelor and Master degrees in music. In 1970, she returned to NB to complete an Education degree and was then hired by the province of New Brunswick as a music education teaching consultant. It was in this role that she has helped to craft the province’s music curriculum. Through her decades of work, Richard has even earned a mention in The Canadian Encyclopedia, a collection that highlights individuals from across the country who have made significant contributions to the nation.
As a performer, Richard has also left her mark and has won numerous music competitions including the “CBC Trans-Canada Talent Caravan”, a televised competition in 1959, and at festivals in New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec. As a soloist she has performed with symphony orchestras from Halifax, Edmonton, Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto.
Ken MacLeod, CEO of the NBYO and Sistema NB says Richard’s contributions to growing music education in the province has helped to lay the groundwork for today’s Sistema NB program.
“As Sistema NB music educators we, too, see the value and impact that music education can have on learning and the future success of our youth,” says MacLeod. “We commend Gloria for her lifelong commitment to bringing music to our young people and for making a difference in the lives of so many.”
Gloria receives award from Lieutenant Governor Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau and NBYO President & CEI Ken MacLeod
Friday, June 16, 2017 at the J. K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche
About the Lieutenant Governor’s NBYO Award
The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra created the Lieutenant Governor’s NBYO Award in 2006 in celebration of its 40th anniversary. The annual award recognizes exemplary leadership and contribution to youth in the development of music and/or the orchestral community in New Brunswick.
The Award is presented each year during the NBYO concert season to deserving musicians, instructors, members, patrons or volunteers from across the province and beyond. The NBYO Awards Committee receives the nominations from the community and selects the deserving recipients.
