Ki Adams, Honorary Research Fellow
In 1974, Ki Adams moved from the USA to Canada for a teaching adventure in Newfoundland and Labrador. He never returned. Instead, like many others who come to the island for a visit, he decided to stay. With a B.Mus.Ed. (Evangel College) and M.Mus. Organ (Northwestern University), he was the first music teacher at Eugene Vaters Academy/Collegiate, an all-grade school in St. John’s. There he developed a comprehensive K-12 classroom/choral program with award-winning choirs.
After 13 years teaching, Ki became Music Consultant with the provincial Department of Education where he worked with music teachers across the island to design and implement the music education curriculum for the province. After 8 years in this position, he accepted a tenure-track position at Memorial University (MUN) Faculty of Education, cross-appointed to the School of Music. For the past 25 years, Ki has taught graduate/undergraduate courses in music education and organ. Keenly aware of the importance of life-long learning, he completed specialist diploma programs in both Kodály methodology (University of Calgary) and Orff-Schulwerk (Hamline University) as well as doctoral studies in education (ABD, University of Wisconsin-Madison). In addition to teaching at MUN, Ki taught at Western University and Acadia University in Kodály summer programs. In 2015, Ki’s successful and innovative teaching career at MUN was recognized by his receiving the inaugural Faculty of Education’s Dean’s Award – Excellence in Teaching.
Ki’s research and writing range from his career-long involvement in the publication of music education curriculum documents/resources, many specifically related to choral music education, to papers and presentations on choral music education at national and international conferences. Ki has been an active choral conductor and organist for over 50 years. From 1992-2006, he was Founding Associate Conductor/Accompanist for Shallaway Youth Choir (formerly Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir). In addition to his work with Shallaway, Ki has guest conducted various festival choirs, has served as a jury member on the Canada Council of the Arts Peer Assessment Committee for Professional Choirs, and is active as a choral festival adjudicator. He is currently Music Director at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church.
Ki has held executive positions with provincial, national, and international choral professional organizations: Choral Canada President, International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) Board member, World Youth Choir Foundation President, FESTIVAL 500 Sharing the Voices Artistic Director, The Singing Network Co-Founder/Co-Director, Phenomenon of Singing Symposia Co-Director, International Kodály Society Treasurer, and Kodály Society of Canada President. In May 2020, he received Choral Canada’s Distinguished Service Award, given in recognition of long-term service to choral music in Canada.
Ki was award an Honorary Life Membership of the Canadian Music Educators' Association at the recent RESONATE Conference (October 30, 2020) of the NLTA- Music Special Interest Council.
In 1974, Ki Adams moved from the USA to Canada for a teaching adventure in Newfoundland and Labrador. He never returned. Instead, like many others who come to the island for a visit, he decided to stay. With a B.Mus.Ed. (Evangel College) and M.Mus. Organ (Northwestern University), he was the first music teacher at Eugene Vaters Academy/Collegiate, an all-grade school in St. John’s. There he developed a comprehensive K-12 classroom/choral program with award-winning choirs.
After 13 years teaching, Ki became Music Consultant with the provincial Department of Education where he worked with music teachers across the island to design and implement the music education curriculum for the province. After 8 years in this position, he accepted a tenure-track position at Memorial University (MUN) Faculty of Education, cross-appointed to the School of Music. For the past 25 years, Ki has taught graduate/undergraduate courses in music education and organ. Keenly aware of the importance of life-long learning, he completed specialist diploma programs in both Kodály methodology (University of Calgary) and Orff-Schulwerk (Hamline University) as well as doctoral studies in education (ABD, University of Wisconsin-Madison). In addition to teaching at MUN, Ki taught at Western University and Acadia University in Kodály summer programs. In 2015, Ki’s successful and innovative teaching career at MUN was recognized by his receiving the inaugural Faculty of Education’s Dean’s Award – Excellence in Teaching.
Ki’s research and writing range from his career-long involvement in the publication of music education curriculum documents/resources, many specifically related to choral music education, to papers and presentations on choral music education at national and international conferences. Ki has been an active choral conductor and organist for over 50 years. From 1992-2006, he was Founding Associate Conductor/Accompanist for Shallaway Youth Choir (formerly Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir). In addition to his work with Shallaway, Ki has guest conducted various festival choirs, has served as a jury member on the Canada Council of the Arts Peer Assessment Committee for Professional Choirs, and is active as a choral festival adjudicator. He is currently Music Director at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church.
Ki has held executive positions with provincial, national, and international choral professional organizations: Choral Canada President, International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) Board member, World Youth Choir Foundation President, FESTIVAL 500 Sharing the Voices Artistic Director, The Singing Network Co-Founder/Co-Director, Phenomenon of Singing Symposia Co-Director, International Kodály Society Treasurer, and Kodály Society of Canada President. In May 2020, he received Choral Canada’s Distinguished Service Award, given in recognition of long-term service to choral music in Canada.
Ki was award an Honorary Life Membership of the Canadian Music Educators' Association at the recent RESONATE Conference (October 30, 2020) of the NLTA- Music Special Interest Council.
