By GARY FRY
Caption: Deidre May Rickards OAM for service to music education. Picture: DANIELI STUDIOS
DEIDRE May Rickards was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her ‘service to music education’ and was thrilled that she, a passionate music teacher, had been on the Queen’s Birthday honours list.
Mrs Rickards said there has been satisfaction and joy in providing a music education to young people, seeing their lives enriched by their knowledge of, or prowess with music.
A former president of the Armidale Music Teachers Association, Mrs Rickards has been involved with a range of local music organisations, including the Armidale Youth Orchestra, Armidale Symphony Orchestra and the Armidale Choral Society.
Mrs Rickards was a music teacher at a number of NSW Public High Schools, 1967-1974 and 1977-1987, eventually becoming a Regional Music Adviser for the NSW Department of Education and Communities.
She was Director of Music at PLC, Armidale, 1987-1998 then Director of Music at The Armidale School, 1999-2005 and also served as President of the Montessori School, Armidale.
Mrs Rickards’ teaching accolades have included a quality teaching award from the Australian College of Educators and a National Excellence in Teaching Award, 2001. She was the Author of Chamber Music in Your Classroom; a regional project involving performers, teachers and students.
At UNE, Mrs Rickards has trained and conducted student choirs at Earle Page College and also lectured in Music Method and Music Curriculum.
Involved with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Education program for many years, the multi-skilled music teaching maestro produced program resources for the Meet the Music initiative. She also lectured in Composition and Performance at the Access Workshops (Sydney Conservatorium of Music).
Mrs Rickards has had her musical fingers in many local pies, such as the orchestration of Australian composers to evaluate student compositions in the Armidale Eisteddfod.
After many years of providing music education, Mrs Rickards has concerns for the future.
“Music teacher training needs to be refined and improved. Quite often there will only be one or two music teachers in a school. The success of the subject is reliant of them,” she said.
“Their skills need to be holistic. They should be able to conduct choirs, play instruments, sing well, and train students according to the syllabus.”
