History of OAKE

The Organization of American Kodály Educators was founded in March 1974 at the MENC meeting in Anaheim, California. During these same meetings, the International Kodály Society was also formed, with the intention to begin formalization in Budapest in 1975.

At the time, Betsy Moll and Christine Kunko Jordanoff were co-editors of the Kodály Envoy, which had been recently published for the first time. Christine proposed that in order to continue supporting such a publication, it would require organizational support.

A constitution and by-laws for the proposed Organization of American Kodály Educators was drafted and was ready for approval. At the close of the session where this proposal was made, Lois Choksy stated, “we believe that such an organization must be an open one. Active membership should be available to all professionally engaged in Kodály-inspired music education.”

Later that day, a caucus was formed where they decided upon the name OAKE, goals to hold a founding conference to be held in the “Mid-West”, a tentative constitution and by-laws, a motion and enactment of a Board of Directors, and the first price of dues at $15 which included a subscription to the newly published Kodály Envoy. The newly minted by-laws were published in the second issue of the Kodály Envoy. 

 

Organization of American Kodály Educators Founders

Lauren Abernethy, Lois Choksy, Rita Concannon, Doris Englehard
Sr. Mary Alice Hein, Stephen Jay, Christine Kunko Jordanoff, Shirley Linscott
Betsy Moll, Norman Weeks, Mark Williams, Sr. Lorna Zemke

 

The founding OAKE Board of Directors

 

 

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Organization of American Kodály Educators – List of Presidents

Tom Michalek – Current
Kevin Pearson – 2022-24
Donna Menhart – 2020-22
Ann Leffard – 2018-20
Mary Epstein – 2016-18
Paul Baumann – 2014-16
Kelly Foster Griffin – 2012-14
Joy Nelson – 2010-12
Georgia Newlin – 2008-10
Brent Gault – 2006-08
Katherine Hickey – 2004-06
Sandra Mathias – 2002-04
Jill Trinka – 2000-02
Ann Kay – 1998-2000
John Feierabend – 1996-98
Patricia Teske – 1994-96
Pamela Wade – 1992-94
Betsy Moll – 1990-92
Virginia Irvin – 1988-90
Lauren Abernethy – 1986-88
Laurdella Foulkes-Levy – 1984-86
Jean Sinor – 1982-84
Christine Kunko Jordanoff – 1980-82
Sr. Lorna Zemke – 1980
Helen Wyzga – 1979
David Buttolph – 1978
Mark Williams – 1977
Stephen Jay – 1976

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Organization of American Kodály Educators Conference History

1975, Milwaukee, WI
Founding Conference

1976, Pittsburgh, PA
Ethnicity…Adapting to Our Own

1977, Hartford, CT
Musical Pluralism: Expanding and Exploring the Kodály Concept

1978, San Antonio, TX
Kaleidoscope of Cultures

1979, Oakland, CA
Save Our School Music

1980, Bloomington, IN
From Folksong to Masterwork

1981, Baltimore, MD
Music: The Art of the Kodály Educator

1982, Milwaukee, WI
Zoltán Kodály: A Centennial Celebration

1983, Seattle, WA
Into the Next Century: Kodály Present and Future

1984, New Orleans, LA
Kodály and ALLLLL that Jazz

1985, Philadelphia, PA
United Neighborhoods, United Musicians

1986, St. Louis, MO
Let the Children Sing!

1987, Los Angeles, CA
A Place in the Sun

1988, Ft. Worth, TX
Singing…Where Music Begins

1989, Boston, MA
Birthplace of the American Revolution

1990, Manitowoc, WI
Kodály in 1990: The Great Lakes Conference

1991, San Francisco, CA
Golden Gate to Music

1992, Norman, OK
Music: The Thread that Binds

1993, West Hartford, CT
Partners in Artistry

1994, Chattanooga, TN
Music for an Appalachian Spring

1995, Minneapolis, MN
Kodály in America: Nurturing the Spirit Within

1996, Provo, UT
Pioneer Vision

1997, Baltimore, MD
Power Through Partnership

1998, New Orleans, LA
Music: The Water of Life

1999, Columbus, OH
Set Sail for a New World of Music

2000, Seattle, WA
Sound of the Century

2001, Colonial Williamsburg, VA
A New Revolution of Sound

2002, San Antonio, TX
Fiesta de Musica

2003, Minneapolis, MN
Artistry & Excellence: Light the Fire

2004, San Francisco, CA
Music: The Language of Community

2005, Springfield, MA
New Directions in New England

2006, Charlotte, NC
Crossroads in Carolina, Musical Traditions & Innovations

2007, Chicago, IL
Taste of Kodály

2008, Denver, CO
Kodály in Colorado, Music with Altitude

2009, Washington, D.C.
Kodály in the Capital: A Musical Legacy, Celebrating 35 Years

2010, Dallas, TX
The Arts Are Key: Deep in the Heart of Kodály

2011, Minneapolis, MN
Acorn to OAKE: Nurturing Musical Growth, Creativity, Quality, Community

2012, Phoenix, AZ
A Grand Vision: Heritage, Hope, & Harmony

2013, Hartford, CT
The Nature of Music: Kodaly in New England

2014, Atlanta, GA
Southern Harmony: Music for Everyone

2015, Minneapolis, MN
Harmonia Mundi: We Gather Here Together

2016, Long Beach, CA
California Gold: Roots from the Past, Vision for the Future

2017, Philadelphia, PA
Let Freedom Ring: Fostering Musical Independence

2018, Oklahoma City, OK
This Land is Your Land: Music Made for You and Me

2019, Columbus, OH
Heart and Hand, Mind and Ear: Kodály’s Musical Balance

2020, Portland, OR
Kodály’s Vision in the 21st Century

2021, Virtual Conference
Music for All

2022, Pittsburgh, PA
Building Bridges to Strengthen Us

2023, Jacksonville, FL
Kodály for a Bold New World

2024, Chicago, IL
50th Anniversary: Reflecting & Refining

2025, Chicago, IL
Musical Storytellers: Continuing Kodaly’s Narrative