Michael Cass-Beggs

Michael (John) Cass-Beggs. Teacher, producer, folksong collector, singer, b Toronto 11 Jun 1941, d Ottawa 4 Jun 2007; B MUS (British Columbia) 1964, LRAM 1965, post-graduate diploma (King's College, London) 1966. Michael Cass-Beggs' mother was the teacher and folksong collector Barbara Cass-Beggs. He studied violin with Frederick Grinke and historical musicology with Robert Thurston Dart. Subsequently he was a CBC music producer 1967-80. Continuing his mother's interest in music as an integral part of general education, he developed a series of programs and workshops for schoolchildren, teachers and general audiences including a survey of Canadian history through folk songs and an introduction of Canadian folk music materials for teachers. He worked as music consultant for museums, broadcasting, and educational institutions and directed the CAMMAC orchestra in addition to music at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. He released two cassettes, Say It With Music: The Story of Canada and Your Baby Needs Music/Sing Lullaby (Cass-Beggs C-B-01 and C-B-02). Your Baby Needs Music contains a music class for babies with their parents by Barbara Cass-Beggs. Michael Cass-Beggs was president 1971-5 of the Canadian Folk Music Society.