Paul Woodford

Woodford, Paul

Paul (Gerard) Woodford. Historian, teacher, conductor, b St John's, Nfld, 6 Apr 1955; B MUS music education (Toronto) 1977, B ED (Toronto) 1978, M MUS music education (Western) 1983. While teaching music in elementary and high schools of the Newfoundland school system 1978-88 Woodford was conductor of the Corner Brook College Community Band 1979-81, co-director of the Papal Youth Honour Band in 1984, conductor of the District Band of the Roman Catholic School Board for St John's 1986-8 and simultaneously principal trumpet of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. He left the school system in 1988 to teach music education at Mount Allison University, then joined the faculty of Memorial University's School of Music in 1989. In 1991, while completing PH D residence requirements, he taught at Northwestern U in Evanston, Ill. Woodford's principal research interest, the history of the written musical tradition of Newfoundland and Labrador, has given rise to books, articles, radio documentaries and public lectures in several provinces. He is a contributor to EMC and the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 1986 Woodford co-founded and directed the Eastern Music Camp of Mount Pearl, Nfld, which under a staff of some 30 teachers annually offers students instruction in instrumental and choral music as well as courses in instrumental wind conducting for music teachers and university students. The camp has also commissioned works from Canadian composers including Jim Duff and Michael Parker. Woodford continued as director in 1991.

Selected Writings

'Appreciation and band repertoire,' Opus, vol 2, Apr 1982

'Music composition in Newfoundland: 1756-1930,' Opus, vol 18, May 1984

Charles Hutton: Newfoundland's Greatest Musician and Dramatist, 1861-1949 (St John's, Nfld 1983)

The Life and Contributions of Ignatius Rumboldt to Music in Newfoundland (St John's, Nfld, 1984)

- ed A Newfoundland Songbook: A Collection of Music by Historic Newfoundland Composers 1820-1942 (St John's, Nfld, 1987)

'We Love the Place, O Lord': A History of the Written Musical Tradition of Newfoundland and Labrador to 1949 (St John's, Nfld, 1988)