Curtis Mathewson – Past-President
Curtis Mathewson is a percussionist, composer, and educator. He currently teaches K-7 music with the Vancouver School Board and is the music director and composer for Eastside Story Guild, a children’s interdisciplinary performing arts ensemble in East Van. Curtis was the music director and performer with SWARM, an action drumming ensemble that mixed movement with music, using invented instruments. He has given workshops on using marimbas in music education and is a Level III certified Orff specialist.
Susan Rowe – Vice-President
Susan Rowe began her career as an elementary school music educator in 2018. She believes in making music fun and accessible. Susan uses music as a means to promote diversity and acceptance. Susan holds three bachelors degrees (a BComm from UBC, BHSc from TRU, and BEd from SFU). In addition to a 20 year career as a Registered Massage Therapist, Susan taught mathematics and physical education in Singapore during the 1990s. She is an avid ultrarunner, telemark skier, and stand-up paddleboarder who loves spending time with her husband and 14 year old son. She is currently the Board Archivist for the BC Orff Chapter Committee and sits on the Carl Orff Canada Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Pam Hetrick – Levels Liason
Pam has taught music for over 30 years and is excited about every new school year, always inspired by Orff. She is currently teaching music at Suncrest School in Burnaby. Pam presents Orff Schulwerk workshops in the U.S. and Canada, is Past Co-President of the BC Orff Chapter and served on the American Orff Schulwerk Editorial Board for 10 years. She has enjoyed performing with steel drum bands, Gamelan Sekar Jaya with whom she toured Indonesia twice, Keith Terry Body Music Ensemble, and currently Adanu Habobo, an African music and dance ensemble. Pam is Course Director and Level I Instructor for the Orff Teacher Training Program at Vancouver Community College.
Marysia Bulanowski – Social Media/Webmaster
Marysia Bulanowski teaches K-7 music with the Burnaby School District. A graduate of Queen’s University, Marysia moved from Ontario to BC in 2017 to begin her teaching career, and joined the Orff board at her first workshop. Marysia recently graduated with her Master of Music in Music Education from University of Western Ontario. When she isn’t teaching, she is away travelling or hiking, or playing her ukulele!
Ellie Jung – Secretary
Ellie is a junior school music teacher at York House School who is passionate about teaching through the Orff approach. She has a B. Mus., B. Ed., and M. Ed from UBC, during which she specialised on the clarinet. She likes to sing karaoke, cycle, and swim in the ocean. Her favourite part of being a music teacher is that she gets to have just as much fun as her students.