OUR TEAM
Stacey Sinclair
Executive Director
Stacey Sinclair, Executive Director
Stacey has been working in the non-profit and cultural sector for more than 20 years. She is a graduate of the MBA program in Arts Administration from the Schulich School of Business, the Arts Administration & Cultural Management program from Humber College, and has an honours undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from York University.
Stacey specializes in strategic planning, marketing, and development, and is passionate about helping organizations build awareness and sustainable revenue sources. She has served on the board of the Oakville Arts Council and CommUnity Arts Space, and is a recipient of the Town of Oakville Community Spirit Award for Volunteerism in the Arts. She currently sits on the board of The Women’s Centre of Halton.
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kirsten Maclaine
Chair of the Board
Kirsten MacLaine, Chair of the Board
Kirsten MacLaine enjoys teaching a variety of Music courses at Bluefield Senior High School in central Prince Edward Island. Raised in Toronto, Ontario, Kirsten packed up her trumpet and traveled east to the University of Prince Edward Island where she earned her Bachelor of Music, with a specialization in Education, in 1998. She returned to Ontario to complete a Bachelor of Education at Nipissing University in 1999, and her Masters in Education from the University of New Brunswick in 2012.
A passionate music educator, Kirsten has taught music in both Toronto and PEI, from pre-school to Grade 13, and has worked in various positions of responsibility and on many different professional committees. In addition to her teaching assignment, she is also the Music Area Coordinator for the Public Schools Branch of Prince Edward Island.
Currently serving as Chair of the Board for the Coalition for Music Education of Canada, Kirsten is also a past President of the Canadian Music Educators’ Association and the PEI Music Educators’ Association. In 2023, Kirsten was honoured to be awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her many contributions to music education in both PEI and across Canada.
Kirsten lives in scenic New Glasgow, PEI with her husband Matthew, their four children: Emma, Charlotte, Flora and Callum, Wynnie the dog, Stella the cat and their 5 chickens.
Robert Barg
Treasurer
Robert Barg, Vice-Chair, Treasurer
Rob has been involved with music all his life both personally and professionally. He began a successful career in the music business with Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. in 1971, and retired as Corporate Vice President in 2014, and Secretary of the Board of Directors in 2020.
Rob has a passion for the value of music in people’s lives, which has driven him to give back to the community and society in many ways. This includes, especially advocating for quality music education for children and youth in our schools, in particular as Treasurer and Executive Member of the Coalition Canada (Coalition for Music Education in Canada).
Rob and wife Rose have found their retirement home in Lindsay, Ontario, where he also serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of The Academy Theatre Foundation.
His extensive experience in all facets of the music industry, have led to a high level volunteer leadership in these not for profit organizations.
Rob’s love of love of entertaining has led him back to sharing his love of music with others. A distinguished singer, guitarist, and songwriter, he performs in a multitude of styles, and genres appealing to many varied music tastes.
Helen Coker
Secretary
Helen Coker
Helen is looking forward to serving as Secretary on the Coalition for Music Education in Canada board of directors. Previously, she was the President of the Canadian Music Educators’ Association (2017 – 2019) and was the CMEA representative on the Coalition board. Helen is a long-time member of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association, serving in several roles including being president from 2010 – 2012 and chairing conferences in 2006, 2010 and 2014. She is recently retired from teaching strings and instrumental music at Woodstock Collegiate Institute after recently holding the position of Learning Coordinator for the Arts for the Thames Valley District School Board. Helen’s interests include spending time with family, travelling and all things Disney.
Rebecca Brown
Board Member
Rebecca Brown
Rebecca resides in Winnipeg, where she teaches choir, dance, drama, and musical theatre to students in grades 6-8. A graduate of Brandon University, she is the current president of the Canadian Music Educators’ Association, past president of the Manitoba Music Educators’ Association, and a founding member of the Manitoba Dance Educators’ Association. A passionate advocate for Music Education, she is currently a student at the University of Manitoba working towards her master’s in education with a focus on SEL and arts education. When not trying to save the world through music, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her daughter Emerson-Rose.
Inderjit Mudhar
Board Member
Inderjit Mudhar
Inderjit Mudhar is a graduate of the University of Toronto, with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. Since joining Yamaha in 2006, his role has evolved to Communications Specialist and Customer Experience, in which he works tirelessly to ensure that all Canadians can make and enjoy music. As a musician, writer and educator, Inderjit passionately advocates for strong music programs in every part of Canada, and believes in the importance of life-long music-making.
Christin Reardon MacLellan
Board Member
Christin Reardon MacLellan
Christin Reardon MacLellan is the Director of Education and Community Programs for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, where she develops, implements, and oversees a wide variety of educational programming for individuals of all ages, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute. She is also director of the University of British Columbia Concert Winds, a sessional lecturer in the UBC School of Music, and Associate Conductor of the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
Christin is dedicated to supporting and advocating for quality music education in schools. She maintains an active schedule as an in-demand clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and guest speaker. Christin has presented workshops and her research at numerous conferences and symposia in Canada and the United States. As a board member of the Coalition for Music Education in BC, she works closely with teachers, community members, and arts organizations to protect, promote, and advance music education in BC schools.
Christin has taught band, choir, and general music in the public schools of Manitoba. She earned her masters degree in music education from Indiana University, where she taught undergraduate courses in music education and was a university supervisor for student teachers. Christin’s research is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education and Music Educators’ Journal. She is the recipient of the 2020 Canadian Music Educators Association Builders Award and 2020 British Columbia Music Educators Association Distinguished Service Award.
Sarah Veber
Board Member
Sarah Veber
Sarah Veber serves as principal harpist with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, where she has been featured as a soloist. She has performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Orchestra of the Americas, and Ottawa Chamber Orchestra. She appeared as a finalist in the Canadian Music Competition and the National Arts Centre Bursary Competition. A believer in empowering youth through music, Sarah sits on the board of The Coalition for Music Education in Canada. She has completed a Master of Music degree at the University of Cincinnati, a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Ottawa and an ARCT performance diploma from The Royal Conservatory of Music. Sarah currently resides in her home province of Newfoundland where she maintains a freelance career as a performing artist and music teacher.
Sophie Bossé
Board Member
Sophie Bossé
Outside of professional and family duties, Sophie is a music enthusiast who strongly believes music is an essential part of a person’s development, having the power to soothe and heal the soul at all ages.
Lloyd McArton
Board Member
Lloyd McArton
Lloyd (he/him) is a musician, teacher, and researcher. He is Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Lethbridge and is completing his PhD dissertation at University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. His doctoral thesis explores the intersection of independent (indie) musicianship and serious leisure, and the ways in which such learning relates to institutional endeavours of music education. Other areas of research include identifying barriers to musical learning and devising ways to address discrepancies in opportunities through more widespread, inclusive access. Outside of academia, Lloyd works, creates, and facilitates others’ learning as a DIY-focused musician and educator. For the past decade, he has been spending most of his musical time composing, recording, producing, and performing as a guitarist and saxophonist in the band Lost Cousins. Prior to his appointment at the University of Lethbridge, Lloyd taught courses in popular music and music education at the University of Toronto, as well as in Montessori schools and other community settings.
Lorèn Lailey-Irvine
Board Member
Lorèn Lailey-Irvine
Lorèn is a passionate communications professional with over 30-years of corporate communications experience with public, private, industry association and non-profit clients in Canada and in the United Kingdom.
A psychology graduate, she is known as a strategic storyteller, having built her career around understanding how to motivate audiences and how best to move them into action through research, captivating communications and most importantly, engaging content. She works in both Calgary and Vancouver, and has been involved in advancing integrated reputation programs for some of Canada’s top brands including Shaw Communications, Tourism Calgary, Canadian Pacific, Rick Hansen Foundation, Tervita, Alberta Health Services, Flair Airlines, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
While considered a “struggling musician” herself, Lorèn and her family have always had an affinity for music and its importance to human development and connecting people. Her father was a guitarist, her uncle can play any instrument you put in front of him, and her teenage children have both received formal musical training and played in school band programs throughout their elementary and middle school years.
Lorèn is excited to apply her love for music, and a diverse set of skills in public relations, government relations, marketing and communications, to advance the very important work the Coalition does across the country.