Graduate music education student Ms. Jennifer Stratton has been awarded first prize in the Dr. Franklin Churchley Graduate Essay Competition for her essay, Sacred Music in the Secular Context: A Place for Sacred Music in Newfoundland Schools.

The competition is sponsored by the Canadian Music Educators Association (CMEA). The prize comes with a cash prize of $250 and the opportunity to have the essay published in CMEA/Acme journal, the Canadian Music Educator. All submissions are judged blind by a panel of nationally-acclaimed music educators.

Last year, students from Memorial claimed the top three prizes in this undergraduate contest.

Dr. Andrea Rose is Ms. Stratton’s faculty advisor, and said that the display from Memorial students in this competition is inspiring as an educator.

“It's affirming first of all to know that you have engaged your students to the point where they are interested in working on an essay to the extent that its ready and submissable to a national contest,” said Dr. Rose. “Then to have students win top national honours is affirming to the academic credibility and general rigor of the music education program here at Memorial. And more importantly, the students themselves feel affirmed and valued, locally and nationally, and its also a great confidence-booster as they continue to work and learn within their chosen career paths.”

Ms. Stratton currently teaches in Corner Brook. She said she chose the topic when she developed an interest in multicultural music education during her degree.

“One of the prevalent issues relates to sacred music and sacred text,” she explained. “A lot of music from the Western culture has roots in religious music, specifically Christian. Also, in Newfoundland and Labrador, many schools were linked to Christian groups. When the Lords Prayer was eliminated from mornings at school, I was forced to think more about the multicultural issues, as it was a much more multicultural society than the one that I grew up in.”

Her paper defines sacred music, provides samples of cultural and curricular supports of sacred music, and provides considerations and recommendations relating to the performance of sacred music in secular contexts.

“Specifically, I refer the context of schools in Newfoundland and Labrador and the music curriculum of the province. I discuss the issue as it has the potential to become a political issue related to human rights, if someone feels they are being asked to participate outside of their belief system - for example, an atheist person who feels that they are being asked to worship God through a Christian context.”

Ms. Stratton added that the award means that other people find controversial issues relating to the inclusion of diverse music as important for educators, and that she is challenged by the concept of including all students to feel involved in music education to feel represented and respected.

“I want to find ways to connect to their interests, as well as to connect to the world outside of the classroom. Diversity in music selection can support increased knowledge for the teacher, students and other educational stakeholders,” said Ms. Stratton.