Academic Background

ARCT, BMus, BEd, MMus, DEd (Toronto)

Biography

Lee came to Laurier in September, 2004, to coordinate the music education and choral programs. From 1998 to 2004, he was on the faculty of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, teaching in the preservice program in music education. Prior to that, he taught in the public high school system, and was coordinator of music for the Scarborough Board of Education.

He is the founding director of the Bell’Arte Singers of Toronto, and conducted the choir for twenty years. Willingham served as the principal of the OISE/UT Summer Music program for a number of years, providing certification programs for teachers in music.

A contributor of chapters, papers, and articles to a number of publications, Willingham was for ten years the editor of the Canadian Music Educators Journal/Musicien éducator au Canada He co-edited the book, Creativity and Music Education. He is a past president and Honourary Life Member of the Ontario Music Educators' Association.

Willingham has guest conducted many choirs, including the Unisong Choir with the National Arts Centre Orchestra on Canada Day in the nation’s capital, and most recently the Waterloo Region Choral Festival at Centre in the Square, Kitchener, Ontario.

Lee is married to Eva Mezo and is father to Geoffrey, Jessica, and twins Leah and Nora.

Additional Information

Dr. Willingham is the lead in developing a Master of Arts, Community Music degree program at Wilfrid Laurier University, Faculty of Music. The proposed outcomes: 

    1.  Earn a recognized qualification in Community Music.
    2.  Develop and apply research skills and contribute to the body of research on the role of music in the community.

3. Aquire a foundational understanding of global Community Music practices.
    4.  Build and reflect upon personal leadership skills, engaging self and others within a community-building practice, grounded on a solid theoretical foundation.

5. Develop and apply creative and practical skills in a network of interdisciplinary arts fields.
    6. Articulate an advanced and integrated conceptual understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in community music leadership.

These outcomes are achieved through a balance of courses, applied field experience, reflection and research.