Maree Hennessy

Maree Hennessy is an internationally recognised leader, teacher, professional development facilitator and mentor in Kodály-inspired practice. Her career spans from music teacher in regional Queensland to Director of the renowned Kodály Center at Holy Names University.

Maree has extensive experience in music education across sectors and age groups – early childhood, school, university and community settings in state, independent and Catholic school systems. Having worked in country Queensland, she developed extensive experience in teaching and learning in multi-level and mixed ability contexts.

Maree has developed curriculum materials and resources designed to assist teachers in the implementation of effective music programs in schools. She previously worked as Senior Project Writer for Curriculum into the Classroom materials designed to support Queensland teachers in the implementation of the new Australian Curriculum. She was also an editor, key writer and demonstration teacher for the KMEIA QLD ‘Middle Years Music Education’ DVD resource for teachers.

Maree is a past president of KMEIA QLD and was coordinator of the still successful Open Classroom Series in Queensland. She has been involved in the KMEIA National Council through various roles, most notably as an expert consultant on the Education Committee. Maree is an Accredited Lecturer for the Australian Kodály Certificate, and is especially admired as a leader of Primary Level 1. She has lectured in Brisbane, including as part of the University of Queensland postgraduate summer semester courses, and Perth, as well as in New Zealand and Malaysia, and has presented at International Kodály Symposiums.

At the University of Queensland, Maree was a highly respected lecturer in music education. She had various roles in aural musicianship and classroom pedagogy in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. During this time, she helped significantly shape a generation of classroom music teachers. Maree has demonstrated a commitment to Kodály-inspired teacher education and mentoring.

In 2015, Maree relocated from Australia to Oakland, California, to oversee the renowned Masters in Music Education (Kodály) program at Holy Names University as the Director of the Kodály Center for Music Education. Maree continues to return home to present at workshops, courses and conferences assisting us to be better educators and people.