Doreen Bridges

Doreen Miriam Bridges (11 June 1918 – 13 September 2024) was an Australian music educator and researcher whose work shaped early childhood music education and Kodaly method in Australia.

Education Doreen Miriam Jacobs was born in Glenelg, South Australia on 11 June 1918 to Roland Ellis Jacobs and Olga Jacobs. She attended Walford House School and at the age of 14 became a piano student of Miss Maude Puddy at the Elder Conservatorium and in 1936 was awarded the AMEB scholarship for the Bachelor of Music course. While at The University of Adelaide she served on the University Women's Union including a term as president.

Bridges moved to London in 1948 and studied composition with Professor Alan Bush at the Royal Academy of Music, achieving Diplomas in school music, aural training and class singing.

Musical composition Bridges was recognised as a composer who included Australian themes. Her work, 'Two Songs of Eureka' was included in the 1950 South Australian Festival of Music. In 1950 Bridges composed the music to Helen Palmer's song 'The Ballad of 1891' which details the lead up to the 1891 shearers' strike and its aftermath.

Career In 1944, Bridges enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force and became an education officer. After moving to New South Wales she became a member of the Communist Party of Australia (1947—1955).

Recognition Bridges was appointed to the Research Commission of the International Society for Music Education, and was recognised as an Honorary Life Member of the Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia, and Patron of Dalcroze Australia.

In the 1984 Australia Day Honours, Bridges was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for services to music education. In 2008, in honour of her 90th birthday, Martin Comte edited a festschrift called Musical Dimensions which was published by Australian Scholarly Publishing in 2009.

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