Dr. Marilyn Meador

Marilyn Meador taught music education and organ at Radford University for over 30 years. She joined the faculty in September 1978, and retired in December 2008. Prior to her career at Radford, she was a K-12 music specialist in Spring Hill, Tenn. Dr. Meador earned the Ph.D. in music education at North Texas State University, the M.M. in music history and literature at Southern Illinois University and the B.S. in music education at Middle Tennessee State University. Her eclectic background embraced expertise in Orff, Kodaly and Dalcroze methodologies. Dr. Meador has a life-long interest in the music of non-western cultures, which she pursued by studying gamelan and Indonesian music with Joko Sutrisno in St. Paul, Minnesota, among other cultural studies (Cuban, African, Native American, Chinese).

At Radford, Dr. Meador taught graduate and undergraduate courses in music and music education, with special emphasis in elementary general music and human development. She served as director of music Education from 1999 until her retirement. In this capacity, she coordinated the music education curriculum and oversaw accreditation reviews from the Virginia Department of Education, NASM, and NCATE. She was also advisor to Radford’s Collegiate MENC chapter.

Beyond the university campus, Dr. Meador directed two children’s performing groups: the Montgomery County Orff Ensemble from 1996 to 2002
 and Cantus Dominum Youth Choir at St. Thomas Episcopal Church from 1989 to 2001. The MC Orff Ensemble performed at schools across Virginia, as well as two VMEA state conferences and state capitol. Cantus Dominum specialized in leading Choral Evensong at the home church and beyond. The choir recorded a CD with RU’s Highlander Records.

Teaching applied organ was also among Dr. Meador’s activities at Radford. She regularly performed on Radford’s four-manual Möller organ, both for university ceremonies and as a concert organist. In addition to solo performances, she played four-hand duo concerts with her former student, David Jones, and collaborated with many other musicians. Theme concerts, such as Halloween Organ Concerts and Meet the King, were among the musical offerings facilitated by Dr. Meador. She coordinated a major renovation project for the Möller instrument from 2002 to 2004.

Between 1994 and 2002, Dr. Meador served as director of Radford University’s Community Arts School. CAS offered experiences in visual and performing arts to children and adults in the community through courses in art, dance, music and theater. Arts Adventure was a popular CAS summer camp for musical theater. Other popular CAS programs included the children’s choir, Voices in Harmony, and Kindermusik classes for young children.

Ph.D., Music Education, North Texas State University
M.M., Music History and Literature, Southern Illinois University
B.S., Music Education, Middle Tennessee State University

Orff level courses, Middle Tennessee State University
Dalcroze Certificate, Ithaca College
Kodaly courses, Radford University and Kodaly Center of America
Orff Institute, Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria