DOREEN FOY HALL

Educator, violinist died on January 19, 2025 in Toronto in her 103rd year after a long and fulfilling life. Born May 24, 1921 in Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland to William Hall and Mary Somerville, the youngest of four daughters. She is predeceased by her sisters Lymbery Morlock, Alix Echlin and Norah Retzler. Doreen studied violin with her father W.G. Hall and then with Elie Spivak, Concert Master of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, at The Royal Conservatory of Music. She had an interesting career teaching violin at Alma College in St. Thomas, Ontario, and head of the string department at Mount Allison University. After further studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music, she was sent on scholarship to Salzburg, Austria where she studied with Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman. Upon returning to Canada, she introduced the Orff-Schulwerk approach "Music for Children" to North America. She taught at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Music, lectured widely and gave teaching training courses in major universities throughout North America. She presented Music for Children at Expo 67 with pupils from St. George's School, Montreal. Doreen founded the Orff-Schulwerk Society of Canada (later called "Music for Children-Musique pour Enfants") and became its honorary patron. Professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, she received the Merit Award from the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and the Canadian Music Council Medal. She was awarded the Pro Merito Medal by the Carl Orff Foundation in Germany and was also presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Music Education Division, University of Toronto. In 2008, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, and later that year became the first recipient of the North American Alliance Award Recognition by the collaborative Committee of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and Carl Orff Canada. Private funeral arrangements have taken place. Interment in Listowel (Fairview) Cemetery. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.