Kaylynne MacDiarmid
Give a brief bio about yourself/ your background/ your history.
I was born in Winnipeg and lived in northern Manitoba with my parents and older brother until 2006, when we moved to Neepawa. Growing up in Neepawa I was busy participating in gymnastics, 4-H, swim team, and of course, music lessons. Conveniently, my private music teacher lived right across the street from me, where I studied both piano and voice for 10 years.
In middle school and high school, I participated in band, choir, and musical theatre productions. I am very grateful to have participated in many different musical activities throughout my education, including Westman Honour Band, Westman Youth Honour Choir, Provincial Honour Band, Provincial Honour Choir, and attending the International Music Camp at the International Peace Gardens.
What education have you taken?
I graduated from Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute in 2016. I am currently in my final year of the Five-Year Concurrent Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education Program in the instrumental stream where I have studied oboe and voice.
What accomplishments are you proud of?
I am incredibly grateful for the numerous scholarships I have received in high school and throughout my undergraduate degree. The contributions that donors and families make to the university have been an immense help to my education.
I am extremely proud of how hard I have worked throughout my university degree and how much I have improved on both oboe and in singing. My hard work has put me on the Dean’s List for each year of my degree so far as well as the President’s Honour Society in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
I have also been proud to be a council member of the Brandon University Student Music Educators Association (BUMEA) for three years of my degree. Working on this council in president, vice-president, and student representative positions has helped me to develop valuable project management and leadership skills that will help prepare me for my future teaching.
How did you become interested in your field of study?
I enjoyed singing and music from a young age and have also enjoyed helping people learn and develop new skills and understandings. I first considered the possibility of being a music teacher in grade 8 after attending Westman Honour Band for the first time, the director that year really inspired me. That inspiration grew over the course of my high school degree through continued music experiences as well as through my work with coaching gymnastics. I started taking private oboe lessons in grade 11 to better prepare me to study oboe at university, and every student teaching placement makes me more excited about getting the opportunity to teach what I love to young people. I am so grateful to all the music educators who have inspired me and have helped me on my path to achieve my goal of being able to teach music.
What is your philosophy in life?
Motivation is a reward, not a prerequisite.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
After graduation, I hope to teach music in Manitoba and inspire young people to become active citizens and lifelong learners. Eventually continue my education through achieving a master’s degree in either conducting or in a field of music education.
What do you #ChooseToChallenge?
I #ChooseToChallenge bias towards female band directors.
Nominator’s Comments:
Kaylynne is an outstanding student in the Joint Department of Music Education. To assist during the pandemic, Kaylynne volunteered to assist with the design and completion of instructional plans for educators working with musicians in Westman. As past President of the Brandon University Student Music Educator’s Association (BUSMEA), Kaylynne’s contributed to the council’s success with her servant leadership. She has been an invaluable member of instrumental and choral ensembles in the School of Music and belongs to the Westman choir Konektis. Kaylynne’s organization, work ethic, and growth mindset are keystone traits.