SMEI Strategic Plan 2024-2028

I am honoured to have served as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Society for Music Education in Ireland from 2022-24 and in previous terms of office. It is a privilege to introduce a plan for the next four years that will take us through to our 18th anniversary and continue to strengthen SMEI and support the extraordinary work of our members. This plan is ambitious in expanding the scope of our aims and it envisages a Society that expands the context in which we promote and advocate for music education. It is imperative that we celebrate, highlight and embrace the ways we can reflect the diverse and rich nature of modern Irish society and continue working with our members, stakeholders and partners to enable as many people as possible to engage in music education opportunities.

Our new strategic plan was born out of collective leadership, commitment and passion and I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of our Trustees: Assistant Chair, Dr Marie-Louise Bowe, Secretary, June Robbins, Membership Secretary, Dr Avril McLoughlin, Treasurer Dr Shannon Burns and Assistant Treasurer, Dr Susan McCormick as well as the entire Executive Committee who have worked closely with me over the past biennium in enabling us to plan for the future of the organisation. I would like to pay a special word of thanks to our former Executive Committee members and to our former Chairs, Prof. John O’Flynn and Dr Lorraine O’Connell for the invaluable work they have done in leading SMEI.

We look forward to working in partnership with key stakeholders, partners and our members as we deliver our new strategic plan.

Dr Gwen Moore, November 2024