CONGRATULATIONS to the wonderful Judith Bell – New Zealand Order of Merit! A past MENZA board member and Life Member to MENZA for their recognition of service.
“Judith Bell is a multi-instrumentalist and award-winning music educator who has made significant contributions in Canterbury and nationally to music education.
The Shirley resident was the specialist music teacher at Chisnallwood Intermediate from 1999 to 2021.
She was a major influence on the school’s national reputation for music excellence.
Bell ran numerous courses from theory to sound technology and supported the school’s local and national award-winning bands, choir and orchestra.
Outside Chisnallwood, she has held a range of volunteer roles with music organisations and initiatives.
She has co-chaired Music Education Canterbury since 2011 and has been co-artistic director of annual children’s music festival Strum, Strike and Blow since 2013.
Bell was director of the Christchurch Big Band Festival from 2011 to 2021 and was appointed artistic director in 2023.
She helped establish and has chaired the Christchurch Jazz Foundation Trust since its inception in 2015, which oversees the Big Band Festival and other jazz events.
Now a life member, she was on the national board of Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa from 2014 to 2022 and wrote the Kiwicorder resource for primary teachers in 2023.
Bell has presented music papers and workshops internationally at conferences in a range of countries”.
Citation from Otago Daily Times (31st December 2021)