Driven by a passion for educating and inspiring young people through music, Marcia Connolly has been a dedicated music educator in the Waterloo Region since 2010. She earned her Bachelor of Music from Western University and her Bachelor of Education from Althouse College in London, Ontario. Marcia is currently the Head of Music at Bluevale Collegiate Institute in Waterloo, where she directs several ensembles, including the Junior and Senior Concert Bands and the Jazz Band. Through these groups—as well as student-led ensembles—she fosters creativity, collaboration, and a lifelong love of music among her students.
As a performer, Marcia has an extensive background in military and community music. She performed as a saxophonist with the Band of the Ceremonial Guard and spent twelve years with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. She now performs with the Wellington Wind Symphony.
Beyond education and performance, Marcia is an active contributor to the arts community in the Waterloo Region. She has held leadership roles in several large-scale initiatives, including serving on the Kaleid Choral Festival planning committee, as a board member for the Centre for Sound Music Education, and as a committee member for the Waterloo Region Honour Band.
After many years of coming to IMC and building meaningful connections with its faculty, Marcia is thrilled to join the Band and Orchestra faculty as Assistant Music Director.