Article

William Bartlett

William Acton Bartlett, educator, conductor, consultant, oboist, bassist (born 19 November 1931 in Toronto, ON; died 14 September 2019 in Saint John, NB). Bill Bartlett performed professionally in Toronto before teaching high school music and band from 1956 to 1971. He then taught music education, woodwinds, string bass and conducting at the University of Prince Edward Island. He also performed with and conducted the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra and served as a consultant, adjudicator and vice-president (Maritimes) for the Canadian Music Competitions.

Education

Bartlett studied privately with Eugene Bicknell (1945–46), Perry Bauman (1946–50) and Stanley Wood (1969–70). In 1955, he earned an Associate Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and also graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music degree. He then received a diploma in Education from U of T in 1956. He was eastern research officer for the Canadian Music Educators’ Association from 1974 to 1977.

Career Highlights

From 1947 to 1956, Bartlett played professionally in Toronto on oboe, English horn and string bass. He performed with the Benny Louis Band (1952–54), for CBC Radio (1952–55), and with the Canadian Opera Company (1953–55).

He served as head of music and taught band and strings at Midland Penetanguishene District High School in Midland, Ontario, from 1956 to 1970. While doing graduate studies in music education at the University of Western Ontario (1970–71), he taught music at A.B. Lucas High School in London, Ontario.

In 1972, Bartlett joined the Faculty of Music at the University of Prince Edward Island. He taught music education, woodwinds, string bass and conducting until 1977. He was then appointed music consultant for the provincial Department of Education. He was eastern research officer for the Canadian Music Educators’ Association from 1974 to 1977. He also performed with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra as woodwind section leader and conductor (1972–77), and simply as conductor (1977–78). He became bass section leader in 1980. In the summers, he performed in the pit orchestra at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

In 1985, he began to serve as consultant in band training, as adjudicator, and as vice-president (Maritimes) for the Canadian Music Competitions. Following his retirement, he developed and taught music courses for senior citizens.