FRANCES UNDERWood

A dedicated, experienced educator and education administrator, Frances Underwood, A Mus A, BA, Dip Ed, Grad.Cert.Music Ed., UTAS Associate, has advocated for quality teaching and life- long learning in Tasmania through her professional and community work.  Frances serves as patron, president, advisor and/or ambassador for a number of  organisations such as The Peter Underwood Centre for Educational  Attainment, The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, St Giles, The Story Island Project, Tasmanian Youth Choirs, SoST, The City of Hobart Eisteddfod and formerly was inaugural patron of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Virtuosi Tasmania and Hobart Baroque.  Frances has been a life- long champion of education, in particular music education, as being the passport to a better life.

Frances believes that music is intrinsic to human existence and comes from that place where intellect and heart converge in the human spirit. Like  most predisposed aptitudes, such as language, it requires fostering. A love of music can only grow in a child who is exposed to music. She agrees with Richard Gill,  that all children should be  encouraged to think musically, and be given the opportunity to become musically literate and appreciate music, whether as performer, composer or listener, for the life- long joy, happiness and consolation it can bring.

Frances Underwood continues to benefit from her music education at the hands of studio teachers. She continues to run Parent/Child Music Education classes, continues to enjoy piano lessons, and is currently a choir director, choral singer and an occasional performer and accompanist.  Tasmanian Music Teachers' Association is honoured to have Mrs Underwood as Patron of the association.