A Willowgrove School music educator and a leader in teaching with the Orff approach to music education has received national recognition for her contributions.

Wendy Rigby recently received the Canadian Music Educators' Association Builders Award for her role as an educator and leader in the Saskatchewan music community.

The award recognizes those who advance music education through building community or establishing significant collaborative efforts. Rigby was nominated for the award by the Saskatchewan Music Educators' Association.

Rigby has been teaching music and choir to elementary students in Saskatoon for 20 years and has shared her music leadership with students through opportunities such as school holiday concerts and musicals. "She loves sharing her joy of music every day with her students," the nomination reads.

She has played a role in organization professional development opportunities at the school division, local, and provincial levels and has shared her work with the Orff methodology with others. During her career with Saskatoon Public Schools, she has led workshops for arts education teachers and has been a member of school division music committees.

The Orff approach to music education encompasses elements of speech, rhythm, movement, dance, and song is designed to encourage the participation, enjoyment and musical growth among students. It sees students as active participants in a process which allows for differing musical abilities.

Rigby has taught music since 1982, beginning her teaching career in Winnipeg and also teaching in Edmonton before coming to Saskatoon Public Schools. She is the proud holder of teaching certificates for all three Prairie provinces.

She is currently the archivist and member at large for the Saskatchewan Orff chapter and chaired the volunteer committee of the 2016 national Orff conference held in Saskatoon.