Executive Committee

Dr Isabirye James

Uganda

President

Dr. James Isabirye is a Lecturer of Music and Music Education, and is Head of the Department of Performing Arts at Kyambogo University in Uganda. He is an acclaimed academic who earned a PhD in Music Education from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA, a Master of Arts in Music, and a Master of Education from Kyambogo University. Dr. Isabirye also served for long as Uganda’s National Committee Chair for the ICTM, and his research integrates music education and ethnomusicological scholarship. Dr. Isabirye’s research focuses on decolonial, cultural-specific, place-conscious music and general education epistemologies, special needs music education, school and community musical arts festivals, and music-mediated wellness in postwar situations, which highlights his important contribution to Uganda’s diverse community cultures. Dr. Isabirye has done many projects to revitalize various community music cultures of Uganda that have threaten extinction due to turbulent national politics and history, for example, the UNESCO funded trumpet music.

Bibian Kalinde
Zambia
Past President

Bibian Kalinde is an accomplished music educator with over 18 years of experience teaching music at tertiary institutions, including her current position as a lecturer and Assistant Dean Postgraduate in the School of Education at the University of Zambia. She earned her PhD and Master’s degrees from the University of Pretoria in 2017 and 2010, respectively, after completing her undergraduate studies at Kenyatta University. Dr Kalinde’s academic responsibilities encompass instructing undergraduate students in various general music courses and providing guidance to postgraduate students in educational research and music education. Her research interests primarily revolve around music education in both tertiary and early childhood education contexts, as well as exploring the intersections of music with gender and politics within the framework of community practices. In addition to her academic endeavours, Dr Kalinde has made significant contributions to the field of music education. She has served as the Vice-President of the Intercultural Music Initiatives (Africa) and is an active member of esteemed organizations such as the International Society for Music Education (ISME) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Furthermore, she plays a pivotal role as an advisor within the executive committee of the Zambia Association of Music Educators. She is the National Arts Council representative on the Zambia Law Development Commission. Looking ahead, Dr Kalinde envisions her future pursuits within PASMAE to involve the cultivation of collaborative partnerships with organizations that share an interest in music and the arts in Africa and beyond. She is also committed to advocating for research initiatives that contribute to the documentation and preservation of Africa’s diverse musical heritage, recognizing it as a valuable cultural asset.

Dr. Joyce Mochere

Kenya

Vice President – Eastern Africa Region

Dr. Joyce M. Mochere is a distinguished lecturer and a leading voice in African musical arts serving in the Department of Music and Performing Arts at Kabarak University. She is a highly accomplished academic who holds a PhD in Music Education from Kabarak University. She attained her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Kenyatta University. Dr. Mochere’s influence extends across the continent as the Vice President for the Eastern Africa Region of the Pan African Society for Musical Arts Educators (PASMAE). Her research critically examines curriculum development, music pedagogy, integration of technology and faith in music, with a focus on aligning music education with real-world job markets. She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and a key text on music instructional methods. Beyond her academic and research pursuits, Dr. Mochere’s impact is marked by significant contributions to national policy and humanitarian efforts. She was instrumental in pioneering music programs in the Dadaab refugee camps. Within Kabarak University, she demonstrates further leadership as the Chairperson of the Innovation and Business Incubation Centre, a Competency-Based Education champion, and a certified ISO 9001:2015 Auditor, making her a multifaceted leader at the intersection of music education, innovation, and community development.

Dr. Precious Omuku

Nigeria

Vice President Western Region

Precious Adokiye Omuku, PhD is a renowned Concert Tenor and a consummate He has featured in so many Oratorios either as a Lead singer or the Conductor of the chorus. Choral Conductor. He is an expert in the finest interpretation of Baroque and Classical music and exemplifies the art of musical expressions in his very professional delivery of the same on stage and in the classroom. Precious holds a degree in music from the prestigious University of Ibadan, a Master and Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He teaches Music in the University of Port Harcourt and has produced quite a number of fine musicologists therefrom. As a Choral Conducting impresario, Precious is known for his beautiful interpretative skills and choral management techniques in espousing the thoughts in a composer’s mind. He is a teacher of excellence with a combination of music education, therapy, music business and fine performance Practical Techniques. reputable journals. Precious Omuku has written several published scholarly articles in Precious has five recorded albums to his credit and is the founder and Artistic Director of the Fused Ensemble Group. He is also the Director of Music of the Diocese of Okrika, Anglican Communion. Precious has adjudicated in so many Choral and singing competitions in Nigeria and within Africa, helping the growth of so many Choral groups in the West African region. Precious is happily married with children.

Phuti Sepuru
South Africa
Vice President Southern Region

Phuti Sepuru completed her Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Music degrees at the University of Pretoria. She is now a Lecturer in Musicology at the Department of Art and Music, University of South Africa (UNISA). Sepuru is the Vice-President (Southern region) of PASMAE and a Board Member of the South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE). She has attended the PASMAE conferences in the Seychelles and Ghana, where she most recently presented a paper entitled “‘Tales from the South’: Exploring musical identities and South Africanness in jazz pianism”. Professionally, she is very active as a versatile session musician who has worked with many artists and projects. These include: Winnie Mandela Tribute Concerts (Tshepo Tshola, Judith Sephuma, Siphokazi, Zahara, Simphiwe Dana, Dr Tumi, Ringo Madlingozi and the Bala Brothers); Women in Song Legacy Tour (Abigail Kubeka, Dorothy Masuka, Mabongi and Deborah Fraser); Candy Tsamandebele, Concord Nkabinde, and Simphiwe Dana. More recently, she joined the “Nelson Mandela: The Song Lives On” project as pianist and backing vocalist.

Secretary General

Susan Brümmer
South Africa
Operations Manager

Susan Brümmer is a well-known music teacher in various areas of South Africa, and is currently Head of Music at Southdowns College. She has worked at both government and private schools, and at all levels from pre-primary through to high school. She has taught class music, different instruments (piano, keyboard, singing, recorder, marimbas) and theory to both individual students and groups. Having conducted many choirs, Susan has also adjudicated Art Festivals, Eisteddfodau, Revues and singing competitions. She and a colleague presented practical music classes to fellow musicians at the 2019 PASMAE Conference in Seychelles, and with colleagues from America, Australia, Finland and South Africa presented at the ‘Orff Africa 50th Celebrations’ in August 2022. Susan is a member of the South African Society of Music Teachers committee, and in that way also supports ISME and PASMAE, which she currently serves as Operations Manager. But despite activities at such levels, she states unequivocally: “My biggest passion is sharing my love of music with children”.