Catherine Jean MacLeod was born July 17, 1904 to Norman Forbes MacLeod and Mary Catherine MacMillan at Athol, Ontario. She Attended Athol Public School, then Maxville Continuation school and completed her high school in Alexandria. She received her teacher’s certificate from Ottawa Normal School in 1926. Later she took extramural courses at Queen’s University and studied singing with Mrs. Thomas Munro in Maxville. She furthered her proficiency in singing at Queen’s University Summer School under a gifted teacher from a New York City Opera House.
With her record player and books she taught at schools in Athol , Vars and one room schools from Skye to Martintown and some schools in Stormont County. In 1940 the school board in Lancaster asked her to set up a program there. She and Alice Ferguson, a teacher from Apple Hill, taught many gifted singers including Ken MacRae, author of “Glengarry My Home” and a 2006 Inductee into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame.
Catherine prepared students from Glee Clubs in Maxville and Alexandria for the Cornwall Music Festival and in Ottawa where they placed high in singing and piano. In 1943 she prepared her classes for a “Gypsy Festival” which performed in five schools. Dr. Roy Fenwick, head of music teaching in Ontario praised her and her classes highly.
In 1945 Catherine took 70 Glee Club students to compete in the Ottawa Music Festival where she billeted them. They did very well. She also introduced Highland dancing in High Schools for St. Andrew’s Day and Robbie Burns anniversaries.
Catherine was a highly valued member of Gordon Presbyterian Church at St. Elmo and was the choir director. She was a soloist for many local weddings and during the summer months she would take groups to the church socials to provide entertainment.
Catherine married Duncan J MacLeod in 1955. She raised four children and worked hard in the music field for 30 years. She is fondly remembered by former students and those in the music field today. For her exceptional contribution to Glengarry’s musical reputation she is a fitting Inductee into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame!
