Jos Wuytack, one of the world’s most renowned music educators, reaches the age of 90 on 23 March 2025.

Jos, your students, colleagues and friends around the world celebrate with you nine decades of musicality,
sense of humour, creativity, dedication, and passion for teaching music with joy!!
Some of them share their tribute here with us.

We wish you a very Happy Birthday!!!

Born in Gent, Belgium, Jos Wuytack earned his degrees in Composition, Piano, Organ and Pedagogy at the Lemmens Institute, Louvain, where he became Professor of Music Pedagogy. Throughout his international career as music educator, Jos has developed an active and creative approach based upon the ideas of Carl Orff, who recognised him as a leading figure. He has taught over one thousand courses for music teachers in 53 countries in Europe, Africa, America, Asia, and Australia.

His outstanding training of music teachers has significantly contributed to the development of music education internationally. He received the Pro Merito Award from the Carl Orff Foundation in Münich, Germany. He is also American Orff-Schulwerk Association – AOSA Distinguished Service Award recipient.

He has composed a wide range of vocal and instrumental pieces for choir, Orff instruments, recorders and percussion, some of which were edited by Harmonia Mundi. He has published articles and books on music education in several countries. His songs for children are published in six different languages (Flemish, French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Chinese).

His Active Music Listening approach with the Musicogram, for teaching music appreciation to children and young people, has been published in Flemish, French, Portuguese and Spanish, being widely used in Europe and North America.

Mia Ducatteeuw

Ik denk met een heel warm gevoel terug aan de lessen én de nevenactiviteiten die ik beleefd heb met Jos Wuytack. Zijn overtuiging én enthousiasme voor het Orff-instrumentarium zorgde bij mij voor uren inspirerend musiceren… Ik bewaar de beste herinneringen aan de groepsuitvoeringen in het toenmalige Lemmens in Mechelen.Tijdens de verhuis van het Lemmensinstituut naar […]

Thomas De Baets

Warmest birthday wishes from the ‘Lemmensberg’! In the world of music education, you are a true legend. Although I didn’t have the privilege of having you as one of my mentors during my music pedagogy studies at the Lemmens Institute, most of my professors were your former students. They painted a vibrant picture of you: […]

Anne Boucly

J’ai fait mon premier stage avec Jos en Alsace en 1976 et je ne compte plus le nombre de stages que j’ai suivis! Quelle énergie et bonne humeur dans des stages et formation de très haut niveau. J’ai toujours été très admirative du talent de musicien et de grand pédagogue de Jos. Tu as pour […]

Judy Sills

My Dearest Jos, I first met you in 1972 when I took Level I in Toronto. It was a life changing moment for me. Since that time, you have become my teacher, my mentor, my colleague and my very good friend. You were instrumental in shaping my life and in so doing shaping the lives […]

Natalie Prytuluk

Dear Jos, Your pedagogical influence on my beliefs, values and practices in music education are forever in my heart and soul, from Orff workshops, to level 3 in Edmonton, and the Orff Master Class in Memphis. May you celebrate your 90th year knowing that you have touched the lives of so many teachers and their students […]

Terry Ann Diachok

Looking back on my life and the starring role music played in it, I fondly remember my years as a music teacher taught by and inspired by Jos Wuytack! Not only was he an incredible teacher, which everyone knows… I remember his funny side. He always smiled and had such incredible energy. Here’s wishing you […]

Dorianne Martyniuk

My Dear Professor Jos, Happy 90th Birthday!   I am profoundly grateful to have had the privilege of learning and experiencing the Orff pedagogy. Not a day goes by in the music room that I am reminded of your teachings. You made a difference in my life and subsequently in the lives of children I have taught. […]

Shari Paziuk

Bappy Hirthday Jos! I am eternally thankful for your mentorship in the Orff-Schulwerk philosophy. Your expertise, thoughtfulness, sense of humour, humanity and love of music had a huge impact on me as a teacher and as a person. I remember every class, workshop and conference that you presented over the years but it’s the social […]

Janie Fries

Happy birthday Jos! Your legacy in life has been an enormous contribution to the world. Young people throughout the world, have had their lives enriched through music programs that have been influenced by you. I had already been teaching for 12 years before I took my Level I Orff. It felt so freeing to find […]

Pam Ludwar

I have so many fond memories of the classes and workshops that I had with Jos…I think the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen a musician do, is what Jos demonstrated to us one day, for the topic of conducting. Jos conducted 4/4 time in one hand while conducting 3/4 time in the other. I remember […]

Don Myers

Happy 90th to my Mentor, beloved teacher, and friend. I, like most countless others, have never properly expressed to you the fundamental influence you have had on my career and therefore, my life. You have shared your Joy with me, and I have done my best to share that same Joy with my students. I […]

Annie Cheney

Jos, la musique qui vous habite vous a conservé votre jeunesse! Félicitations! Et ce n’est pas sans émotion que je m’empare de cette exceptionnelle occasion pour exprimer ma reconnaissance. J’ai suivi vos stages en 1982, à Toulouse. Vous avez semé la joie de la musique dans ma vie: le rythme vécu par le corps et […]

Diane Shieron

Dear Jos, Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and Congratulations for reaching the wise age of 90 years! There are so many wonderful memories of times spent with you in and out of the music classroom that I cherish and have shared. “All things shall perish from under the sky…Jos’s music never to die”. A […]

Colette Bischoff

Dear Jos, Happy 90th Birthday! Today is your special day that your family, friends and students celebrate you, and the richness you have shared with all of us during your 90 years. In the early 1980s before I had even met you, your influence was apparent through the guidance I received from your students Konnie […]

Marlene kirwin

Do You Know the Jossy Dance? Judy, in Edmonton, knew a guy JosAnd boy, were we lucky with glee!‘Cause something was missing in Music for kids:The magic “Orff Kids Jamboree”!! You flew o’er the ocean to make us all danceAnd play a bordun on the bassWe passed it all down to our dear little wardsAnd […]

Brent Holl

Dearest Jos,  Happy Birthday my good friend! I wish you a wonderful day of celebration, reflection, good memories, and best wishes from all over the world. In many ways, your life has been a celebration of music as you travelled the world, both teaching and performing. I will always be grateful for the music you shared […]

Randy DeLelles and Jeff Kriske

Dear Jos, How excited we are to wish you the very best on this milestone birthday! As you know, we are among the thousands of educators whose lives you have touched, and we cannot overstate the positive impact you have had on our teaching with both children and adults. We consider ourselves unbelievably fortunate to […]

Lynn Kleiner

Happy Birthday Jos! My first course with Jos Wuytack was in 1983 for Level 2 of the Orff Schulwerk Program, U. of Southern California. I followed Jos to Memphis for Level 3 and Master Class. Jos gave us his “A B C of the Orff Pedagogy”. I still find so much joy reading those pages […]

Vivian Murray Caputo

Hello Jos. I want to wish you a very happy birthday! So many of us have been blessed by your presence in our lives. I am eternally grateful for all that I have learned from you. In 2005 Shirley McRae and I were co-chairs of the National AOSA Conference, and you were one of our […]

Maravillas Díaz

Estimado profesor Jos, Soy una de los muchos alumnos que cursaron, a finales de los 1970 y principios de los 1980, los cursos de “Pedagogía Musical Activa” en España. Era una joven profesora universitaria que tuvo la fortuna de tomar contacto con una pedagogía de aprendizaje por descubrimiento, de sentido de grupo, de actividades expresivas…, […]

Rocío Chao

Con gran ilusión participo en el homenaje y felicitación por el 90º aniversario de Jos Wuytack, figura emblemática en la pedagogía musical y un referente clave en mi formación y desarrollo como docente. Tuve el privilegio de asistir a sus cursos en Madrid, donde su energía y maestría didáctica dejaron una impronta imborrable en mi […]

Ángel Müller Gómez

¡Feliz Noventa Cumpleaños, Jos! Pocos tienen la suerte de llegar a esa edad, y con la mente joven y activa que siempre has tenido. En tu larga actividad profesional has dejado huella en miles de personas de todos los continentes. En mi caso, desde que conocí tus propuestas las incorporé a mi trabajo docente en […]

Elisa Lessa

Há momentos da nossa vida que nos marcam especialmente. Não imaginava, na minha juventude, que o Curso de Pedagogia de Jos Wuytack que frequentei em Braga em 1975, iria ser uma bússola ao longo de boa parte da minha vida profissional na educação musical das crianças e na formação de educadores de infância e professores […]

Fernando Malão

Jos Wuytack é o berço da pedagogia musical. Através dos seus saberes, descobrimos a Música para além das pautas. Na nossa vida profissional, a essência da sua pedagogia promove a criatividade e a liberdade na aprendizagem de ouvir, experimentar e fazer. Em todos os lugares de música, estão sempre presentes personagens, danças, musicogramas, melodias… Jos […]

Manuela Encarnação

Parabéns, querido Professor Jos Wuytack! Parabéns por mais um ano de vida, repleto de história e inspiração. Parabéns pelo inestimável contributo que deu à Educação Musical em Portugal. Parabéns pelo impacto que deixou na Educação Musical em todo o mundo. Parabéns pela alegria contagiante que espalhou através da música que criou e partilhou. Parabéns pelas […]

Pedro Marques

Ao Professor Jos Wuytack Camisas coloridas, sorriso aberto,Música e ritmo num tom sempre certo.Máscaras dançantes, alegria no ar,O mestre ensina a cantar e sonhar. Nas danças de roda, as mãos a girar,O riso ecoa, é difícil parar.Com sentido de humor e um toque de magia,Faz da escola um palco de alegria! Professor, amigo, inspiração,O seu […]

Sérgio Álvares

Happy birthday, dear Jos! I send you my warmest wishes. You are the most expressive music educator I have had the pleasure and honor to know and learn from. Your talent, passion, dedication, musicality, creativity, refinement and generosity have truly inspired me. Your concept of music pedagogy is a strong reference in my work, especially […]