Daisy Peterson Sweeney

Daisy Peterson Sweeney

Oscar Peterson with his sister, Daisy, at a Piano

Daisy Peterson Sweeney played a central role in nurturing Montreal’s jazz community, particularly within the St. Antoine district. Raised in a family where her father, a railway porter, insisted his children pursue opportunities beyond portering, she inherited a deep love for musical education. While he traveled, Daisy assumed responsibility for teaching her siblings piano and music theory, a practice that soon extended to children throughout the neighbourhood. From the 1950s to the 1980s, she continued to teach privately, but her most impactful work took place at the Negro Community Centre, where she offered Saturday lessons in piano and theory to hundreds of students for as little as twenty-five cents. This would be around $3.24 CAD today which is significantly lower than the average cost of piano lessons being anywhere around $30- $100. Her influence reached far beyond basic instruction, shaping the early development of some of Canada’s most celebrated jazz musicians, including Oscar Peterson, Oliver Jones, Ken Skinner, Joe Sealy, Reg Wilson, and Norman Villeneuve. Through her dedication to accessible education and community mentorship, Daisy helped build the musical foundations that allowed jazz in Montreal to flourish.

D.C. Langford

Oscar Peterson with his sister, Daisy, at a piano, 1940-1949, R12872-182-5-E, Box. MUS 199, Oscar Peterson Fonds, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Library and Archives Canada

1940's

Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada

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