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Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal Celebrates 80th anniversary
This year marks the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal 80th anniversary. The school first welcomed students into the classroom in 1943, at which time it was the only post-secondary musical institution in all of North America that relied entirely on government subsidies. Initially, classes were held at the Saint-Sulpice Library. Orchestral conductor Wilfrid Pelletier was the school’s inaugural director, and was preceded by Roland Leduc in 1961. While the school initially only offered instrumental instruction, it added a vocal/opera program to its course list in 1951. In its 80 years, the Conservatoire has produced numerous notable alumni, including the late conductor Boris Brott, opera singers Karina Gauvin and Marie-Nicole Lemieux, composers Pierre Mercure, Claude Vivier, and pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin. Currently, the school is run by director Manon Lafrance. The CMM will celebrate its milestone year with four programs conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni and guest conductor Tania Miller. Among the programs are performances by pianist Wan Lin Song and the OSCMM at Place des Arts’s Maison symphonique (Nov. 26), runs of Didon et Énée (Dec. 7 and 8) and The Old Maid and the Thief (Feb. 28-March 2), and a final 80th anniversary concert, featuring works by Stravinsky, Poulenc, and the première of Cantate pour une joie by Florence Tremblay (March 30).
www.conservatoire.gouv.qc.ca
U of T Scarborough campus launches SoundLife Scarborough
This past spring, the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus’s music and culture program launched SoundLife Scarborough (SLS), a research centre that hopes to make music more accessible to community members at large. In co-operation with local organizations, and grounded in the principle of reciprocity, SLS will serve as a hub for community-engaged research projects and musical sessions. The initiative began, says co-leader and U of T faculty member Prof. Laura Risk, with the question “What’s in it for the community?” All of the centre’s programming will be free and accessible to students and community members of all ages. Thus far, it includes pop-up and weekly musical events for hand-drumming and ukulele, as well as Brazilian Maracatu sessions. This initiative is yet another thing that makes U of T Scarborough’s music program unique; previously, it had already differentiated itself by being the only university music program in Canada that does not require an audition for entry. So far this year, SLS has participated in U of T Scarborough’s annual ARTSIDEOUT Festival, and run a series of Steel Pan Workshops.
Brock University: Music@Noon Series Returns
Downtown St. Catharines, Ont., has seen the return of the RBC Foundation Music@Noon Series, presented by Brock University’s Department of Music. Held at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, the series spotlights music students in various configurations, connecting the music faculty with its surrounding community. This year’s series opened with a performance by Brock music graduate and pianist Ryan Baxter, who played works by Bach, Liszt, Glenn Buhr, and Scriabin. Throughout the 2023-24 academic year, free concerts will be held most Tuesdays, available for listening in-person, or via online live-stream.
Vanier College Music School Update, and the First Annual Sheldon Sazant Memorial Fundraiser
In the fall of 2022, Vanier College opened the Vanier College Music School, an offshoot of the CEGEP’s music department, which aimed to fill the hole left by the shocking closure of the McGill Conservatory. Over the last year, it has demonstrated just how great Montreal’s need was for a high-calibre junior and amateur music school, having welcomed more than 100 students. To this day, it remains the only English-speaking public music school in Montreal, and has distributed $30,000 in scholarships. On Thursday, Sept. 28, the school hosted the first annual Sheldon Sazant Memorial Fundraiser, the proceeds of which went to supporting the Vanier College Music School. Named after Sheldon Sazant, the late manager of Steve’s Music Store, the fundraiser aimed to raise money for scholarships, subsidies, and instruments for students in the years to come—both those attending Vanier College’s DEC programs in music, and young people enrolled in lessons at the Vanier College Music School.
Rafael Payare Receives Honorary Doctorate from Université de Montréal
This September, Rafael Payare was awarded his first honorary doctorate by the Université de Montréal’s chancellor, Frantz Saintellemy. Recognized for his inspiring work at the helm of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Saintellemy described Payare as “living proof that education changes lives, and with a little help a person with talent, passion and determination can find their way to the top.” Named music director of the OSM in 2021, the Venezuelan conductor is a graduate of his country’s El Sistema program. Payare reflected on this honour, noting that it filled him with “emotion and a sense of responsibility.” The conductor has won the hearts of Montreal musicians and audience members alike with his charm and musicality since moving to Montreal, and will surely continue to do so in the years to come.
University of British Columbia Receives Generous Instrument Donation
The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Music has received a generous donation from the Arts Umbrella, in the form of seven South Korean drums. These percussion instruments, called janggo, which translates to “stick drum,” will become part of the school’s Korean percussion ensemble, as well as being integrated into other performance and composition activities. Crafted by SamulNori Hanullim, a South Korean percussion ensemble, the instruments are made of paulownia wood, cow and dog leather, and have an hourglass shape.
A BIG YEAR AT THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
It has already been a big year for the Royal Conservatory of Music—in more ways than one. Earlier this fall, the school announced the appointment of Alexander Brose, who has since begun the transition into the role of President and CEO Designate. He will inherit the role from Dr. Peter Simon, who will retire in August 2024. The succession hopes to be smooth and comprehensive, building on Simon’s successful 33-year career. Brose comes with extensive experience and numerous accomplishments. He was the inaugural Executive Director and CEO of the Juilliard School’s first and only branch campus, in China. He has also served as Vice-President for Development of the Aspen Music Festival and School, and worked in senior management for 10 years at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Since Brose’s appointment, the RCM has also announced the naming of Jeremy Denk as Ihnatowycz Chair in Piano at the Glenn Gould School, succeeding the late Leon Fleisher. Denk has recently made appearances at Carnegie Hall, as well as in recent seasons with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and at Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms. He is also a New York Times bestselling author, and opera librettist. He will be only the second person to hold the Ihnatowycz Chair in Piano.
All of this news coincides with the 15th anniversary of the RCM’s famed Koerner Hall. Since opening in 2009, the hall has seen over 1,200 concerts, and has become recognized internationally for its intimacy and acoustic excellence. With events ranging from classical music to jazz, new music to popular favourites, and everything in between, Koerner Hall has become a hub for music of all kinds. As part of its 15th anniversary celebrations, the hall will welcome musicians from more than 30 countries this year, many of which will make their Koerner Hall debuts. Highlights will include the Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage concert series, this year’s 21C Music Festival, and appearances by RCM alumna Angela Hewitt, Ema Nikolovska, and Hilary Hahn. 
Laurier University Announces Masters in Collaboration, Curation and Creative Performance
The Faculty of Music at Laurier University has announced a new graduate program: the Master of Music in Collaboration, Curation, and Creative Performance. Over the course of two years (four terms), students will have the opportunity to explore their artistic identities through courses covering research, entrepreneurship, business, and creative fundamentals. Beyond the classroom, students will be placed in an “experiential placement,” during which they will work with community-based and professional performance organizations, facilitating and strengthening the relationships between Laurier’s faculty and its partners. This program is sure to appeal to young and early career artists, looking to launch their careers in today’s challenging, highly diversified performing arts landscape.
www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-music
Quebec University Tuition Hike for Out-of-Province and International Students
On Oct. 13, the Quebec government’s minister of higher education, Pascale Déry, announced that the province plans to almost double tuition fees next year for out-of-province post-secondary students. This will result in fees upward of $17,000 for students from elsewhere in Canada, and upward of $20,000 for international students. According to the Oct. 13 announcement, these hikes will aim to balance funds between French and English universities in Quebec. Unfortunately, though, the province’s English universities (McGill, Concordia, and Bishop’s universities, to name a few) already fear that these increases will result in drastic changes in student enrolment. For music schools such as the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, which draws many of its students from across Canada and abroad, this is sure to have a significant impact on demographics.
The Manhattan School of Music (MSM)
The Manhattan School of Music has upgraded its facilities, implementing energy-efficiency measures across its buildings. The school has installed LED lighting and occupancy sensors, as well as an upgraded HVAC and humidity-controls system. This million-dollar upgrade was subsidized by Con Edison. MSM presents roughly 600 performances around New York City every year. This month, audiences can look forward to the school’s upcoming production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
University of Sherbrooke
The University of Sherbrooke continues to offer vibrant musical education and programming in the Sherbrooke region, through its Faculty of Music. This year’s concert programming includes holiday and end-of-year gala concerts.
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