Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto)
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The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is a music school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that is noted throughout the country. It was founded by Edward Fisher, in 1886 as the Toronto Conservatory of Music. In 1947, King George VI awarded the conservatory its Royal charter.
The conservatory was affiliated with the University of Toronto until 1991, at which time it became a wholly-independent institution. Its home, McMaster Hall, was the original home of McMaster University, now located in Hamilton, Ontario. The conservatory has currently embarked on a major expansion that will see the construction of a large new concert hall, scheduled to open in 2007. The expansion has resulted in the temporary relocation of the music school to a former high school, located in the Dufferin and Bloor West area, at 90 Croatia Street.
The Royal Conservatory produces the most popular and comprehensive teaching method in Canada, encompassing strict guidelines for ten grade levels. The ARCT diploma for Teacher's or Performer's is the culmination of all the grades which is also recognized worldwide. Comprehensive theory and history corequisites are required to obtain a certificate. Many Canadian provinces recognize completion of higher levels of the curriculum, awarding students high school credits upon successful completion.
The professional division of the Royal Conservatory of Music is The Glenn Gould School, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance.
[edit] Notable teachers and students
The RCM's notable teachers have included Healey Willan, Sir Ernest MacMillan, Alberto Guerrero, Boyd Neel (Dean of the Conservatory from 1953 to 1971), Lorand Fenyves, Boris Berlin and Nicholas Goldschmidt.
Many who attended the RCM as students, have gone on to success inside and out of the music industry. Two students starred together in the same TV show, Paradise Falls. Past students include:
- Bruce Cockburn - Folk/rock guitarist and singer/songwriter, who was inducted in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
- Aline Chrétien - Wife of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien,
- Adrienne Clarkson - Governor General of Canada (1999-2005)
- Naida Cole - Pianist who performed with Montreal Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestras, and others.
- David Foster - Grammy winning musician, producer, and composer
- Glenn Gould - Pianist who won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Album.
- Robert Goulet - Mainly known as a singer. Also an actor.
- Lawrence Gowan -Styx Keyboardist
- Norman Jewison - Film director, known for In the Heat of the Night and others.
- Eli Kassner - Founder of the Guitar Society of Toronto, world-renowned guitar teacher
- Lois Marshall - Soprano who is a holder of the Order of Canada
- Kim Schraner - Leading actress on CBC Television's Spynet. Previously on Paradise Falls.
- Paul Shaffer - Band leader on The Late Show with David Letterman
- Mitchell Sharp - Former Minister of Finance (Canada)
- Teresa Stratas - Operatic soprano who joined the Metropolitan Opera
- Cherilee Taylor - Actress on Showcase soap opera Paradise Falls
- Jon Vickers - Tenor with the Metropolitan Opera
- Greg Wells - Record producer, composer, and multi-instrumenatlist with Rufus Wainwright, P!nk, Natasha Bedingfield, and others.
- Rafael Villanueva, Associate Director, Dominican National Symphonic Orchestra.
[edit] See also
- List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
- List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto
[edit] External links
