Schulich School of Music

The Schulich School of Music
Address
Strathcona Music Building, 555 Sherbrooke Street West Canada, Quebec
Information
Type	Public
Established	1904
Enrollment	Approximately 875
Campus	Urban
Information	514-398-4535
Website	http://www.mcgill.ca/music

The Schulich School of Music (also known as Schulich) is one of the constituent faculties of McGill University in Montréal, Canada. The faculty was named after benefactor Seymour Schulich.

History

Music at McGill – The Beginning

Music teaching began in 1884, although the program was first reserved for women. In 1889, a teaching specialist was engaged at the request of the students by a gift from the university's Chancellor, Donald A. Smith, Lord Strathcona. In 1896, the Royal Victoria College for girls by Lord Strathcona was founded. In September 1899, the Royal Victoria College was opened, and pianist Clara Lichtenstein (1860–1946) arrived on the invitation of Lord Strathcona. In 1902, examinations of the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music of London were introduced.

McGill Conservatorium of Music

• 1904 Introduction of the Licentiate diploma (LMus), Bachelor in Music degree (BMus), and Doctor in Music degree (DMus).
• September 21, classes began in the Workman House with 426 students and 23 instructors.
• October 14, official inauguration in the presence of the Governor General, Lord Minot, with a recital by violinist Albert Chamberland and pianist Ellen Ballon.
• 1908 Appointment of Harry Crane Perrin, organist of Canterbury Cathedral, as professor and director.
• 1908 McGill's first university symphonic ensemble is created.
• 1909 Set-up of McGill's own system of music examinations.
• 1911 Charles Henry Mills receives the first DMus degree, for composition.
• 1917 Endowment through a generous gift from Sir William Macdonald permitting the establishment of a faculty of music.

Faculty of Music

• 1920 April 26, establishment of the Faculty of Music. Perrin combined the duties of director of the conservatory and dean of the faculty. Premises, professors and budget were shared.
• 1949 First Music honorary degree to Sir Thomas Beecham.
• Re-organization (1955–1957)
• 1955 Douglas Clarke retires. Marvin Duchow is acting dean of the faculty and director of the conservatory. Three departments were created within the faculty: Theory, Keyboard and Voice, Instrumental. The conservatorium was divided into a senior department, with courses leading to diplomas, and a junior department, its courses confined to basic musical training.
• 1956 The McGill Opera Studio is founded by Luciano and Edith Della Pergola

Faculty of Music and Conservatorium of Music (1957–1978)

• The two institutions shared staff, budget and premises.
• 1964 The Electronic music Studio is established under the direction of István Anhalt.
• 1966 The McGill Conservatorium of Music becomes the McGill Preparatory School of Music.
• 1968 Introduction of the MMA degree in music for composition and musicology.
• 1970 Introduction of the MMA degree in music for theory.
• 1970 The two institutions were separated, but remained under the same direction until 1978.
• 1971 Both institutions moved to the Royal Victoria College, which was renovated and renamed the Strathcona Music Building.
• 1975 Introduction of the MMA degree in performance.
• 1975 The Pollack Concert Hall opened on April 10.
• 1976-7 The Faculty's MMA degrees become the MMus in Composition, the MMus in Performance, the MA in Theory and the MA in Musicology.
• 1978 The Preparatory School becomes the McGill Conservatory of Music.
• 1978 The PhD programs in Musicology, Music Theory, and Music Education are introduced.
• 1979 Introduction of the MMus in Sound Recording.
• 1981 McGill becomes the first university in Canada to offer a BMus degree in jazz performance.
• 1981 The Hellmuth Wolff organ, a French classical model with mechanical action, is inaugurated in Redpath Hall.
• 1989 The McGill Opera Studio is renamed Opera McGill, with Bernard Turgeon as director and Timothy Vernon as conductor.
• 2003 Construction begins on the new facilities for the Faculty of Music.
• 2004 The Faculty of Music celebrates 100 Years of Music at McGill.

New Name - New Century - New Building

• 2005 The New Music Building is opened and the Faculty of Music changes its name to the Schulich School of Music of McGill University.
• 2008 Renovations begin on the practice rooms located in the East Wing.
• 2009 Renovations on the East Wing practice and ensemble rooms are completed.
• 2010 Inaugural season of the McGill International String Quartet Academy

Departments

Performance

The performance programs at the Schulich School of Music provide students with private lessons and performing opportunities in university ensembles, in addition to studies in the history and theory of music.

Areas

The Department of Performance oversees the following areas and area chairs:

Department of Performance areas and area chairs 2014-2015

Area	Area Chair(s)
Early Music	Lena Weman
Jazz	Rémi Bolduc
Opera	Patrick Hansen
Organ	Hans-Ola Ericsson
Piano	Kyoko Hashimoto
Strings	Axel Strauss
Voice	Valerie Kinslow
Woodwinds	Jacqueline Leclair
Brass	Alain Cazes
Percussion	Aiyun Huang

Music research

Areas

The Department of Music Research, oversees the following areas and area chair(s).

Department of Research Areas & Area Chairs

Area	Area Chair(s)
Music Composition	Chris Harman
Music Education	Lisa Lorenzino
Music History/Musicology	David Brackett
Music Technology	Philippe Depalle
Music Theory	Rene Rusch
Sound Recording	Martha de Francisco

Degrees and programs

• Bachelor of Music (BMus)
  • Composition
  • Music Education [available only as a component of the concurrent BMus/BEd program]
  • Music History
  • Music Theory
  • Performance (Keyboard, Voice, Orchestral)
  • Performance Church Music
  • Early Music Performance
  • Jazz Performance (piano, voice, guitar, bass, sax, trumpet, trombone, drums)
  • Faculty Program General
• Licentiate in Music (LMus)
• Artist Diploma

The diploma of Licentiate in Music is a three-year program for instrumentalists and singers who want to focus on their practical skills, and limit their theoretical and historical studies.

The Artist Diploma program is for gifted performers who show promise for a professional career as a performer.

For students who want a broader liberal arts education, a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music is also available. The Schulich School of Music believes that students should get a "substantial proportion of their instruction from full-time professorial staff rather than from teaching assistants."^[1] The Music Research Department organizes public lectures every year and sponsored conventions for major musical societies. See Special Events and Conferences.

• Master of Arts (MA)
  • Music Education
  • Music Technology
  • Musicology
  • Theory Music
• Master of Music (MMus)
  • Composition
  • Performance
  • Sound Recording
• Doctor of Music (DMus)
  • Composition
  • Performance Studies
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Composition
  • Music Education
  • Music Technology
  • Musicology
  • Sound Recording
  • Theory

Performing ensembles

Instrumental

• McGill Symphony Orchestra (MGSO)
• Contemporary Music Ensemble
• McGill Wind Symphony (MWS)
• Baroque Orchestra

Jazz

• Jazz Orchestra I
• Jazz Orchestra II
• Jazz Combo
• Chamber Jazz Ensemble
• Jazz Vocal Workshop (Jazz Choir)

Vocal

• Opera McGill
• Schulich School Singers
• University Chorus
• Cappella Antica

Opera McGill

Opera McGill was hailed by Opera Canada magazine as "the premiere program in Canada."^[2] Since the appointment of Patrick Hansen to Director of Opera Studies, Opera McGill has undergone many changes. In an interview with La Scena Musicale magazine Hansen said: "My focus here, is to figure out the strengths and weakness of the program and how to make it absolutely one of the best in the world."^[3] Every year, Opera McGill produces at least three operas on the Pollack Hall stage. During the past four years, the Lisl Wirth Black Box Festival has seen productions of "Albert Herring", "La Rondine", "Dialogues des Carmelites", and "Hänsel und Gretel". For the mainstage, productions of classic opera repertoire have included "Così fan tutte", "The Rape of Lucretia", "The Rake's Progress", and "La bohème". Each year, Opera McGill collaborates with the Early Music Program at Schulich to produce a baroque opera (accompanied by period instruments and in period tunings). The last four years have seen productions of "Alcina", "Thésée", "Agrippina", and "Imeneo".

Orchestral Training Program

The Orchestral Training Program (OTP) is for students studying an orchestral instrument. The McGill Symphony Orchestra, which is conducted by Alexis Hauser, is the most senior orchestra for the university.

Facilities

The Schulich School of Music has two main buildings on campus. The Strathcona Music Building and the New Music Building.

The Strathcona Music Building was originally home to the Royal Victoria College, the women's College of McGill University. Presently, the building has two wings referred to as the Center Wing and the East Wing. The Center Wing is home to a concert hall (Pollack Hall), a small recital hall (Clara Lichenstein Recital Hall), a large lecture room, teaching studios, class rooms and ensemble rehearsal spaces. Pollack Hall is the largest performance venue at the Schulich School of Music with over 600 seats. The East Wing is situated in the middle of the Center wing of the Stracona Music Building and the New Music Building. The basement of the East Wing is home to the Music Undergraduate Students' Association office, the students' newspaper office (The Phonograph) and a student cafeteria. The second, third, four and fifth floors which normally house the teaching assistants' offices and the practice rooms for instrumentalists, pianist and vocalists are currently being renovated.

The New Music Building (NMB) was built in 2005 thanks to a $20 million gift from McGill grad Seymour Schulich. The building has 8 floors above ground and two below ground. The bottom floor is known as -2 (minus 2) and is home to the Wirth Opera Studio (name after Manfred and Eliza Wirth), the Music Multimedia Room (MMR) as well as smaller recording studios. The first floor is home to a spacious lobby. On the first and the second floor are entrances to Tanna Schulich Hall, an intimate performance venue which seats 187 people. The third, fourth and fifth floor of the NMB are home to the Marvin Duchow Music Library. The Gertrude Whitley Performance Library and the Music Student Computer Room which was updated during the fall of 2008 can also be found on the fifth floor. The sixth floor is reserved for faculty office spaces. The seventh floor is the home of the Schulich School of Music administration and the 8th floor is home to CIRMMT.

Recitals and concerts are also frequently held at Redpath Hall on McGill University's main campus.

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology

The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology is known as CIRMMT, pronounced "kermit". CIRMMT is a multi-disciplinary research centre involving researchers at McGill University, the University of Montreal and the University of Sherbrooke. The centre hosts six state-of-the-art research labs on the eighth floor of the New Music Building. The Centre's research axes are:

• sound modeling, acoustics and signal processing;
• musical gestures, devices and motion capture;
• musical information archiving and retrieval;
• multimodal immersive systems;
• music perception and cognition;
• expanded musical practice.

Student associations

Undergraduate

The Music Undergraduate Students' Association, also known as MUSA, actively represents the undergraduate student body of the Schulich School of Music.^[4] Among other activities, the MUSA is responsible for the Musicians' Health Series which presents participatory and informational workshops that are of interest to musicians in training. It is made possible by funding from the Music Undergraduate Students' Association and the Schulich School of Music.

2008-2009 Highlights

Yoga for Musicians

• Excelling in performance through proper alignment and breath. Offered twice weekly during both Fall and Winter Semesters

Alexander Technique

• An introductory workshop to explore the basic principles of the Alexander Technique and its applications to music performance.

Feldenkrais

• A method of improving the way you live and move. By focusing attention on how the different segments of the body articulate one with the other, the technique bypasses all structural complications, to concentrate on improving how you move and act.

Movement for Musicians

• A workshop to have fun, release tension, discover fluidity and increase your ability to orient yourself in space. Using contemporary dance blended with other body work techniques which focus on letting go of unneeded muscle tension.

Practice Makes Perfect?

• Three of McGill's most active performing faculty: Mark Fewer (violin), Sara Laimon (piano) and Sanford Sylvan (voice) discussed our purpose, misconceptions, responsibilities, and types of practice, in both solo and chamber/collaborative contexts.

Preparing Mentally for a Performance

• An introduction to the application of Sports Psychology for Instrumentalists and Singers.

Graduate

The Music Graduate Students' Society, also known as MGSS, represents the graduate student body of the Schulich School of Music.

Notable people

Faculty

Each year, professional musicians and scholars come to the school to give master classes and guest lectures or to serve as visiting artists, conductors, and faculty.

Among the school's acclaimed faculty are:

Stefano Algieri, Tenor Theodore Baskin, Oboe (Principal, MSO) Denis Bluteau, Flute Denys Bouliane, Composer and Conductor William Caplin, Theorist Edward Carroll (musician), Trumpet Brian Cherney, Composer Carolyn Christie, Flute (2nd Flute, MSO) Jonathan Crow, Violin Robert Crowley, Clarinet (Principal, MSO) Kevin Dean, Jazz Trumpet Alain Desgagne, Clarinet (Associate Principal, MSO) Michael Dumouchel, Clarinet (2nd & Eb Clarinet, MSO) Martha de Francisco, Sound Recording Sean Ferguson, Composition, Director of the McGill Digital Composition Studios Mark Fewer, Violin (Former Concertmaster, VSO) Lori Freedman, Clarinet Julia Gavrilova, Dr., Piano Kenneth Gilbert, Harpsichord Matt Haimovitz, Cello Patrick Hansen, Master Coach (Former Artistic Admin Florida Grand Opera)

Alexis Hauser, Conductor Timothy Hutchins, Flute (Principal, MSO) Hank Knox, Harpsichord Kyoko Hashimoto, Piano Ben Heppner, Tenor Joanne Kolomyjec, Soprano Dominique Labelle, Soprano Dave Laing, Jazz Drums Sara Laimon, Piano Stéphane Lévesque (Principal, MSO) Denise Lupien, Violin (Former Concertmaster, Orchestre Métropolitain) Brian Manker, Cello, (Principal, MSO) Marina Mdivani, Piano Paul Merkelo, Trumpet Michael McMahon, Coach and Collaborator Sandy Pearlman, Producer Joel Quarrington, Double Bass Ranee Lee, Vocal Jazz John Rea, Composer Richard Roberts, violin, (Concertmaster, MSO) Sanford Sylvan, Baritone Julian Wachner, Conductor Andre White, Jazz Piano, Drums John Zirbel, Horn (Principal, MSO) Luba Zuk, Piano Denys Derome, Horn (Associate Principal, MSO)

Alumni

Many of its alumni have gone on to distinguished careers. Among them are:

• Yaniv Attar, Assistant Conductor with Alabama Symphony Orchestra
• Jo-Anne Bentley, Canadian Mezzo-Soprano and Professor of Voice at the University of Toronto
• Julie Boulianne, Canadian Mezzo-Soprano with Opéra de Montréal
• Taylor Brook, award-winning composer and musician
• Donna Brown, Canadian Soprano and Professor of Voice at the University of Ottawa
• Edmund Brownless, Canadian Tenor and Voice Teacher at the Hoch Conservatory & Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
• Benjamin Butterfield, Canadian Tenor
• Carolyn Christie, 2nd Flute with Montreal Symphony Orchestra
• Marianne Croteau, Principal Clarinet with Laval Symphony Orchestra
• Michael Donovan, Canadian Baritone
• Etienne Dupuis, Canadian Baritone
• Megan Evans, Assistant Principal Horn with Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
• Fabrice Fitch, Durham University
• Amanda Forsyth, Principal Cello with National Arts Center Orchestra
• Micah Heilbrunn, Principal Clarinet with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
• Joshua Hopkins, Canadian Baritone
• Roma Duncan Kansara, Principal Piccolo with Minnesota Orchestra
• Gillian Keith, Canadian Soprano
• Rhian Kenny, Principal Piccolo, Pittsburgh Symphony
• Jean-Michaël Lavoie, Assistant Conductor with Ensemble intercontemporain
• Suzie LeBlanc, Canadian Soprano and Professor of Voice at Université de Montréal
• Douglas Leopold, openly gay pioneer in Quebec television and radio
• Jens Lindemann, Trumpet Soloist
• Michèle Losier, Canadian Soprano
• Graham Lord, Principal Clarinet with Orchestra London Canada
• Earl MacDonald, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut, former musical director and pianist with Maynard Ferguson
• Martin MacDonald, Resident Conductor with Symphony Nova Scotia
• John Mac Master, Canadian Tenor with Metropolitan Opera Company
• Andrei Malashenko, Principal Timpani with Montreal Symphony Orchestra
• Shauna McDonald, Principal Clarinet with Ottawa Symphony Orchestra
• Michael Meraw, Canadian Baritone and Professor of Voice at the New England Conservatory
• Michael McMahon, Pianist and Professor at the Schulich School of Music
• Shannon Mercer, Canadian Soprano
• Geoffrey Moull, Music Director of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Mentor of the Opera Program at Wilfrid Laurier University
• Michael Murray, Popular & World Music Officer, Ontario Arts Council
• Natasha Negovanlis, Canadian actress and singer
• Suzanne Nelson, 2nd Bassoon with Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Voice Professor at Manhattan School of Music and The Curtis Institute of Music
• Pemi Paull, violist with Bradyworks, SMCQ, Kore Ensemble, Ensemble Caprice, Theatre of Early Music
• Remi Pelletier, Violist with Montreal Symphony Orchestra
• Dimitri Pittas, American Tenor with Metropolitan Opera Company
• Annamaria Popescu, Canadian Mezzo-Soprano
• Donald Steven, composer, Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year, Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music
• Samuel Tak-Ho Tam, Intern Conductor with Canadian Opera Company
• Daniel Taylor, Canadian Countertenor, Director of the Theatre of Early Music, Adjunct Professor at the Schulich School of Music
• Jeremy Thompson, Dr., Canadian Concert Pianist
• Todd Skitch, Flutist with Memphis Symphony Orchestra
• Jennifer Swartz, Principal Harp with Montreal Symphony Orchestra
• Frédérique Vézina, Canadian Soprano
• Ian Whitman, Principal Bass with Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
• Gordon Wolfe, Principal Trombone with Toronto Symphony Orchestra
• Ireneus Zuk, Concert Pianist and former Director, School of Music, Queen's University
• Luba Zuk, Pianist and Educator

Schulich Visiting Scholar and Catherine Thornton-Steele Chair

2009-2010

Dorothy Morton Visiting Artist:

• Menahem Pressler, Piano

Year of Woodwinds:

• Larry Combs, Clarinet (Former Principal Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Carlo Colombo, Bassoon (Principal Orchestre de Opéra National de Lyon)
• Jeanne Baxtresser, Flute (Former Principal with New York Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Stefan Schilli, Oboe (Principal with Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra)

2008-2009

Brass Year:

• James Thompson, Trumpet (Former Principal Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, State of Mexico Orchestra)
• Jens Lindemann, Trumpet (Professor University of Los Angeles, California)
• Stefan Dohr, Horn (Principal, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Jörgen Van Rijen, Trombone (Principal, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam)
• Gene Pokorny, Tuba (Principal, Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

2007-2008:

• Anton Kuerti, Piano

Schulich Ambassadors

The Schulich Ambassador Program consists of a select group of student leaders who serve as contacts for prospective students, visitors and friends of the Schulich School of Music. Prospective students may contact the recruitment office and request a tour of the music facilities or to participate in the Student-for-a-Day Program with a Schulich Ambassador.

Awards

The Schulich School of Music's Golden Violin Award is the largest privately funded music scholarship in Canada. The prize is $20,000 and is awarded to the top string player who is close to completing studies and has demonstrated the potential for a successful performing career.

The Golden Violin, made of pewter and gold plate, remains on permanent display in McGill’s Marvin Duchow Music Library. Its recipients, chosen by the McGill scholarships committee, receive a smaller likeness in the form of a 14-karat gold lapel pin.

Special events and conferences

• The Schulich School of Music presents approximately 650 concerts a year.^[5]

• For 30 years, the McGill/CBC concert series has delivered music to audiences across Canada.^[6] It is reported to be the longest university/radio concert series in Canadian history.

• For the last five years, the school has hosted a contemporary music festival called the MusiMarch Festival. This year, American composer John Adams will be among the 200 musicians participating in the festival.^[7][8]

2008-2009

• October: The Schulich School of Music is a partner of the Canadian International Organ Competition.

• November: The Schulich School of Music hosts the 69th edition of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Standard Life Competition. Among the other guest teachers, soprano Renata Scotto conducts a master class.

• August: The Schulich School of Music will host the 2009 International Computer Music Conference (ICMC 2009).

2007-2008

• May: The Schulich School of Music hosts an Arnold Schoenberg Exhibit and Symposium to discuss the composer's legacy on form.

• June: The Schulich School of Music hosts the 13th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD).

2006-2007

• October: The Schulich School of Music hosts the sixth annual Future of Music Policy Summit in conjunction with Pop Montreal.

2003-2004

• May: The Schulich School of Music hosts NIME-03, the third International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression.

Photo gallery

• 

  The Strathcona Music Building (foreground) was built in 1901; a new music building (background) was opened in 2005.

• 

  Opera McGill's November 2008 Production of Lully's Thesee.

• 

  Opera McGill's January 2009 Production of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia.

Further reading

McGill's new music lab (The Gazette)

Did you know: Facts about McGill's internationally ranked music program (canadian-universities.net)

Seymour Schulich's golden encore (canadian-universities.net)

McGill University Celebrates 100 Years of Music (La Scena Musicale)

POP MONTREAL: McGill to host sixth annual Future of Music Policy Summit (McGill Tribune)

References

External links

• Schulich School of Music
• Concerts and Publicity
• CIRMMT
• NIME-03
• Music Undergraduate Students' Association (MUSA)
• McGill Music Graduate Students' Society (MGSS)
• McGill International String Quartet and Academy (MISQA)

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Coordinates: 45°30′21″N 73°34′24″W / 45.50573°N 73.57345°W / 45.50573; -73.57345