Don Wright Faculty of Music

The Don Wright Faculty of Music is the faculty of music at The University of Western Ontario, commonly referred to among Canadian universities as Western, in London, Ontario, Canada. 550 undergraduate students and 125 graduate students were enrolled in 2009-2010. It is situated on Western's main campus in Talbot College and the Music Building. Both buildings are currently under extensive renovations and additions to be completed in 2016.^[1] The Dean is Betty Anne Younker, Associate Deans are Victoria Meredith and Catherine Nolan.^[2]

University of Western Ontario

History

The Western University of London was founded in 1878, becoming the University of Western Ontario in 1923. The history of the Faculty of Music begins in 1903 with the founding of the Conservatory of London, which was incorporated in 1934 as the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music. In 1938 the Conservatory's Principal was appointed Director of Music for the University and the offices were moved to the McIntosh Gallery in 1942. A Music Teacher's College was established in 1945, changing its name to College of Music in 1961 and becoming part of the Faculty of Arts and Science. On July 1, 1968, the College became the Faculty of Music with Clifford von Kuster as the first Dean. Following rapid expansion, a new Music Building was officially opened in 1972. Hugh McLean was Dean of the Faculty of Music from 1973 to 1980, followed by Jack Behrens from 1980 to 1986 and Jeffrey Stokes from 1986 to 2000. Robert Wood was appointed Dean in 2001. In 2002, the Faculty was renamed the Don Wright Faculty of Music after a generous donation by Canadian composer, musician and educator Donald J. Wright. Renovations to Talbot Theatre were completed in August 2009 and the hall was renamed in honour of retiring University President Paul Davenport.^[3]

Departments

The Don Wright Faculty of Music has three departments. The Department of Music Education offers a strong emphasis on the balance between academic training at the undergraduate level, and a flexible, research-based program at the graduate level; the Department of Music Research and Composition embraces four areas of study in musicology, music theory, popular music studies, and composition; the Department of Music Performance Studies offers instruction in all areas of keyboard, orchestral and band instruments, and voice at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Degrees Offered

Degrees offered at the Don Wright Faculty of Music include the Bachelor of Music with Honours in music education, history, performance, theory, and composition; the Bachelor of Musical Arts; and the Bachelor of Arts with Honours in music, music administrative studies and popular music studies.

Graduate degrees include the Master of Music in composition, theory, music education, literature and performance; the Master of Arts in musicology, theory, and popular music and culture; the PhD in musicology, theory, composition, music education; and the DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) in performance studies.

The Faculty also offers a music performance diploma in conjunction with another area of study at the university and a one-year artist diploma in performance.

Since 2012, the Don Wright Faculty of Music has offered a five-year integrated Music Recording Arts (MRA) program in collaboration with Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. Graduates of the program will receive a Bachelor of Musical Arts degree and a two-year Ontario College Diploma in Music Industry Arts (MIA).^[4]

Since 2013, the Don Wright Faculty of Music and the Richard Ivey School of Business offer a concurrent five-year program with a Bachelor of Musical Arts or Bachelor of Arts (Music) and a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Business Administration (HBA).^[5]

Non-Degree Programs

The Don Wright Faculty of Music offers certificate and extra-curricular programs for community members and students. A piano technology certificate is available through the Piano Technology Program. Other programs include the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy (COAA), Accademia Europea Dell’Opera (AEDO), New Horizons Adult Band, and the Western Young Winds program.^[6]

Ensembles

2013-2014 Ensembles and Directors:

• Western University Symphony Orchestra - Alain Trudel
• Western University Wind Ensemble - Colleen Richardson
• Western University Symphonic Band - John Phillips
• Western University Jazz Ensemble - Kevin Watson
• Western University Singers - Victoria Meredith and Gerald Neufeld
• St. Cecilia Singers - Gloria Gassi
• The Chorale - Jennifer Moir
• Les Choristes - Jennifer Moir
• UWOpera - Theodore Baerg
• Percussion Ensemble - Jill Ball
• Early Music Studio - Richard Semmens and Joseph Lanza
• Early Music Studio (Thames Scholars) - Gerald Neufeld

Past ensemble directors include Gary McCumber (Symphonic Band) and James McKay (Symphony Orchestra).

Performance Venues

Paul Davenport Theatre

The 400 seat Paul Davenport Theatre (formerly Talbot Theatre) hosts over 200 performances per year. The Paul Davenport Theatre received a $5.0 million facelift completed in August 2009; $2.5 million was committed by the university with the remaining $2.5 million coming through fundraising.

Von Kuster Hall

The 224 seat von Kuster Recital Hall is home to more than 270 performances each year between September and May. The hall is primarily used as a venue for the performance of chamber music and small ensembles.

Alumni Hall

Alumni Hall was built as a multi-purpose hall in the 1960s and is mainly used today for convocation ceremonies, basketball, volleyball and other indoor events.^[7] Prior to the renovation of Talbot Theatre (renamed as the Paul Davenport Theatre) the Western University Symphony Orchestra used the 2,300-seat Alumni Hall as a performance space.

Music Library

The Music Library is a branch of Western Libraries at Western University. Situated in Talbot College, its primary users are associated with the Don Wright Faculty of Music. Western's Music Library has amassed an impressive collection in a span of forty years: as of 2008, the Music Library possessed 67,471 scores, 25,600 LPs, 26,000 CDs, 31,460 books, 11,610 microforms (fiche, film and microcards), 2,600 rare books, scores, and libretti, 600 current periodicals and 402 videos. In addition, the Music Library is home to several unique and important special collections, including the Gustav Mahler - Alfred Rosé Collection (one of the largest bodies of Mahler primary source materials in North America), the Opera Collection, the Metastasio Collection, the Cherubini Collection, the Thomas Baker Collection, and the Drs. James and Margaret Whitby Collections.

References

External links

• The University of Western Ontario
• The Don Wright Faculty of Music
• Western Libraries - Music Library