Schulich School of Music

Schulich School of Music
École de musique Schulich (French)
Strathcona Music Building
Named forSeymour Schulich
TypeFaculty (music school)
Established1904; 120 years ago (1904)
Parent institution
McGill University
DeanSean Alastair Ferguson
Academic staff
200+[1]
StudentsApproximately 875
Address
Strathcona Music Building,
555 rue Sherbrooke Ouest
,
Montreal
,
Quebec
,
Canada
CampusUrban
Websitemcgill.ca/music

The Schulich School of Music (also known as Schulich) is one of the constituent faculties of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located at 555, Rue Sherbrooke Ouest (555, Sherbrooke Street West). The faculty was named after the benefactor Seymour Schulich.[2]

McGill University's Schulich School of Music runs 50 different programs in research and performance and holds 700 concerts annually.[3] Over 35% of the student body is international.[3] At least 13 Grammy Award winners have been affiliated with the Schulich School of Music, including George Massenburg, Estelí Gomez, Serban Ghenea, Steven Epstein, Jennifer Gasoi, Brian Losch,[4] Chilly Gonzales, Win Butler, Nick Squire,[5] Leonard Cohen, Richard King, Régine Chassagne, and Burt Bacharach.

History

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Early history

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Music teaching at the institution began in 1884, with a program 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

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  • 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.
  • 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 and Conservatorium of Music (1957–1989)

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  • 1964 Helmut Blume named dean of the Faculty of Music. He served until 1979 and oversaw the school's early development into one of Canada's major music schools.
  • 1966 The McGill Conservatorium of Music becomes the McGill Preparatory School of Music.
  • 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.
  • 1978 The Preparatory School becomes the McGill Conservatory of Music.
  • 1981 McGill becomes the first university in Canada to offer a BMus degree in jazz performance.
  • 1989 The McGill Opera Studio is renamed Opera McGill, with Bernard Turgeon as director and Timothy Vernon as conductor.

School renamed – new building

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  • 2005 The New Music Building is opened, and the Faculty of Music changes its name to the Schulich School of Music of McGill University.
  • 2010 Inaugural season of the McGill International String Quartet Academy.[6]

Degrees and programs

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Performance

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Undergraduate Programs in Performance

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  • Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Early Music (Instruments and Voice), Faculty Program (Jazz or Classical), Guitar, Jazz (Instruments and Voice), Orchestral Instruments (Brass, Percussion, Strings, Woodwinds), Organ, Piano, Voice[7]
  • Licentiate in Music (LMus) in Early Music (Instruments and Voice), Guitar, Jazz (Instruments and Voice), Orchestral Instruments (Brass, Percussion, Strings, Woodwinds), Organ, Piano, Voice[8]

Double Majors and Double Degree

Bachelor of Music students can add a second major or degree to their program, either within the School of Music or at other faculties at McGill University[9]

Music Performance Minors[10]

  • Early Music
  • Conducting
  • Jazz Arranging and Composition
  • Jazz Performance
  • In addition to Music minors, B.Mus. students can add minors offered by other faculties at McGill University

Graduate Programs in Performance[11]

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  • Master of Music (MMus) in Conducting, Early Music (Instruments and Voice), Guitar, Jazz (instruments and Voice), Orchestral Instruments (Brass, Percussion, Strings, Woodwinds), Organ, Piano, Collaborative Piano, Voice and Opera
  • Graduate Diploma in Performance[12] and Artist Diploma[13] in Early Music (Instruments and Voice), Guitar, Jazz (Instruments and Voice), Orchestral Instruments (Brass, Percussion, Strings, Woodwinds), Organ, Piano, Voice and Opera
  • Graduate Certificate in Choral Conducting[14]
  • Doctor of Music (DMus) in Performance Studies[15] (Brass, Conducting, Early Music, Guitar, Jazz, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Voice and Opera, Woodwinds)

Music research

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Undergraduate Programs in Music Research[7]

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  • Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Composition, Faculty Program (Classical or Jazz), Music Education, Music History/Musicology, Music Theory

Double Majors and Double Degree

Bachelor of Music students can add a second major or degree to their program, either within the School of Music or at other faculties at McGill University[9]

Music Research Minors

  • Composition
  • Music Education
  • Music Entrepreneurship
  • Music History / Musicology
  • Musical Applications of Technology
  • Music Science and Technology
  • Music Theory
  • In addition to Music minors, B.Mus. students can add minors offered by other faculties at McGill University

Graduate Programs in Music Research

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Performing ensembles

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Orchestras

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

Jazz

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  • McGill Jazz Orchestra I
  • McGill Jazz Orchestra II
  • McGill Chamber Jazz Ensemble
  • Jazz Rhythm Section Ensembles
  • McGill Jazz Choir
  • Jazz Combos

Choral

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  • McGill University Chorus
  • Schulich Singers
  • McGill Concert Choir
  • Cappella Antica

Opera McGill

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Opera McGill was described by Opera Canada magazine as "the premiere program in Canada."[16] Every year, Opera McGill produces at least three operas on the Pollack Hall stage. It collaborates with the Early Music Program at Schulich to produce a baroque opera (accompanied by period instruments and in period tunings). In 2016, the program celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Other

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  • Chamber Music
  • Early Music Ensembles
  • Song Interpretation
  • Guitar Ensemble
  • Piano Ensembles
  • Percussion Ensemble
  • Tabla Ensemble

Facilities

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The Strathcona Music Building (at left) and the Elizabeth Wirth Music Building (at right)

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

The Strathcona Music Building was originally home to 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, classrooms 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 house the teaching assistants' offices and the practice rooms for instrumentalists, pianists and vocalists.

The Elizabeth Wirth Music Building (EWMB; previously the New Music Building) 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 (named 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 EWMB 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. On April 30, 2015, the building was officially inaugurated as the Elizabeth Wirth Music Building, thanks to a donation of $7.5 million from McGill alumna Elizabeth Wirth.

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

The Schulich School of Music occupies 148,650 sq. ft. of space. This includes:

  • 113 practice rooms
  • 13 classrooms
  • 10 ensemble rooms
  • Four performing halls: Pollack Hall, Redpath Hall, Tanna Schulich Hall, Clara Lichtenstein Hall
  • A state-of-the-art Music Multimedia Room
  • Wirth Opera Studio
  • The Marvin Duchow Music Library
  • The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT)

817 instruments are available for student use at the Schulich School of Music. This includes:

  • 117 pianos
  • 55 electric pianos
  • 160 percussions
  • 485 woodwind, brass and string instruments

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology

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The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology is known as CIRMMT. CIRMMT is a multi-disciplinary research Centre involving researchers at McGill University and other institutions. The Centre has research labs in New Music Building. The Centre's research axes are:

  • Instruments, devices and systems
  • Music information research
  • Cognition, perception and movement
  • Expanded musical practice

Reputation

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University rankings
World rankings
QS World[17]18
Canadian rankings
QS National[17]1

It has consistently ranked as the 1st ranked music school in Canada historically and was ranked 18th globally according to the 2024 QS World University Rankings. [18]

Notable people

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Alumni

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Current and past faculty members

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History of Deans

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Special events and conferences

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  • During the 2015-2016 concert season, the Schulich School of Music put on over 700 performances.[26]
  • For 30 years, the McGill/CBC concert series has delivered music to audiences across Canada.[27] It is reported to be the longest university/radio concert series in Canadian history.[28]
  • From 2004-2010, the school hosted a contemporary music festival called the MusiMarch Festival.
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  • The Strathcona Music Building (foreground) was built in 1901; a new music building (background) was opened in 2005.
    The Strathcona Music Building (foreground) was built in 1901; a new music building (background) was opened in 2005.
  • McGill faculty Music department
    McGill faculty Music department
  • Strathcona music building (McGill University) 2005-10-21
    Strathcona music building (McGill University) 2005-10-21
  • A statue of Queen Victoria sits outside the Strathcona Music Building.
    A statue of Queen Victoria sits outside the Strathcona Music Building.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About the Schulich School of Music". Schulich School of Music of McGill University. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  2. ^ Lewington, Jennifer (29 June 2017). "Mega-donor Seymour Schulich sets the bar higher for education - The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail.
  3. ^ a b "The advancement of learning through the free expression of ideas and pursuit of research and artistic creation". McGill Schulich School of Music. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "Esteli Gomez and Brian Losch are the latest Schulich Grads to win Grammys". McGill Schulich School of Music. 29 Jan 2014.
  5. ^ "Nick Squire wins Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Classical". McGill Schulich School of Music. 28 Feb 2019.
  6. ^ "History".
  7. ^ a b "Bachelor of Music". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  8. ^ "Licentiate in Music". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  9. ^ a b "Double Majors and Double Degrees". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  10. ^ "Minor Programs". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  11. ^ "Programs". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  12. ^ "Graduate Diploma in Performance". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  13. ^ "Artist Diploma (Graduate)". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  14. ^ "Certificate in Performance Choral Conducting". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  15. ^ "Performance Studies; D.Mus". Music. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  16. ^ https://www.mcgill.ca/music/performance/opera/ Opera Canada Quote
  17. ^ a b "QS World University Rankings - 2025". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  18. ^ "QS World University Rankings - Music". QS World University Rankings 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Music at McGill University". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 Oct 2022.
  20. ^ "McGill University Celebrates 100 Years of Music". La Scena Musicale. Retrieved 16 Oct 2022.
  21. ^ "McGill University Celebrates 100 Years of Music". La Scena Musicale. Retrieved 16 Oct 2022.
  22. ^ "Foote takes Schulich helm". McGill Reporter. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 16 Oct 2022.
  23. ^ "Sean Ferguson named Dean of Schulich School of Music at McGill". McGill Reporter. Retrieved 16 Oct 2022.
  24. ^ "Ferguson appointed next Music Dean". McGill Reporter. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 16 Oct 2022.
  25. ^ "Ferguson appointed next Music Dean". McGill Reporter. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 16 Oct 2022.
  26. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2008-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Concerts p.3 Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  27. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/montreal/features/mcgillconcert/includes/CBCMcGillConcertFlyer.Eng.pdf 30th Annual McGill/CBC Concert Series
  28. ^ https://www.mcgill.ca/music/files/music/11.nov_.cbc-mcgill-press_release.eng_.pdf [bare URL PDF]
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45°30′21″N 73°34′24″W / 45.50573°N 73.57345°W / 45.50573; -73.57345

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