Schulich School of Music


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

History

Early history

Music teaching at the institution 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 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

Performance

The performance programs at the Schulich School of Music are designed to train professional musicians of the highest standard. Each individual is encouraged to reach her or his potential as a performer through private lessons with renowned faculty as well as numerous performing opportunities with Schulich's ensembles. The high level of artistry for which Schulich's performing ensembles are renowned is made possible by an outstanding corps of instrumental instructors. Every year, the Department hosts a number of visiting artists and presents hundreds of concerts, workshops, masterclasses and other activities.

Undergraduate Programs in Performance

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
Music Performance Minors
The Music Research Department administers both undergraduate and graduate programs in Composition, Music Education, Music History / Musicology, Music Theory, a general music Faculty Program, Sound Recording, and Music Technology, as well as various undergraduate minor programs. The departmental faculty include some of the leading scholars and teachers in North America. It is the philosophy of the Schulich School of Music that all students should receive a substantial proportion of their instruction from full-time professorial staff rather than from teaching assistants. Every year, the Department hosts a broad range of public lectures and sponsors major conferences and symposia.
For students who wish to pursue a liberal arts education, the Department also administers the B.A. with a Major Concentration in Music.

Undergraduate Programs in Music Research

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
Music Research Minors

Orchestras

Opera McGill was described by Opera Canada magazine as "the premiere program in Canada." 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. In 2016, the program celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Other

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 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, a small 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 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 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 and is home to the Wirth Opera Studio, the Music Multimedia Room 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:
817 instruments are available for student use at the Schulich School of Music.
This includes:
The is known as CIRMMT. CIRMMT is a multi-disciplinary research group that seeks to develop innovative approaches to the scientific study of music media and technology, to promote the application of newer technologies in science and the creative arts, and to provide an advanced research training environment. It unites researchers and their students from several Quebec institutions - McGill University, l’Université de Montréal, l’Université de Sherbrooke, Concordia University, École de technologie supérieure, l’Université  Laval and UQAM, amongst others. The centre hosts six research labs on the eighth floor of the Elizabeth Wirth Music Building and is involved in many outreach activities. The Centre's research axes are:
Previous visiting artists have included: