The first in a distinguished legacy of long-serving musical visionaries, Helen Martens was hired as a music professor at Grebel in 1965. Illustrating the College’s interdisciplinary focus from the beginning, the initial classes Helen taught were Music and the Fine Arts, as well as Music and Literature.
Pursuing Music’s Healing Effects
The Music program at Grebel and the University of Waterloo consistently appeals to students who are looking for a balanced and broad music education. When searching for a program that fit him best, student Tyler Reidy immediately felt comfortable when he arrived at Grebel for his pre-enrolment studio audition. “The faculty was incredibly welcoming, the students were encouraging and excited to get to know me during my audition process, and Grebel was small enough that I was immediately drawn to the community.” Tyler maintained a strong link to the department through all four years of his university career, and he is now set to graduate this spring with a Major in Music and an Intensive Music Specialization.
When Grebel was founded in 1963, no one could have anticipated the growth of the Music program and the central role Music would play in giving voice to the College’s mission in the ensuing 55 years.
The Music Department wishes to express profound gratitude to two ensemble directors for their extraordinary work with Grebel choirs: Catherine Robertson (pictured at piano), who has directed the Chapel Choir since 2015, and Gerard Yun (pictured below), director of the University Choir since 2009. Gerard is beginning a full-time position in Community Music at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Musicologist Dr. Katherine Kennedy Steiner will join Conrad Grebel University College’s faculty as Assistant Professor of Music, starting July 1, 2018. Teaching a range of courses from broad musicology surveys, to music of the Renaissance and medieval eras, to church music and worship, Steiner will engage with diverse groups of students across the University of Waterloo campus. She will also direct the College’s Chapel Choir.
The UW Department of Music welcomes Canadian conductor Liska Jetchick to conduct the University Choir for Spring term 2018. Liska holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. While at Westminster Liska was Assistant Graduate Conductor of the Westminster Symphonic Choir and Westminster Kantorei. Closer to home Liska has been conductor of London’s Conspirato Chamber Singers. Welcome, Liska!
This Spring Term we will have an orchestra@uwaterloo, albeit a bit smaller than in Winter or Fall terms. Please see our Ensemble Audition page for details. This orchestra is open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members. The Open Rehearsal/audition day will take place on May 10@7pm in Conrad Grebel's Great Hall.
Latvian Ēriks Ešenvalds is one of the most sought-after composers working today, with a busy commission schedule and performances of his music heard on every continent. Through a connection with Music Professor Mark Vuorinen, Ešenvalds offered a seminar and singers’ workshop in partnership with Grebel’s three choirs and the Grand Philharmonic Choir in February.
Professor Ken Hull began teaching piano and music courses part-time at Conrad Grebel University College in 1977, the same year that Music became an official department at the University of Waterloo.
It is with great pleasure and anticipation that we announce the winners of the orchestra@waterloo concerto and aria competition.
Eric Liang performed spectacularly with Brahms 2nd piano concerto, winning him the 1st place position. Eric will be performing the 1st movement with the orchestra@waterloo at an upcoming concert.