Scotland's most celebrated composer, Sir James MacMillan will be the 2016 Rodney and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar. His musical language is flooded with influences from his Scottish heritage, Catholic faith, social conscience and close connection with Celtic folk music, blended with influences from Far Eastern, Scandinavian and Eastern European music.
Public Lecture: The Spiritual in Music
Sir James MacMillan
March 1, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Great Hall, Conrad Grebel University College
Concert details for March 6, 2016 performance
About Sir James MacMillan
Rodney and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar Lecture
Dr. Rodney Sawatsky joined the faculty of Conrad Grebel in 1974, teaching in the areas of History, Religious Studies, Mennonite Studies, and Peace and Conflict Studies. He served the college as Academic Dean from 1974-89 and as President from 1989-94.
Sawatsky provided inspiration and impetus for the development of the College’s graduate program in Theological Studies. As Dean and then President he significantly shaped the strong faculty that defined Grebel’s distinctive academic profile for more than three decades.
Rodney and his wife Lorna were key figures at Conrad Grebel, the University of Waterloo, and in the local community. Since Rodney’s death in 2004, Lorna has continued to support and advocate for causes that were important to them both.
In keeping with Rodney Sawatsky’s own academic interests, the Sawatsky Visiting Scholar is awarded to renowned scholars, practitioners and performers — representing a wide range of academic and creative disciplines — who bring their expertise to the Grebel community.
Contributions to the endowment fund that supports the Sawatsky Visiting Scholar are welcome. See Director of Development, Fred W. Martin.