Student profiles

Mechanical Engineering

For Conrad Grebel University College resident Jared Dyck, studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo hasn’t just been about equations and design; it also came with a soundtrack. Thanks to his love of music, Jared has meshed choral singing with university life, bringing creativity and balance to a demanding academic path.

English and Music, Double Majors

Chloe Shantz is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a double major in Music and English Literature and is the recipient of the Music Departmental Award. “I grew up in a musical family, and English was always my favourite subject in school,” she said. After graduating high school during the pandemic, Chloe found herself drawn to the supportive and close-knit environment at Grebel.

Liberal Studies, with Church Music and Worship minor

“I love, love, love music! It feeds my soul and nourishes my spirituality in a way that doesn’t always need words,” expressed Susan Allen, a Conrad Grebel University College alumna who earned a Liberal Studies degree with a minor in Church Music and Worship from the University of Waterloo. With the goal of turning her 3-year degree into a 4-year honours degree, Susan returned to Grebel.

Statistics, with Music minor

Conrad Grebel University College has felt like home to Joel Woods since he was 12 years old. Following in his sister’s footsteps, Joel attended Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC), a two-week camp at Grebel that mixes music and faith with a traditional camp experience. In just two weeks, Joel felt like he belonged at Grebel. For the next five years, Joel returned to Grebel each August for OMMC, shaping exciting summer memories, his creativity, a love for music, and eventually his post-secondary path.

Music Major

Matt Metwalli, a fourth-year music student at the University of Waterloo and Conrad Grebel University College, is preparing for his upcoming grad recital. While practicing the saxophone piece “As I Am,” Matt knew delivering a memorable performance would require meticulous practice and a profound understanding of the piece's composition.

Systems Design Engineering and Music Minor

Participating in ensembles helps students from all corners of UWaterloo to connect with others who share their love for listening, playing, and exploring music. That is one of the reasons why Hannah Rivers, a fourth-year Systems Design Engineering student minoring in Music Studio for voice, would not change her experience for the world.

Joint, Combinatorics & Optimization Honours Co-op, Computer Science Honours

Music is better together, and Lila adores violin for this very reason. She began playing the instrument in her city's Youth Orchestra throughout secondary school, and by the end of her high school years she taught both the violin and piano to fellow students. When Lila enrolled at the University of Waterloo for Computer Science and Combinatorics & Optimization double-major, she was happy to learn that Conrad Grebel University College offered a variety of ensembles for her to participate in for credit.

Biomedical Engineering Honours Co-op

There is freedom in music. “I remember back in January 2020 when COVID-19 just started to spread,” Zhuoyun began. “I was afraid, lonely, confused, and at times I felt utterly helpless. I was on co-op, and would practice my cello every day after work. It was like I could no longer feel all the mixed emotions when focusing on the techniques and dynamics of a certain piece—I felt free. Music gives me a way to escape.”

Mechanical Engineering, Honours Co-op, Music Minor

Justin is a second year student majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Before attending the University of Waterloo, he performed in the Canadian String Orchestra and the Ontario Strings Association of Youth Orchestra. These ensemble groups gave Justin a strong sense of belonging, and he wanted to pursue similar opportunities in university. When the first opportunity arose, Justin joined the orchestra@uwaterloo and signed up for as many Music courses as he could at Conrad Grebel University College.

Arts Honours: Music with an Intensive Music Specialization

Freedom, family, happiness—music means all this and more to Sarah. She was drawn to Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo because she wished to surround herself with music and embrace her passion wholeheartedly. Not only did the Honours Music program do just that, but Grebel offered a variety of ensembles and musical leadership opportunities for Sarah to take advantage of.

Joint, Honours Biomedical Science and Honours Music

Music means everything to Ashley. “Everything. I don’t know how I could live without it. I just HAVE to sing. Music lets me express anything and everything.” As enthusiastic as Ashley is about music, it isn’t her only passion. She “loves” the challenge of science and chemistry, and “could not live without music” in her life, so she decided to pursue both her interests. At first, the thought of a Music minor crossed her mind, but Ashley realized that she wanted no limit on the Music classes she could take.

Kinesiology and Music: combining movements

Whether exploring music for personal fulfillment or credit, being in ensembles is often an artistic escape for students. Although Kinesiology and Music are seemingly different disciplines, Ana Hill finds beauty in how they intertwine. “Music is naturally a fantastic way to initiate movement, from tapping your foot to full-on dancing! It motivates us while we exercise so that we can increase our stamina and improve overall performance,” she said.

Ellen working hands on with her project!

Congratulations to Ellen Marguerite Siebel-Achenbach on receiving The Sandra Burt Prize in Gender and Social Justice for her project on “Sisters of Wisdom: Female Hymnists of the Middle Ages.” Ellen graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2023 with a double major in Visual Culture and Medieval Studies and minors in both Fine Arts Studio and Church Music and Worship (CMW). She recently finished her master's degree in Art History at the University of Toronto.

Honours Arts French, with Music minor

Tessa is a second year Arts student specializing in French Teaching with a Music minor. She enjoys learning languages and her dream is to become a French immersion teacher. At the same time music has always been an integral part of her life, which she hopes to incorporate into her teaching. At Conrad Grebel University College she seized the opportunity to take part in various University of Waterloo Music courses, Voice Studio, Chamber Choir—both in-person and virtually—and is currently a member of the Chapel Choir.

Honours Arts Legal Studies, with Music minor

Rachel is a third year Arts student majoring in Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo. As a result of her childhood musical experiences, she was drawn to minor in Music offered at Conrad Grebel University College. Rachel began taking music lessons at a young age, starting with the piano and branching out into the flute and voice later on. Since coming to UWaterloo, she has been a member of the Chamber Choir and is currently part of the Chapel Choir. As time goes on, she plans to continue singing in choirs and possibly pursue a path in teaching music.

Instrumental Chamber Ensemble at UWaterloo

Joint, Honours Biomedical Science and Honours Music

Currently in her second year, Amanda is proving that you don’t have to be in the arts faculty to pursue your love of music. Amanda is an Honours Biomedical Science student with joint Honours in Music, and is heavily involved in the ICE ensembles where she plays violin. She grew up adoring the music of Natalie McMaster and Leahy’s, and it was after attending a Natalie McMaster concert that Amanda knew she wanted to play the violin. She received one that Christmas.

Peace and Conflict Studies, with Music Minor

“I love music. Creating music is a joyful experience for me, but it is also a meaningful connection point in my life,” shared Selah Woelk. She is a second-year student at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo majoring in Peace and Conflict Studies with a minor in Music. Selah finds a sense of community in creating music with others and is part of various music groups such as the Grebel musical and UW choirs and ensembles.

Leah Dau sitting at the piano in the Grebel Chapel

Art Honours, with French Studies Minor

As a multi-instrumentalist, Leah Dau knows that music can be expressed in many ways. She is a member of the Grebel Chapel Choir and plays piano, guitar, flute, ukulele, and a few other woodwind instruments. As a third-year student at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo, Leah is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a minor in French Studies.

Jewel chose the Music Program at Grebel because she was “always arts-oriented growing up” and she wanted to continue her passion in music throughout university.“I love brainstorming ideas or finding solutions to complex matters. Arts and Business effectively combines both of my passions into one program,” shared Jewel, who just completed her final term, majoring in Music and minoring in Human Resources Management. She used her co-op program as an opportunity to explore careers that combine her interests as seamlessly as her studies do.

Practising music together in ensembles gives students the chance to learn from a diverse group of talented peers and staff, and find themselves part of a welcoming community. “I was able to meet so many different and unique people who I share common musical interests with through ensembles,” said Brandon Lee, a third-year Honours Arts and Business student who plays with the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble.

Shayan's personal philosophy is that university is a place to seek out passions and discover what you are interested in. “Music is a large part of my life, regardless of my career,” said Shayan, who is in his final term of Computer Science with a minor in Music. His interest in computer science was planted when he took a programming course in high school, but he also grew up loving and appreciating how playing music fosters social connections and community building, especially in the Bahá’i faith community in which he grew up.

Finding a Balance Between Song and Engineering

Combining Music and English Degrees

God Gave Me a Voice

Growing With Grebel

Meeting The Mind Behind The Notes

Creating Beautiful Music Along Side Engineering

Versatility of Application and Expression

Mental Break From Stressful Assignments and Interview Preparations

Creating Balance

Deepening a Relationship With Music

Scholarship Support Opens Opportunities

How Kinesiology and Music Connect

Artistic Excellence in Worship

Finding Harmony With Music and Language

Complimenting Disciplines

Interdisciplinary Option

Creating Music is a Joyful Experience

Growing As a Musician

Combining Arts and Business

Finding Community Performing Together

Flourishing Music Passion While Studying Computer Science