News

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.

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.

Students at the University of Waterloo are an incredibly diverse group, with interests spanning math, health, engineering, science, environment, and arts. Many of these students have spent hundreds of hours of their life learning a musical instrument and, instead of giving up their love of music while at university, they have found a collective place to express it. The orchestra@uwaterloo is a full-sized symphony orchestra whose players are students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Waterloo.

For further information see orchestra website

The University of Waterloo Balinese Gamelan Ensemble is honoured to be participating in the 2017 Kultrún Festival on Saturday, July 8th at 2:00pm. There will also be offering a free workshop at 3:45pm.

Since graduating from the University of Waterloo just over a decade ago, Amanda Kind (BA ’06) has grown into an inspirational leader for young performers in her community. In recognition of her generous and dedicated service, Conrad Grebel University College has named Amanda the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Service Award winner.

Recognized for his talents as a gifted, emerging choral conductor, Professor Mark Vuorinen was awarded the prestigious Leslie Bell Prize on December 11, 2016. Vuorinen is Assistant Professor of Music at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo, where he oversees the choral program, conducts the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir, and teaches courses in conducting.