News

The students, staff, and faculty of Conrad Grebel University College are fortunate to have Karen Sunabacka as an Associate Professor in the Music Department. Along with teaching music theory and composition, Karen is an internationally renowned composer. Her compositions have been performed across Canada and the U.S., as well as in South America and Europe.

Did you know any Waterloo student can take a studio course (individual lessons: voice|piano|instrumental), Music 226, for a full credit elective?

If you are planning to attend the Climate Strike at Waterloo Town Square on Friday Sept 27 and would like to add your voice to a rousing chorus of Beethoven’s 9th symphony with other area choristers and members of the KW Symphony you are all more than welcome!  There will be a short run-through at First United Church (King and William Streets) beginning at 11.30.  By 11.45 we will move over to Waterloo Square to be ready to sing at 12 noon.

Nadia Mazzarollo, class of 2012, has had a passion for singing and playing piano her whole life; it wasn’t until later when she had young children that she decided to follower her passion. Inspired by Eleanor James, partner of Canadian Composer Murray Schafer, Nadia decided to take the next step in music career by enrolling into the music program here at the University of Waterloo.

The Balinese Gamelan, Instrumental Chamber groups, orchestra@uwaterloo, and the University Choir are open for audition registration.  Please see our Ensemble Page for details.  Auditions start on May 6th.

Every two years, orchestra@uwaterloo holds a Concerto and Aria Competition that is open to University of Waterloo students and recent graduates, and is judged by a panel of professional musicians. Winners perform as soloists with the orchestra in a public concert.

2020 Concerto and Aria Competition: February 1, 2020.

Deadline for application: October 25, 2019.  See orchestra website for entry forms.

Competition sponsored by Professor David Taylor

Caroline Bordignon has an incredible passion for both music and art, she decided upon the University of Waterloo for the ability to pursue both, doing a double major. Thus, she found herself at Conrad Grebel! It is between these walls that she was able to take a composition course for the very first time, and that course change her life as she fell in love with composing.

Music builds community! In an effort to strengthen relationships and connections between individuals and groups in academic and local settings, Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo is privileged to welcome an extraordinary musician as the 2019 Rodney and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar. Ysaÿe M. Barnwell, Ph.D.

Is music an essential part of your life?  Join one of our three choral ensembles or four instrumental ensembles in Winter 2019.  Auditions start January 7, but you can sign up for an audition slot now.  See audition details. 

Twenty years ago, a gay university student in Laramie, Wyoming, was driven to the outskirts of town. He was beaten, robbed, tied to a fence, and left to die. For 18 hours, Matthew Shepard hung bleeding, in near-freezing temperatures. The passing cyclist who found him thought at first that he was a scarecrow. He spent several days in a coma in hospital before dying.