News

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.

Vasana grew up in Nova Scotia, but decided to take a daring step and applied to school in Ontario. That’s how she ended up at the University of Waterloo studying Music! Vasana recalls upon her time at Grebel:

“I have such fond memories of Grebel. The supportive and kind atmosphere at Grebel had a tremendous impact on me during those formative years of university, and shaped me into a better person, and for that I'm very grateful.”

For Marina the best part of studying at the University of Waterloo was the ability to be interdisciplinary. During her time here, she pursued both Music and Classical studies. “They overlapped quite a lot actually,” Marina recalls. While it was a rewarding experience, it was also a difficult one, as a Joint Honours meant Marina had to dedicate more of her time hitting the books. Studying both at the same time really enriched her experience as an undergraduate just as much as the community at Grebel did as well.

Amanda Kind graduated with an Bachelors of Arts in Honours Music in 2006. She recalls her time at Grebel fondly. Amanda felt a pull towards the school and the region - she admired the diversity of both. Originally, from British Colombia, Amanda transfer to the University of Waterloo, she came for the arts management courses, but stayed in the region for a much different reason. Amanda fell in love with the arts community of Kitchener-Waterloo and the region has fallen in love with her as well.

The University of Waterloo Department of Music at Conrad Grebel University College invites all students, faculty, staff, and community members to join most of the eight ensembles that it sponsors and organizes.

Instrumental: Instrumental Chamber Ensemble; Jazz Ensemble; Orchestra; World Music Ensemble (Balinese Gamelan)

Choral:  Chapel Choir; Chamber Choir; University Choir; Vocal Techniques. 

See webpage for details. 

Professor of Music at Conrad Grebel & University of Waterloo and Artistic Director of the Grand Philharmonic Choir, Mark Vuorinen has been appointed the new Artistic Director for the Elora Festival and the Elora Festival Singers, Inc.

Congratulations Mark!