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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Students choose to integrate music into their university life for various purposes—to pursue their musical passion, be part of something bigger than themselves, or to build meaningful friendships. We asked a group of students from all faculties at the University of Waterloo to tell us how Music connects with their other academic pursuits. Their answers reveal that Music has contributed to a stimulating interdisciplinary environment, revealing surprising partnerships between different fields of study.

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.