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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.

Congratulations to Leah Dau (Honours Music) on being this year’s recipient of the Departmental Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement in Music for the graduating class of 2023.

On behalf of the Department of Music, congratulations, Leah, on your academic achievement and very best wishes from all of us! 

We'll also miss you in our choral ensembles!

Flood Impacts, Carbon Pricing, and Ecosystem Sustainability (FINCAPES) is a new climate-change adaption and mitigation development plan created by the University of Waterloo in support of the Government of Indonesia climate change goals, with funding from Global Affairs Canada. To signify a strong collaboration between Indonesian partners and UWaterloo’s faculties of Mathematics and Environment, the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble from UWaterloo’s Music Department at Conrad Grebel University College was invited to perform at the Canadian launch.

Mary-Catherine Pazzano completed her first undergraduate degree in 2010; Joint Honours in Music and Drama from the University of Waterloo. "I grew up watching and loving the old MGM musicals," Mary-Catherine explains how she quickly fell in love with the music featured in them. Many of the songs from these beloved musicals are also American standards, and from there, a fine appreciation in jazz formed naturally.

I have always been passionate about music, but I also love math, science, and technology. Day-to-day I work as a software developer, while also remaining very active in the local music community as a pianist, including with the University Choir at Grebel and with various theatre companies. I love being able to continue exploring multiple areas I’m passionate about.