News

Tucked into spacious facilities on the lower level of the College “across the creek” from the sprawling campus of the University, the Department of Music welcomes a diverse student body to learn about and to make music. Over decades, hundreds of students have graduated from Waterloo with degrees in Music, and tens of thousands more have taken courses or participated in music ensembles. The Department of Music is large enough to create a vibrant and creative community of music-making and learning yet small enough that students get to know faculty, staff, and each other, personally.

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.

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.

Learn the names of the three winners ...

The nominations for the 52nd Annual Juno Awards were announced this week, naming some of Canada’s top musicians, singers, songwriters, producers, and more. Included in the nominations is Mark Vuorinen, Associate Professor and Chair of Music at Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo, along with The Elora Singers!  

As the Artistic Director and Conductor of The Elora Singers, Vuorinen and the choir have been nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble) for their release of Radiant Dawn: Music for Advent and Christmas.

The “Lichti Voice Studies Scholarship Award” was graciously established by Daniel Lichti for vocal music students at Conrad Grebel University College.

Last month, the Theatre of the Arts at the University of Waterloo was brimming with thrumming beats, haunting voices, layered melodies, and a unique blend of electronic cello and traditional Indigenous music. As part of the Indigenous-Mennonite Encounters conference organized by Conrad Grebel University College, Indigenous and Mennonite musicians offered a concert that addressed relationships, beauty, nature, hope, and betrayal.

Are you passionate about classical music?  Enter the 2023 orchestra Concerto & Aria competition, which will take place on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Conrad Grebel University College.

Congratulations to Jacquelyn Morley (Honours Music) on being this year’s recipient of the Departmental Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement in Music for the graduating class of 2020.