UBC School of Music

11/23/2023

Congratulations, Fall Class of 2023! 🎓🌟 ⁠
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We are thrilled to celebrate your achievements as you walk across the stage this week. We are so proud of you!⁠
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Stay connected through the UBC alumni Network, explore opportunities, and access resources tailored to support your career growth and personal development.⁠

Explore practical workshops, alumni networks, and loads of advice.

11/21/2023

Five concert grand pianos and five virtuoso pianists from the UBC School of Music take to the stage in Inspired at the Chan performance / Stir Magazine

So excited to see UBC Music students and pianists Fergus Kwan, Hamilton Lau, Oleksandr Luchkov (replacing Christine Ngai), Vivienne Thamrin, and Daniel Tong perform at this sold out show on Sunday! ✨

“The five students will get to show their remarkable talents, exemplifying the standard of excellence that we provide at the School of Music. We are proud to give them this opportunity to perform in our beautiful hall, which will be just one of their many public performances in the long careers ahead of them.” - T Patrick Carrabre, Director of the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts & UBC School of Music

Five concert grand pianos and five virtuoso pianists from the UBC School of Music take to the stage in Inspired by the Chan performance

11/21/2023

UBC Small Ensembles coming up at Barnett Hall!
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➡️ Wed Nov 22 (7:30pm) UBC Chamber Choir
➡️ Thu Nov 23 (7:30pm) UBC Vox & Oriana Choirs
➡️ Fri Nov 24 (noon) Early Music Ensembles & Baroque Mentorship Orchestra
➡️ Mon Nov 27 (7:30pm) Early Music Ensembles & Baroque Mentorship Orchestra
➡️ Wed Nov 29 (noon) UBC Contemporary Players

Stop by the UBC Music Building and enjoy some gorgeous music —all FREE admission!

Full event listings below.
https://chancentre.com/events/2023/program/ubc-school-of-music/

11/20/2023

This Wednesday at noon! David Kaplan, piano
Wednesday Noon Hours at Barnett Hall

“Quasi una fantasia,” meaning “like a fantasy,” is a solo piano program exploring the intersection between composition and improvisation. It features two works recently written for David by Christopher Cerrone and Anthony Cheung, in which each composer took inspiration from one another’s piano concertos.

These two arresting and powerful pieces, which each explore elements of improvisation, are interwoven with fantasy-form music by Mozart and Kaija Saariaho, culminating in Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, subtitled… you guessed it: “quasi una fantasia.” The artist will be providing short improvisations which will serve as connective tissue between the works.

Tickets start at $5!

“Quasi una fantasia,” meaning “like a fantasy,” is a solo piano program exploring the intersection between composition and improvisation. It features two works recently written for David by Christopher Cerrone and Anthony Cheung, in which each composer took inspiration from one another’s p...

11/18/2023

An Opera Tea to Celebrate the Holiday Season!⁠
Sunday, Dec 3 | 2 pm, Old Auditorium⁠
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Opera continues this beloved tradition featuring festive, jubilant music from around the world. The historic Old Auditorium will be beautifully decorated with our Opera ensemble singing songs of joy, just for you ✨⁠
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Get your tickets early as this event is sure to sell out!⁠
Tickets from $15. ⁠

Celebrate the holiday season with UBC Opera! This beloved tradition features festive, jubilant music from around the world. The Ensemble will decorate the Old Auditorium and sing songs of joy, just for you.

11/17/2023

UBC Choirs featuring Vancouver Brass Orchestra: Gloria⁠
Sunday, Dec 10, 2023 | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts⁠
Graeme Langager, Hyejung Jun & Robert Taylor conductors⁠
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This festive night features 160 singers with Vancouver's top brass musicians! Music includes John Rutter’s 'Gloria for choir, brass, percussion and organ'. Also on the program are seasonal favourites including Lauridsen’s luminescent 'O Magnum Mysterium', William Berry’s reimagined 'Nutcracker Suite', and Wilberg’s jubilant 'Joy to the World'.⁠
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Don't miss this exuberant start to the season! ✨
Tickets from $5.⁠

Join the UBC Choirs and Vancouver Brass Orchestra in a performance of John Rutter’s festive Gloria for choir, brass, percussion and organ. This joint production is the perfect way to start the holiday season, with a choir of 160 and Vancouver’s top brass musicians! The concert also features seas...

11/17/2023

UBC Symphony Orchestra: Gershwin, Bernstein and more!
Jonathan Girard, conductor

Friday Dec 8 | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

Join us for last Symphony Orchestra concert of the term ✨
Program includes Violet Archer's 'Poem for Orchestra', Leonard Bernstein's 'Three Dance Episodes' from "On the Town" and George Gershwin's 'An American in Paris'

Get your tickets early 🔥

The UBC Symphony Orchestra (UBCSO) is a 90-member full symphony orchestra that performs symphonic works from the 18th century to the present day. It presents six regular concerts each academic year at the world-class Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and gives special performances both on and off....

11/16/2023

"I love that the UBC Faculty of Arts is a collaborative space where I’m given room to become the best version of myself, even if I’m still figuring out what that looks like." - Maggie Whiteman (MMus Wind Conducting)

Maggie Whiteman's studies include the history of wind music and its effect on current literature and rehearsal techniques.

Are you considering grad school, or wondering if it might be the right path for you?

Find out what grad school is like directly from eight current Arts Graduate students: https://ow.ly/YT2E50Q88Xy

11/16/2023

How does operatic training affect memory, cognitive functioning, and learning? Director of UBC Opera, Nancy Hermiston and postdoctoral fellows, Anja-Xiaoxing Cui and Negin Motamed Yeganeh teamed up with UBC psychology professor Janet Werker to find out.

The Wall Opera Project, funded by Peter Wall Institute, has been looking deep inside the brains of UBC opera students to unveil the science behind these changes.

How does operatic training affect memory, cognitive functioning, and learning?

11/15/2023

Join us in congratulating UBC Music student Emily Liang, MA (2nd-year, Musicology), for being named one of the Eileen Southern Scholars of the American Musicological Society.

Congratulations, Emily 🎉

Emily Liang, MA (2nd-year, Musicology) was recognized at the American Musicological Society Award Ceremony November 10, 2023. Congratulations!

11/14/2023

Questions about our MMus & DMA performance-based programs?

Join us online tomorrow at 10am (Nov 15). Music faculty and admissions staff are looking forward to answering your questions ✨

UBC Grad School



Register below:

Join us online for an information session for prospective graduate students at the UBC School of Music. Meet faculty from performance and composition programs, and the staff behind the admission process. This session is focused on applicants in performance-based degrees.

11/10/2023

UBC Bands: A Canadian in Paris ⁠
Fri Dec 1 Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
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UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble & Concert Winds⁠
Robert Taylor & Jaelem Bhate, conductors⁠
Special guest Valerie Whitney, horn⁠
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UBC Bands combine for a concert exploring the immense influence of Nadia Boulanger on the modern wind band. With rich and complex connections between the composers all linking back to Boulanger (think Six Degrees of Separation or The Kevin Bacon Law), the program also includes several premieres. 🎉⁠
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UBC Assistant Professor of Horn, Valerie Whitney, performs a new wind chamber version of UBC Emeritus Professor of Composition Stephen Chatman’s "Concertino for Horn", alongside works showing Chatman’s influence as a mentor and teacher by former students D.I.D. Choi (BMus '20) and Jocelyn Morlock (MMus '96, DMA '02). ⁠
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Furthering the UBC connection, Jaelem Bhate (MMus ’19) leads the premiere of his own composition, "Therefore, I am", and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble gives the Canadian premiere of two works by Prixe de Rome winner Lily Boulanger, transcribed for chamber winds by Lauren Visel (MMus ’19).⁠
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Tickets (from $5) and program:

Closing the first half of the season, the UBC Bands combine for a concert exploring the undeniably immense influence of Nadia Boulanger on the modern wind band. With rich and complex connections between the composers all linking back to Boulanger (think Six Degrees of Separation or The Kevin Bacon L...

11/08/2023

11/06/2023

UBC School of Music MMUS & DMA info session
Wednesday, Nov, 15 2023 - 10:00am

Join us online for an information session for prospective graduate students at the UBC School of Music.

Meet Associate Professor of Voice, Patrick J. Raftery, guest faculty from our Composition program, and the staff behind the admission process. This session is focused on applicants in performance-based degrees.

Register: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/info-session/2969

11/04/2023

"Each of her albums is different, with not just one type of sound. And with that openness to genres, as well as making her personal experiences communal through lyricism, almost everyone who listens can find a sound they like or can relate to." - UBC Musicology Professor, Dr. David Metzer

Read full Vancouver Sun article below.

Swift’s cross-generational success can be attributed to her ability to delve into different musical sounds, says UBC Musicology professor Dr. David Metzer /Vancouver Sun

11/04/2023

UBC Choirs with the VSO✨

Posted • UBC University Singers and Choral Union present an EPIC Verdi Requiem with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4. Join us for our first concert of the season at the Orpheum Theatre.

11/02/2023

The UBC School of Music is thrilled to share these recent faculty promotions.

Jose Franch-Ballester, David Fung, and Claudio Vellutini have been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with Tenure and Dylan Robinson’s initial appointment has been approved at the rank of Associate Professor with Tenure.

Join us in congratulating these faculty members on their exceptional work!

UBC Music Faculty Jose Franch Ballester, David Fung, Claudio Vellutini, and Dylan Robinson have been promoted with Tenure.

11/01/2023

UBC’s Thrive is November 1-30, 2023!

Get ready to kick off your Thrive journey and connect with our UBC campus community at the Thrive by the Fire outdoor concert! 🍂🔥 This free, drop-in-style event will transform Lee Square into a cozy relaxation space with toasty table seatings and chill tunes courtesy of UBC's own talented student musicians from . Discover campus supports at the resource fair aimed at supporting your mental health and wellbeing.

🗓 Thursday, Nov. 2 from 11 am-2 pm
📍 Lee Square, just outside the UBC Bookstore
☕ Bring your own mug for free coffee generously provided by
🌟 All are welcome to join in on the fun! The event will take place rain or shine so please dress for the weather!

Throughout the entire month, join events developed by the UBC community, for the UBC community. Check out the full Thrive events calendar at thrive.ubc.ca/events

Thrive by the Fire is organized by UTown at UBC, Part of UBC Campus + Community Planning in collaboration with Blank Vinyl Project - BVP and UBC Wellbeing

https://wellbeing.ubc.ca/campaigns-initiatives/thrive

Thrive is a time when we come together as a UBC community to learn about, talk about, and explore ways to support our mental health. The last few years have brought unprecedented challenges and complexities that have impacted the mental health of our community, and now more than ever, it is imp...

10/31/2023

Halloween Organ Spooktacular! TODAY at noon | Free 🎃

Halloween lunch plans? Music student Isaac Howie presents a spooky noon-hour Halloween concert at Barnett Hall featuring music by J.S. Bach, Couperin, Franck, Vierne, Boëlmann and John Williams.

Join us if you dare! 👻

UBC Music student Isaac Howie will present a spooky noon-hour Halloween concert featuring music by J.S. Bach, Couperin, Franck, Vierne, Boëlmann and John Williams.

10/30/2023

"The connection between the people, the music and the experience creates a special kind of community and a special kind of moment. And that's something we aim to do." - Robert Taylor, Director of Bands

Thank you to the The Ubyssey for this beautiful review of our Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert on Oct 13 with guest Hindustani singer Shruti Ramani—also featuring student and composer-in-residence, Hope Salmonson, Composer's world premiere of, “Rediscovery” "a triumphant nod towards Salmonson’s love of band music and investigation into identity through sound."

Join us on Dec 1 when UBC Bands presents A Canadian in Paris with special guest Valerie Whitney, horn at Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. (chancentre.com/events)

https://music.ubc.ca/news/ubc-wind-ensemble-merges-western-classical-music-and-hindustani-raga-inspired-works-in-tarot/

Robert Taylor reflected on the performance. “...We brought in a lot of new ideas which are very different [from] what you might normally expect in a concert hall experience. And the openness and hard work by the students created this event that had all of the right kinds of energy.” -The Ubyssey

10/30/2023

“[The] connection between the people, the music and the experience creates a special kind of community and a special kind of moment. And that's something we aim to do.” ~ Rob Taylor, UBC Director of UBC Bands

Thank you to the The Ubyssey for this beautiful review of our Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert on Oct 13 with guest Hindustani singer Shruti Ramani. Also featuring student and composer-in-residence, Hope Salmonson's world premiere of, “Rediscovery” "a triumphant nod towards Salmonson’s love of band music and investigation into identity through sound."

Join us on Dec 1 when UBC Bands presents A Canadian in Paris with special guest Valerie Whitney, horn at Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. (chancentre.com/events)

https://ubyssey.ca/culture/ubc-bands-wind-ensemble-merges-western-classical-music-and-hindustani-r%C4%81ga-inspired-works-in-tarot/

Under the direction of Dr. Robert Taylor, the UBC Bands Wind Ensemble delivered an incredible program of works from local to world-renowned composers last Friday evening at the Chan Centre.

10/30/2023

"[The] connection between the people, the music and the experience creates a special kind of community and a special kind of moment. And that's something we aim to do.” ~ Rob Taylor, Director of Bands

Thank you to the The Ubyssey for this beautiful review of our Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert on Oct 13 with guest Hindustani singer Shruti Ramani.

Also featured was the world premiere of student and composer in residence, Hope Salmonson, Composer’s “Rediscovery,” "a triumphant nod towards Salmonson’s love of band music and investigation into identity through sound."

Join us on Dec 1 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
when UBC Bands present, A Canadian in Paris with special guest Valerie Whitney, horn! (chancentre.com/events)

https://ubyssey.ca/culture/ubc-bands-wind-ensemble-merges-western-classical-music-and-hindustani-r%C4%81ga-inspired-works-in-tarot/

Under the direction of Dr. Robert Taylor, the UBC Bands Wind Ensemble delivered an incredible program of works from local to world-renowned composers last Friday evening at the Chan Centre.

10/28/2023

For those who may have missed last night's spectacular performance from the UBC Symphony Orchestra at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, we are delighted to share Jaeden Izik-Dzurko's brilliant encore performance of Scriabin's Etude in D sharp minor Op. 8, No. 12.

Enjoy!

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, pianoEncore solo: Etude in D sharp minor Op. 8, No. 12 by Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)Recorded live, October 27, 2024 at the Chan Centr...

10/28/2023

Wow! A brilliant performance tonight by the UBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jonathan Girard, graduate assistant conductors⁠ Samuel Ivory and Cheng Xin Ip, and of course recent Music graduate Jaeden Izik-Dzurko!
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A huge congratulations to everyone! So proud of our students & alumni! ✨⁠
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Thank you so much for joining us in-person at the Chan Centre and online.
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We'll see you at the next UBC Symphony Orchestra concert on December 8 with a program featuring George Gershwin's An American in Paris.

Get your tickets early 🔥 https://bit.ly/49d9Q9r
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Good night everyone!

10/27/2023

We are sold out! Didn't get tickets to tonight's Symphony Orchestra concert? Join us online!

Head to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts link below (the site is back up🎉) with your favourite refreshments and get ready to experience a fantastic night of music!

We go live at 7:30pm tonight ✨ Enjoy!

The UBC Symphony Orchestra (UBCSO) is a 90-member full symphony orchestra that performs symphonic works from the 18th century to the present day. It presents six regular concerts each academic year at the world-class Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and gives special performances both on and off....

10/27/2023

TONIGHT! UBCSO with Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, piano
Jonathan Girard, conductor
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts | 7:30pm
NEW EVENT PAGE below ⬇️

We are experiencing some tech issues with the Chan Centre web site and have created a new event page for tickets, digital program and Livestream for tonight's concert—head to the link below.

Last remaining tickets for tonight are going fast 🔥

UBC Music Alumnus and pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko performs Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor with the UBC Symphony Orchestra.

10/27/2023

UBC Music alum Hussein Janmohamed (BMus'96, MMus'98, MMus'14) to be one of the judges for the 2023 Canadian Music Class Challenge, created by CBC Music and MusiCounts.

Janmohamed will join fellow judges, Heidi Wood, Cait Nishimura, Julie Nesrallah, Odario Williams.

The judges for this year's challenge include educators, composers, choir directors and more.

10/26/2023

“That's the way I relate to it: as a woman you always try to gain independence, gain respect, try to be strong,” adds the fourth-year music student. “And I think the vixen's ultimate goal in her life was to be that: independent, live her own life under her own terms. So I connect really deeply to all that.” ~ Mariana Iguavita

UBC Opera students, Mariana Iguavita and Emma Jang talk to Stir Vancouver about singing in UBC Opera's production of The Cunning Little V***n. 🦊

It’s full of animals, but performers have discovered how human the lushly orchestrated work is

10/25/2023

TONIGHT! UBC Bands presents Charmed. Music inspired by dance✨

The only way to experience this enchanting program tonight is to be there in-person. There will be no livestream.

Join us at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts tonight at 7:30pm. Don't miss it!

UBC Bands is distinguished by their high level of performance, creative thematic programming, and commitment to contemporary music through commissions, premieres, and composer residencies.

10/24/2023

Don't miss UBC Bands: Charmed Wednesday night!

Jaelem Bhate leads the Concert Winds through a enchanting program of music inspired by dance and composed by Malcolm Arnold, Yukiko Nishimura, Kevin Puts and more!

Tickets going fast 🔥
chancentre.com/events

10/24/2023

New music 🎉 "the highwayman" featuring UBC Assistant Professor Krisztina Szabó, composed by Dean Burry.

On Centrediscs-NAXOS

Congratulations!

A sneak peek at the upcoming Centrediscs-NAXOS of America release of Dean Burry's The Highwayman.

10/23/2023

Stop by Barnett Hall on your lunch this week for ⁠Wednesday Noon Hours: McKenzie Warriner, soprano⁠
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Ms Warriner will be accompanied by pianist, Danielle Guida.⁠ Music by Philippe Leroux, Kaija Saariaho, Brian Elias, Danika Lorèn, UBC Music Professor Keith Hamel and more.⁠
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Part of the Eckhardt-Gramatte Comp 2023 Winner’s Tour! ⁠
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Wed Oct 25 | Noon at Barnett Hall⁠
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Purchase tickets (from $5) and check out the program below. ⁠

McKenzie Warriner is a Saskatchewan-born and raised/Toronto-based soprano acclaimed for her interpretation of music spanning from the Baroque to the Avant-garde. Particularly committed to singing the works of living composers, McKenzie performed at the 2023 Aldeburgh Festival as a Britten Pears Youn...

10/20/2023

Secure your CWL account with multi-factor authentication!⁠

Enroll in multi-factor authentication and stay one step ahead of cyber threats. Deadline Nov 1.

it.ubc.ca/mfa

10/18/2023

The sounds of the Métis, the music and the many years of untold stories

The Ubyssey spoke to UBC School of Music director, T. Patrick Carrabré about his new album "Métis Songs".

“In the last decade, I've been able to really dig down into my connection to my Métis family, the history of our family in Canada. And try to turn the light on Métis identity because [it’s] something that's not well understood in Canada … a lot of people don't even really know who the Métis are,” said Carrabré.

“I wanted to draw attention to the reality of being Métis,” said Carrabré. “I think it's incumbent on those of us who can to take the opportunity when we can, to be a little bit political to draw people's attention to it.” ~ The Ubyssey

10/18/2023

The sounds of the Métis, the music and the many years of untold stories: The Ubyssey reviews Métis Songs, an album composed and arranged by UBC School of Music director Dr. Patrick Carrabré

“I wanted to draw attention to the reality of being Métis,” said Carrabré. “I think it's incumbent on those of us who can to take the opportunity when we can, to be a little bit political to draw people's attention to it.” ~ T Patrick Carrabre

Storytelling changes the world. New voices are springing out all over the continent from creators who never got a chance to tell their story. They’re breaking the restrictive barriers that barred them, and smashing them into pieces for the next generation to see and use in their art.

10/17/2023

UBC Concert Winds | Charmed | Wed Oct 25
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

🎟️ Tickets from $5!⁠ https://bit.ly/46weTAh

Music Faculty Member and alumnus Jaelem Bhate leads the UBC Concert Winds through an enchanting evening of music inspired by dance.

PROGRAM:
Malcolm Arnold (arr. Paynter): Prelude, Siciliano, & Rondo
Yukiko Nishimura: Ancient Flower
Kevin Puts: Charm
Tania León: Alegre
Robert Sheldon: Choreography

Join us!

10/12/2023

We are thrilled to share that the Arts Umbrella has generously gifted a set of seven Korean percussion instruments to the UBC School of Music!

“We at UBC are extremely grateful for the generous donation of South Korean drums from Arts Umbrella.[...] The collection will benefit and complement the instruments UBC music already possesses, helping to enhance our Korean percussion ensemble and performance and composition opportunities for our students.” Dr. Nathan Hesselink UBC Professor, Ethnomusicology

These hourglass-shaped drums are called "janggo" which translates to “stick drum”. We are looking forward to hearing our students play these beautiful instruments throughout the halls of UBC.

We at UBC are extremely grateful for the generous donation of South Korean drums from Arts Umbrella. These instruments are beautiful examples of the janggo, or South Korean hourglass drum, and they exhibit a range of varnishes and designs.