Dean's Greetings - February 2025

Dear alumni and friends, 

Dean Michael Kim

Our community is thrilled and privileged to share the latest edition of our alumni newsletter with you!

The year is flying by, and it continues to be a time of great excitement and momentum for the Don Wright Faculty of Music. As one of the largest comprehensive faculties of music in Canada and on the continent, the exceptional passion and commitment of our community to stewarding a personalized student experience and providing a solid foundation for lifetime growth and achievement in music is truly inspirational. 

One only needs to look to the continued growth, contributions, and accomplishments of our distinguished alumni to confirm the lifelong value and quality of our educational experience. Our former students constitute a veritable who’s who of remarkably accomplished figures in Canada’s and the international musical ecosystem - and the privilege of stewarding and working with my colleagues to foster this continued tradition of excellence and dedication is truly rewarding and inspiring.

If you have young musicians in your life - including your classroom, studio or home - I encourage you to share your experiences with them and invite them to check out Western. Our upcoming spring open house is a great chance to meet with students and faculty and see for themselves why more and more people are choosing to attend Western Music.

Our community was particularly excited to receive a $2.5 million gift from Barbara and Jim Moscovich last semester, one of the largest ever gifts to the Don Wright Faculty of Music to create the Moscovich Fund for Innovation in Music. Their extraordinary generosity will enable us to bring some of the world’s greatest creative artists to Western, and provide transformational, life-changing experiences for our students. Stay tuned for more news on this front!

I hope to meet you personally at our many events this semester. In addition to our usual events that showcase the exceptional talents of our faculty and students (Fridays @ 12:30, our opera production The Magic Flute, large ensemble and chamber music concerts), we have also welcomed Met Opera baritone Joo Won Kang earlier this month, the New Orford String Quartet, the TorQ Percussion Quartet continue their residency, and Los Angeles Philharmonic Associate Principal Horn David Cooper. This evening we're proud to welcome back Musicians From Marlboro, and on April 1-2, our partnership with the Vancouver Recital Society continues with a recital and masterclass with piano sensation Steven Osborne, OBE, generously funded by alumnus Elaine Adair.

Looking ahead to next season, we are thrilled to be welcoming piano legend Sir Stephen Hough as our Parsons and Poole guest artist in October – and Pierre-Laurent Aimard in November in celebration of Pierre Boulez’s 100th birthday.

I offer the deepest appreciation of our community for your continued passion and loyalty. Your support enables us to continue building on a reputation as one of the best music faculties in North America and offering a world-class music education.

Michael Kim
Dean, Don Wright Faculty of Music

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