Dean's Greetings - August 2024

Dear alumni and friends, 

Dean Michael Kim

I trust that you had a restful and rejuvenating summer!

Western’s gorgeous campus is still in full bloom, and we are excitedly preparing to welcome one of our largest ever entering classes of music students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

How moving it is to witness and experience the trademark warmth and personalized commitment of our community to each other’s well-being and success – a tradition that continues within our international network of distinguished alumni whose support and loyalty is second to none.

One of the great privileges I enjoy here at the Don Wright Faculty of Music is curating our very impressive range of annual concert offerings. This coming concert season will include our trademark Fridays@12:30 series, distinguished Parsons and Poole Concert and Masterclass guest pianist Dang Thai Son, Musicians From Marlboro, our continuing partnership with the Vancouver Recital Society with guest pianist Steven Osborne, and our Ensemble Artists-In-Residence, the New Orford String Quartet and the newly appointed TorQ Percussion Quartet. As a major cultural hub in Southwestern Ontario and Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music, the concert offerings and guest artists we are bringing to our campus in London will immeasurably enrich our community and student’s experiences, alongside the many excellent ensemble performances directed by our distinguished faculty members. 

I am deeply impressed with our student-led musicology research publication Nota Bene, which publishes papers and essays written by undergraduate students from universities internationally. Nota Bene is just one of many examples of how our faculty members foster student-led initiatives that are impacting the musical scene nationally and internationally – and an individualized experience that speaks to and is molded to each one of our student’s unique passions and educational story.

It is therefore no surprise that Western Music students and alumni continue to distinguish themselves in diverse forums – including as Canada’s most distinguished music educators; being named to CBC Music’s “30 under 30”  hottest musicians list; as Juno, Tony and Grammy award winners; in concert tours with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony; as professors at leading international music programs; and as administrators at distinguished music programs and institutions.

As our world continues to adapt to accelerating artificial intelligence, automation, climate change, and populism, I believe that the power and beauty of music will continue to bring meaning, relevance, and hope into our lives. The boundless power of creativity to provide solution and hope has yet to be codified or surpassed, and it is truly my privilege and honor to steward this distinguished and compassionate community of students, staff, scholars, educators, composers, and performers.

If our paths have yet to cross, I do hope that we have a chance to meet soon, perhaps at Homecoming 2024 or at OMEA's Roots 2024 conference here in London.

On behalf of our students, staff, and faculty, we offer our continued and most heartfelt thanks for your support and generosity. We simply could not do it without you.

With warmest regards and appreciation,

Michael Kim
Dean, Don Wright Faculty of Music

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