The joy of song, the perfect word at the right time. Art can be life-changing and for five University of Toronto students graduating this Convocation season, it has been a way to connect with the world.
As Ailie Fraser, Emma Cancelliere, Emily Kruspe, Jesse Morrison and Moshiur Rahman prepare themselves for their debut on the global stage.
Awards help establish research programs, launch careers
Author:
Jenny Hall
Picture:
Forty-one researchers from across the university have won Connaught New Researcher Awards to help them launch their academic careers.
The program is designed to foster excellence in research and innovation among researchers at the assistant professor level who are within the first five years of their first academic appointment.
At the intersection of Youtube, X-Men, Beethoven and Ravel
Author:
Brianna Goldberg
Picture:
Some of them have been playing classical music together since they were toddlers—now the students in this University of Toronto chamber quartet are taking the stage at the Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber music ensemble The Arkadas Quartet comprises fourth-year students Emily Kruspe (violin), Jesse Morrison (viola) and Brandon Wilkie (cello), from the Faculty of Music and master’s student Jamie Kruspe (violin).
Composer Mychael Danna takes award for Best Original Score
Author:
Brianna Goldberg
Picture:
Composer and University of Toronto alumnus Mychael Danna picked up the Academy Award Feb. 24 for Best Original Score for the film Life of Pi.
"I share this wondrous award with our visionary captain, Ang Lee,” said Danna in his acceptance speech. “[Life of Pi] transcends culture and race and religion."
Danna also thanked his parents “and, most of all, my wife and our two beautiful boys who remind me every day why stories like this one need to be told.”
Alumni, faculty and resident ensembles from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music have received seven Juno nominations in five categories.
They're joined by a PhD student in English from the university: David Ritter (vocals, keys) is a member of The Strumbellas. The band, often described as indie/rock and alt-country, is nominated under Roots & Traditional Album of the Year (group) for the debut album My Father and The Hunter.
Composer and University of Toronto alumnus Mychael Danna picked up a Golden Globe award January 13 for best film score for the movie Life of Pi.
"I felt very blessed even before this —and I speak for the whole cast and crew— to be part of the whole Life of Pi experience," said Danna, in accepting the award. "I want to share this award with my director, Ang Lee."
U of T's Andrew Haji and Charlotte Burrage took top prizes at the Canadian Opera Company’s Second Annual Ensemble Studio Competition recently at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Master's student Haji, a tenor, won the second prize and alumna Burrage, a mezzo-soprano, placed third. The top honour went to bass-baritone Gordon Bintner of Regina.
The University of Toronto is hosting a one-of-a-kind event honouring world renowned pianist Glenn Gould. To learn more about Dreamers Renegades Visionaries: The Glenn Gould Variations, U of T News turned to Ron Davis, a leading jazz pianist and former Secretary of the Glenn Gould Foundation, where the earliest idea for event first took shape.
Davis is co-director of the event, with Professor Pia Kleber, which will take place at Convocation Hall, September 23 and 23, 2012.
Jazz festivals are a common part of the summer scene. In Canada, there are major festivals devoted to the form in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, with many other smaller events. Professor Terry Promane, noted trombonist and director of U of T’s Jazz Studies program, explains what's behind the popularity of jazz festivals.
Composer Kevin Lau received his bachelor's of music in composition from the University of Toronto in 2005, his master of music in composition in 2007 and his doctor of music in composition last week. The day before Lau crossed the stage at Convocation Hall to receive his degree, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra named him its RBC Affiliate Composer. Writer Aaron Wong spoke with Lau about his success.
Master's student Haji, a tenor, won the second prize and alumna Burrage, a mezzo-soprano, placed third. The top honour went to bass-baritone Gordon Bintner of Regina. 
