Don Wright Faculty of Music


The Don Wright Faculty of Music is the faculty of music at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. The faculty was founded in 1968. Originally known as just the Faculty of Music, it was renamed in 2002 in honour of Don Wright after a significant donation.
The faculty is situated Western's main campus in Talbot College and the Music Building and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. As of 2020, there are 650 students enrolled in the faculty. The current Dean is Betty Anne Younker and has been in the position since August 2011.

History

Early history

The University of Western Ontario was founded in 1878 and the current campus of the university was developed in 1923.
The London Conservatory of Music and the London Institute of Musical Art were two private music schools operating out of London, Ontario that contributed to the formation of the current faculty. In 1922, London Institute of Musical Art absorbed the London Conservatory of Music and fell under the affiliation of the Toronto Conservatory of Music. This stayed until the formation of the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music in 1934. In 1938 the conservatory's principal was appointed director of music for the university, and the offices were moved from downtown London to the McIntosh Gallery on the university campus in 1942.
A Music Teacher's College was established in 1945, changing its name to College of Music in 1961 and becoming part of the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Faculty of Music

On July 1, 1968, the college became the Faculty of Music with Clifford von Kuster as the first Dean. Following rapid expansion, a new music building was officially opened in 1972. Hugh McLean was dean of the Faculty of Music from 1973 to 1980, followed by Jack Behrens from 1980 to 1986 and Jeffrey Stokes from 1986 to 2000. Robert Wood was appointed dean in 2001.
In 2002, the faculty was renamed the Don Wright Faculty of Music after a donation by Canadian composer, musician and educator Donald J. Wright.
Renovations to Talbot Theatre were completed in August 2009, and the hall was renamed in honour of retiring University president Paul Davenport. Talbot College and the Music Building underwent extensive renovations and additions which were completed in 2018.

Departments

The Don Wright Faculty of Music has three departments:

Undergraduate degrees

Degrees offered in the faculty include the Bachelor of Music with Honors in music education, history, performance, theory, and composition; the Bachelor of Musical Arts; and the Bachelor of Arts with Majors in music, music administrative studies and popular music studies, as well as Minors in music and dance.
Since 2013, the Don Wright Faculty of Music and the Richard Ivey School of Business offer a concurrent five-year program with a Bachelor of Musical Arts or Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Business Administration.

Postgraduate degrees

Graduate degrees include the Master of Music in composition, theory, music education, literature and performance; the Master of Arts in musicology, theory, and popular music and culture; the PhD in musicology, theory, composition, music education; and the DMA in performance studies.

Diplomas

The Faculty also offers a music performance diploma in conjunction with another area of study at the university and a one-year artist diploma in performance.
Since 2012, the faculty has offered an integrated Music Recording Arts program in collaboration with Fanshawe College. Graduates of the program will receive a Bachelor of Musical Arts degree as well as an Ontario College Diploma in Music Industry Arts.

Other programs

The Don Wright Faculty of Music offers certificate and extra-curricular programs for community members and students.
Starting in 2000, a piano technology certificate was available through the Piano Technology Program. The one-year program outlined proper piano maintenance, tuning, repairs and refurbishment. The certificate was withdrawn from the faculty in 2018.
The faculty operates the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy and the Accademia Europea Dell’Opera. These programs are designed for opera performers to further their skills and participants learn about skills such as vocal health, audition preparation and performance exercises. The Canadian Operatic Arts Academy is offered on the Western university campus in London, Ontario while the Accademia Europea Dell’Opera program runs internationally in collaboration with the Centro Studi Opera Omnia Luigi Boccherini in Italy.
The faculty also participates in the New Horizons Adult Band program. Originally created at the Eastman School of Music, the program was brought to Western in 1999. This concert band was created to allow adults to learn an instrument and play in a group with others of similar beginner skill level.

Ensembles

2019-2020 Ensembles and Directors:

Paul Davenport Theatre

The Paul Davenport Theatre is located in Talbot College and seats 400. It usually hosts over 200 performances per year. The theatre is the main performance venue for the large ensembles such as the symphony orchestra, jazz band and wind ensemble.
In 2009, the theatre received a renovation with half the cost being offset by fundraising campaigns. During this time, it was renamed to honour former university president, Paul Davenport.

von Kuster Hall

The von Kuster Recital Hall is a small, 248 seat performance hall located in the Music Building. The hall is primarily used as a venue for the performance of chamber music, small ensembles and recitals. The hall also is used as a recording venue.

Alumni Hall

Alumni Hall was built as a multi-purpose hall in the late 1960s and is mainly used today for convocation ceremonies, basketball, volleyball and other indoor events.
Prior to the renovation of the Paul Davenport Theatre, Western's symphony orchestra used the 2,300-seat auditorium as a performance space.