OSC AR PETERSON
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Dean’s Message
The sophomore year of the Oscar Peterson Program has been an incredible one, filled with new experiences and growth. I am pleased to share a few highlights that demonstrate the passion and dedication that are on display each week in lessons and rehearsals and exhibit the strength of community that enables students to reach for new heights individually and together.
In November, the orchestra recorded “Sleigh Ride” for The Royal Conservatory’s holiday e-card greeting. Working with a professional video crew was an exciting prospect for the students who “felt like rockstars”. The e-card received unparalleled engagement across The Royal Conservatory’s national (and international) network of students, teachers, and musicians.
In March, the pianists in the Scholars stream had the opportunity to work with RCM Artist-in-Residence, Stewart Goodyear, in a master class. At the end of the class, Mr. Goodyear treated the students and parents in attendance to an impromptu performance of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, which, at the end, received a rapturous applause. Afterwards, every student insisted on a selfie with Mr. Goodyear!
The year culminated in June with the Oscar Peterson Program’s debut in Koerner Hall. The concert was the capstone to Play Day, the Oscar Peterson School of Music’s annual end-of-year celebration of student performances. This was a defining moment for everyone in the program - a feeling of arrival. The pride and joy our students brought to the stage can only be described as infectious.
We are incredibly grateful for the support of our donors whose generosity allows us to provide these experiences and support the passions of these young musicians.
I am tremendously proud of this community of students, parents, mentors, teachers, and staff. Their commitment to each other enhances their lives and is inspiring week in and out.
Jeremy Trupp Dean, Oscar Peterson School of Music
THE
Artistic Director’s Message
Whenever I see a group of kids walking home from school, if just one of them has a musical instrument strapped to their back, my face always lights up like a Christmas tree. I would imagine she was walking home from band practice. Her friends are also in the band, with instruments in their backpacks. Or maybe they’re singers! Regardless, the implicit message was clear - someone is getting a musical education.
Oscar Peterson believed that music education should be available to everyone, and I am privileged to be the director of an initiative that reaches into our neighbourhoods to provide precisely that. This past season was filled with conversation, master classes, workshops, guest speakers, rehearsals,
performances, and the camaraderie that binds us as musicians. I see, firsthand, the spirit behind the positive environment that cultivates study and growth, and whether these students go on to study music or not, I believe they will carry their experiences here with them for years to come.
We are thankful for the generous support we receive that allows us to continue to offer this vital program that positively impacts the lives of young people in our communities.
Colin Clarke Artistic Director, Oscar Peterson Program
Thank You!
The Royal Conservatory would like to recognize the generosity of our key supporters of the Oscar Peterson Program.
LEADERSHIP GIVING
The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation
The Slaight Family Foundation
The Cass Family Endowment Fund
Bill & Janet L’Heureux
We also thank the following for their generous additional support for the Oscar Peterson Program.
The Rossy Foundation
Geringas Scholarship Foundation
Phil Gold & Molly Shainfarber
The William and Nona Heaslip Foundation
The McLean Foundation
TELUS
Tippet Foundation
Gord & Teresa Briggs
The Colby Boyer Scholarship
Dr. Avis Glaze
Nicol Family Foundation, Neil Nicol
An anonymous donor
40
11
Orchestra Students Scholar Students
12-18 150
Age Range of Students Concert Tickets Made Available
1000+
Hours of Lessons
6
21
Faculty Members
100%
Glenn Gould School Mentors Tuition-Free
23
1000+
Languages Spoken at Home Juice Boxes Consumed During Snack Break
On The Year REFLECTIONS
“It was a wonderful and magical year for me, to be able to learn music with the best teachers, to improve my skills and to continue my passion. Also, the confidence it gave me when performing and sharing what I like the most with others, is just unbelievable. I did some volunteering because I want to give back also. I love this program, so motivating and encouraging! I can’t wait to come back this fall!
Samy, Student
“First of all, I really improved my skills in those two years that I’ve been in the Oscar Peterson Program, and it also gave me lots of opportunities such as absorbing knowledge from four professionals, performing on big stages, communicating with other musicians, and learning from them too.
Yaromyr, Student
“Neither I nor my son would have had this experience without this program. All these opportunities have caused ripples throughout our community.
Dawn, Parent
“Being a mentor has been an enriching experience for me to work with the kids, fellow mentors, and faculty. The people who I’m surrounded by are helping me to grow as a person, musician and as a teacher. The Oscar Peterson Program has given me confidence to teach and has completely changed my thoughts about how to be a great musician.
— Santiago Oviedo, Clarinet, Mentor
“Working with the Oscar Peterson Program pianists has been incredibly rewarding. Their dedication and passion are inspiring, and it is a privilege to witness their journey, growth, and creativity firsthand.
Robi Botos, RCM Jazz Artist-in-Residence
Spotlight IN THE
DEVANSH is in his second year of the Oscar Peterson Program. The Grade 11 student from Central Peel High School joined the program after having played the violin for only one year at his school. His Oscar Peterson Program teachers and mentors have been amazed by how quickly he is progressing and are impressed with his commitment to learning. Devansh commutes from Brampton every Sunday morning to get to the RCM for his private lesson at 9:15 am. The hard work paid off when he was selected to play a duet during the first Oscar Peterson Program Concert in Koerner Hall. He accepted this challenge with excitement and enthusiasm, even initiating extra rehearsals as he and his duet partner prepared for the concert. His performance was a source of pride for Devansh and his teachers as everyone marveled at his progress within a brief time.
GISELLE
is in Grade 11 and completed her first year in the Oscar Peterson Program in 2023-24. The young clarinetist’s enthusiasm brings joy to the entire orchestra. While she made use of every opportunity to improve her playing and took additional theory lessons to brush up on her knowledge, she has a keen interest in composition and is always eager to look at the orchestral scores. Giselle was so inspired by the Rachel McFarlane workshop and the commissioned piece “When Enchantment Comes”. She was the first student to go up to Rachel and talk to her about her experience and ask her as many questions as possible.
SANSKRITI
completed her first year in the Oscar Peterson Program. Newly immigrated from Nepal, music lessons were out of reach for her family and Sanskriti could only dream of being able to learn to play piano with a teacher, instead of doing it on her own through the internet or on the school piano. Since joining the program, Sanskriti has been taking piano and theory lessons and now has a full-size keyboard to practice on at home. Her teachers praise her for being studious and motivated. This year she completed the beginner RCM levels and is excited to continue. She loves performing at school assemblies and for family and friends. Sanskriti volunteered at the Oscar Peterson School of Music summer camp as she wanted to give back the RCM.
Gratitude Abounds
The Oscar Peterson Program has developed a strong community of students, faculty, mentors and parents. At the end of the year, one parent expressed her gratitude with a heartfelt poem celebrating mentors, faculty, and staff. As a donor, you are part of this community as well, so we are sharing it, with permission.
ADIEU
So that’s it? that’s it
The orchestra’s through
The season’s all changed
And the music did too
From that first day when Andrea wrote
To say that our kids would be
Learning new notes
With Tanya and Lexie
With Solchan and Ben
With Yohali, Suhashini, and Daniel
And then Santiago
Who mentors the WHOOOOLE woodwind section
Helping his students achieve such perfection.
And while all these mentors are mentoring well
Colin’s baton has been casting a spell
Drawing out the musicians who We’re laying asleep
From the minds and the souls
Of our students they creep
Up to the surface
To make the bows dance
To lay down the beat or slide out from the brass
And out in the world
The orchestra’s born
While from our own thoughts
The audience is torn
And into the story we’re caught without breath
Until the last note
Crescendos then rests
And off on the sidelines
Andrea’s listening
With eyes that are teary or at least surely glistening
To know that her efforts helped all of this happen
That without her there’s no way we’d all be clappin’
But as I have said, the orchestra’s through
To those who are leaving and moving on to Other adventures, we hope you remember How much you have grown, even just since December
And lest that you think
We forgot your attendance
Piano players,
We applaud your ascendance
We look forward to seeing you
When we all get together
Because you’re part of this family And family’s forever
The instruments are packed
The music is fading, The daylight’s soon gone And the cars are all waiting
So, we bid you adieu
‘til we see you again
Thank you all
Thank you
And thank you again.
— Vera Patterson, Parent, June 2024
OSC AR PETERSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC