Of Note: Winter 2024 Edition | The Royal Conservatory of Music

Of Note: Winter 2024 Edition

Published on January 16, 2024

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Royal Conservatory’s “Of Note” – our rundown of RCM activities happening over the next few months. Whether at The Royal Conservatory’s historic and stunning building in downtown Toronto (273 Bloor Street West) or across the continent, we hope to see you soon!

Supporting Student Success

January 29: Applications open for The Taylor Academy
- The Royal Conservatory’s Taylor Academy is a one-of-a-kind extracurricular program (held at the RCM) for gifted musicians from the ages of 8 to 18. Learn more here.
February 13: May/June Examination Deadline - United States
- Register here for May/June RCM Certificate Program examinations in the United States. Click here for the latest exam news and note that the current accompaniment policy will be enforced effective February 1.
March 5: May/June Examination Deadline - Canada
- Register here for May/June RCM Certificate Program examinations in Canada. Click here for the latest exam news and note that the current accompaniment policy will be enforced effective February 1.
March 20 | 8PM: Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites
- This heartbreaking masterpiece is a fully-staged opera by The Glenn Gould School (GGS) performed in The Royal Conservatory's Koerner Hall. Set during the French Revolution, a young aristocrat joins a convent, and the final scene is one of opera’s most poignant. Tickets starting from $25. You can also catch this performance on March 22 | 8PM.
March 24 | 3PM: Ema Nikolovska with Charles Richard-Hamelin
- Mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska is an alumna of all three schools at the RCM (Oscar Peterson School, Taylor Academy, GGS). She and pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin, 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition silver medalist, will perform works by Schubert, Schumann, and Debussy in Koerner Hall. Tickets starting from $35.

Let's Learn!

Week of January 20: Winter session classes begin at the Oscar Peterson School of Music
- We have classes for all ages and abilities taking place right at the RCM’s school of the community in our beautiful building! Visit our website to see the list of available classes (some of which begin in early February).
March 11-15: March Break Camps (ages 4+)
- Join us at The Royal Conservatory for a week of merriment and music-making! From musicals, to rock band camp and a piano camp for “Swifties”, there’s something for everyone at the Oscar Peterson School! Register for March Break camps.
RCM Online Ear Training and RCM Online Sight Reading
- Ear-training and the ability to sight-read music are essential to well-rounded musicianship and are an essential component of the RCM Certificate Program. Start training whenever you or your student are ready! Subscribe now.

A Winter’s Night Out!

February 2 | 8PM: Joshua Redman: where we are
- Widely revered as the greatest jazz saxophonist of his generation, Joshua Redman returns following his sold-out Koerner Hall concert last season with a brand new project! Tickets starting from $60.
February 7 | 8PM: Los Angeles Master Chorale, staged by Peter Sellars, Music to Accompany a Departure
- Following their widely acclaimed collaboration on Lagrime di San Pietro, Peter Sellars, Grant Gershon, and singers of the Los Angeles Master Chorale return to Koerner Hall with a deeply personal yet uplifting meditation on what it means to say goodbye to those we love. Tickets starting from $60.
March 2 | 8PM: KUNÉ with special guests Meesha Shafi and Jesse Cook
- Founded at The Royal Conservatory, KUNÉ - Canada's global orchestra - explores and celebrates Canada's cultural diversity through the shared language of music. KUNÉ will perform in Koerner Hall with Meesha Shafi and Jesse Cook. Tickets starting from $50.

In the Community

March 16-20: Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Conference
- If you’re attending the conference, we will be there once again both with showcases and on the trade floor. We look forward to connecting with you in Atlanta!
March 20-23: American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Conference
- We will be at this conference for the first time with a booth and showcases. We look forward to meeting you in Louisville!
Celebrations of Excellence
- RCM Celebration of Excellence events celebrate the students who have achieved the top mark in their level and discipline in each region. Join us across the country as we honour the outstanding achievements of RCM students. View the schedule here.

Free @ 273 Bloor St W!

Master classes at The Glenn Gould School
- Our master class program is one of the finest in North America where musical artists of the highest calibre work with our students. Some of this winter's master class artists include violinist Stefan Jackiw (February 2), pianist and RCM Artist in Residence, Stewart Goodyear (March 1) and Ihnatowycz Chair in Piano, Jeremy Denk (March 22)! Classes take place in either Mazzoleni Hall or Temerty Theatre.
Performances by students of The Taylor Academy
- Join us as the gifted musicians (ages 8 to 18) of The Royal Conservatory’s Taylor Academy showcase their exceptional talent in historic Mazzoleni Hall on February 3 | 4:30PM and March 9 | 4:30PM - tickets for both events are available one week prior. Other free performances can be found here.
March 27 | 7:30PM: Rebanks Family Fellowship Concert
- The Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program at The Glenn Gould School is for artists on the precipice of a major career in music. This year’s Rebanks Fellows will perform solo and ensemble works and tickets will be available March 20. Join us so one day, you will be able to say “I saw them when!”

Winter Professional Development

January 24: Online Piano Teacher Courses
- Register for the Winter session of the online Piano Teacher Courses (PTC)! Learn more and/or register here.
Music Teacher webinars
- These free webinars are offered on an ongoing basis on a variety of topics including our online Theory Study Guides on January 29 (register here) and our online Music History Courses on March 11 (register here). For more information about all of our webinars, visit this page.

Free Livestreams on RoyalConservatory.Live

January 23 | 7:30PM: The Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition Finals
- Watch extraordinary students from The Glenn Gould School (GGS), The Royal Conservatory’s post-secondary school focused on performance training, compete for the prestigious Corcoran Grand Prize! Watch it here!
February 9 | 8PM: The Royal Conservatory Orchestra with guest conductor Joshua Weilerstein and soloist Canon Shibata (cello)
- The Royal Conservatory Orchestra (RCO) consists of GGS orchestral students and is widely considered to be one of the finest training ensembles in North America. We hope you will join us in supporting this magnificent ensemble before their Carnegie Hall debut in May 2024!
March 6 | 7:30PM: The Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition Finals
- Ensembles from The Glenn Gould School perform before a distinguished jury, competing for over $11,000 in prizes! Watch it here or join us in-person, free, in Koerner Hall!

SPRING EDITION NOW AVAILABLE