History The Royal Conservatory of Music

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 toronto college of music , canadian academy of music
1.3 post-war growth
1.4 independent institution

history
early history

the original home of toronto conservatory of music in 1886



the toronto conservatory of music @ college street , university avenue, c. 1897



mcmaster hall , castle memorial hall (at left) c. 1906



the royal conservatory of music on bloor street west in 2015

the conservatory founded in 1886 toronto conservatory of music , opened in september 1887, located on 2 floors above music store @ corner of dundas street , yonge street. founder edward fisher young organist born in united states. conservatory became first institution of kind in canada: school dedicated training of singers , musicians, , instilling love of music in young children. in first year, hired italian musician , composer francesco d auria teach @ conservatory.

the conservatory s initial intake on 100, , second quarter number had grown 300 reputation spread. in 1897, organization purchased new property @ college street , university avenue accommodate rapid expansion. earliest days, affiliated university of toronto purpose of preparing students degree examinations , shared premises university of toronto, faculty of music 1919.

in 1906, frank welsman – became principal of conservatory – founded , directed toronto conservatory orchestra, became toronto symphony orchestra 2 years later.

toronto college of music , canadian academy of music

the period between 1918 , 1924 witnessed series of mergers among music conservatories in toronto. toronto college of music founded in 1888 conductor f.h. torrington, , became first music conservatory affiliated university of toronto. after torrington s death in 1917, school merged canadian academy of music in 1918. academy had been founded in 1911 albert gooderham, financed school out of own personal fortune , served school s president during 13-year-long history. academy, in turn, merged toronto conservatory of music in 1924.

post-war growth

glenn gould – arguably conservatory s outstanding pupil – studied theory, organ, , piano, graduating @ age of 12 in 1946 arct diploma of highest honours.

in 1947, king george vi awarded conservatory royal charter in recognition of status 1 of commonwealth s greatest music schools. toronto conservatory of music became royal conservatory of music.

during ettore mazzoleni s term principal (1945–68), conservatory grew rapidly. mazzoleni had been director of conservatory orchestra since 1934. 2 other prominent figures contributed achievements of period chairman of board edward johnson (who served 1947–59) , arnold walter, appointed director of new senior school in 1946. senior school offered two-year program professional performance training combined related courses in theory , history. initial success of project gave rise three-year program leading artist diploma, conservatory s opera school (begun in 1946), provided training in aspects of opera production. these developments led creation of royal conservatory opera company, went on become canadian opera company in 1959.

with space major problem, university of toronto sold college street property ontario hydro in 1962 , conservatory moved 273 bloor street west, original site of mcmaster university. concert , recital halls of college street site partially replaced in move, , library, residence, , 3 pipe organs lost.

independent institution

the conservatory governed university of toronto 1963 until 1991, @ time became wholly independent institution again, taking control of building , diverse music programs. peter simon appointed president of conservatory.

also in 1991, conservatory developed master plan renovate historic building , expand construction of new facilities on same site. plan carried out kuwabara payne mckenna blumberg architects (kpmb) in stages, 1997 renovation of mazzoleni concert hall in historic ihnatowycz hall. new construction named telus centre performance , learning , features academic , performance spaces; acoustically sound, 1,135-seat koerner concert venue; studios; classrooms; new-media centre; library; , rehearsal hall. during renovations, conservatory temporarily moved former location of toronto district school board s ursula franklin academy in dufferin , bloor west area. in september 2008, conservatory returned newly renovated , expanded headquarters @ 273 bloor street west near avenue road. koerner hall opened on 25 september 2009, beginning new age of large-scale performances @ royal conservatory.

the original building, mcmaster hall, renamed ihnatowycz hall in 2005, in reference contribution of alumni ian ihnatowycz , marta witer. designation of site heritage building required majority of original materials , formal qualities maintained while complying building code. original brickwork maintained: decorative red brick, medina sandstone, , polished granite. imposing manner of building demonstrates prominent form of building.