The year is flying by, and it continues to be a time of great excitement and momentum for the Don Wright Faculty of Music. As one of the largest comprehensive faculties of music in Canada and on the continent, the exceptional passion and commitment of our community to stewarding a personalized student experience and providing a solid foundation for lifetime growth and achievement in music is truly inspirational.

Last weekend, PhD Candidate Rashaan Allwood premiered Black Ice as New Music Concerts' Composer-in-Residence.

“I came across the posting for the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program while I was finishing up my previous postdoc position and knew of Western's strengths in both musicology and media studies." Meet Kristin Franseen, post-doctoral associate whose research and teaching focus on questions of identity, canon formation, and critical biography studies in writings on 18th- and 19th-century Western art music, with particular emphases on queer and feminist histories, the (un)reliability of gossip and anecdote as historical sources, and the widespread appeal of fiction on musical subjects.

Nominations are open for the 2025 Music Alumni Wall of Fame. Submit your recommendations before March 28. Inductees will be celebrated during Homecoming weekend September 26-28.

From outstanding guest artists to student ensembles and credit recitals, there's much to look forward to as we head into the final weeks of our semester and plan for 2025-26. We hope to see you back on campus soon!

Opera at Western: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) - Mar. 6-9

Vancouver Recital Society Visiting Artist Series: Steven Osborne, piano - Apr. 1-2

Fridays @ 12:30 Concert Series (also available via livestream) - continues until Mar. 28

Student Ensembles, Chamber Series, Credit Recitals - view events calendar

Parsons and Poole Concert and Masterclass Series 2025: Sir Stephen Hough, piano - Oct. 18-19

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano - Nov. 16-17

The Moscovich Fund for Innovation in Music will bring top artists to Western, enriching the student experience. Jim and Barbara Moscovich have bonded over a belief in the power of education and a love of music since they met. Those passions also inspired the couple’s recent $2.5-million donation to the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University. “Music creates community and culture,” said Jim. “Barbara and I hope our gift will expand possibilities for students so they can push boundaries, take risks and advance creativity – at Western and across the industry.”

Pictured above: Jim and Barbara Moscovich with members of the Jazz Combo in the newly named Moscovich Recital Hall (MB 242) during the gift announcement event in November 2024.