Major: General Music Studies
Piano

My major instrument was piano, which was mostly a solo instrument. But I also really enjoyed opportunities to make music with others, as a piano accompanist, by playing clarinet and oboe in the MUN Concert Band, and in the community with the Gower Youth Band. I treasure the lifelong friendships I made with my classmates, and with many of my professors. Being a student at Memorial University’s School of Music taught me to show up - for myself, for my fellow students and musicians, and for my community. I learned from everyone that becoming a better musician requires a work ethic, self-motivation and a belief in yourself. By watching others, I learned how to juggle rehearsals with different groups, meet the school’s high academic standards, and squeeze in a few hours each week at various part time jobs. Getting a Bachelor of Music degree feels kind of like getting a Bachelor of Multitasking!

Over the years, I have watched the School of Music evolve and widen its scope to include the study of not only classical, but many genres of music. Its academic focus on music and music education has widened to include many areas of learning. It’s been wonderful to see the School of Music, its faculty, and its students, involved in many parts of music and life in Newfoundland and Labrador. One of my activities when I was a music student happened across the campus, at CHMR-FM, where I created and hosted a classical music show called Go For Baroque. Using my academic knowledge and access to the School of Music’s large library of vinyl records, I realized I really liked talking about music! That led me to pursue a Master of Arts in Journalism at Western University in London, Ontario. Journalism uses many of the skills I worked on in music school, such as being a self starter and meeting deadlines, and effectively performing and communicating. And of course, having a music background is very helpful while working in radio and audio!

I have had a long and interesting career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), based mostly in St. John’s, where I feel like I learn something every day. I was a reporter in rural Newfoundland in the years after the cod moratorium, I produced programs for CBC Music, made documentaries and produced programs for national CBC Radio, and produced and hosted many of the current affairs radio programs in Newfoundland and Labrador, with my home program being Weekend AM. It just goes to show that you never know how your studies at the School of Music might directly or indirectly shape your life. And remember, never B Sharp or B Flat. Always B Natural.

Major: Performance
Flute

MUN Music began creating memories for me even before classes began in my freshman year. The famous scavenger hunts followed by Dr. Paul Rice's special chili were a great way for us to get to know each other! What followed were years of intense music making, learning at the highest level, laughter, tears and everything in between! No-one could have convinced me that 7 AM practice sessions on orchestral excerpts would lead to performances everywhere from Austria to Australia. But being able to channel wisdom like Dr. Dunsmore's "Music is 90 percent brains and 10 percent talent" or "Talk less, play more", Dr. Don Buell's quiet, brilliant leadership on and off the podium, or Joanne's Lowe's boundless generosity in lessons helped me develop a career which I hope does them proud.

I am the Principal Flute of the National Orchestra of Malta (Malta Philharmonic Orchestra), Visiting Senior Lecturer in Music and Baroque Studies at University of Malta and the Flute tutor for the Malta Youth Orchestra.

Minor: French
Piano

My favourite memory of my time at the School of Music was in my fourth year, during a one-on-one piano less with the late, great Dr. Kristina Szutor. It was last term, I had just got back from completing the Frecker Program in St. Pierre et Miquelon in semester 1, and she said something like "you have a varied skill set, you'll be fine." A vivid memory I have, that might not be a favourite, is during a masterclass, I was playing Danza de la Moza Donosa by Ginastera and I broke down into tears, like sobbing tears. I couldn't explain it. I was inconsolable but Dr. Szutor did her best to put her hand on my shoulder and assure me it was no big deal. It wasn't until much later in life that I recognised how much care the instrumental (in both terms of the word!) professors have for their students. The relationships they build watching someone in their formative years, week after week, commit to such a task as learning the great masterpieces of western classical art music.

My experience at Memorial's School of Music shaped me personally by pushing myself beyond my expectations, maybe one would say 'to the limit', while having a good backup plan in the case that the show cannot go on. Artistically, I've absolutely blossomed, especially when I could actually read music and headed back for a round two, a Masters Degree under Dr. Maureen Volk who I still have the privilege of enjoying some sushi with every time I'm in St. John's. I've had the opportunity to work as a session touring musician in Australia and I think it's the combination of that solid foundation of attention to detail as a Classical pianist with the later life skills of improvisation that lets me be a key and sought after asset for many projects. I transcribed note-for-note the 'Poor Boy' piano solo by M. Ward before my first tour with him. Necessary? Maybe not. But I got asked back for a second tour!

Professionally, I've recently stepped into the role of Senior Music Therapist at Calvary Healthcare Bethlehem, a public hospital here in Melbourne Australia that offers music therapy to palliative care patients and offers the statewide progressive neurologic disease service in Victoria. Having lost my darling Mom - who proudly attended every piano recital at the D.F. Cook Hall and even the Vagina Monologues there too! - back in 2019, I had to take a break from working in palliative care when the grief compounded. Recently, knowing how Dr. Szutor lived the last months of her life with facing such a heart-breaking diagnosis, I've been inspired to re-enter that specialty and do my best to bring to life the healing power of music. One thing is for certain - there's a curtain call for us all but we can play every note with a fierce passion that is unforgettable and inspiring to our fellow humans. Dr. Tim Steeves used to have a nice quote on his wall I enjoyed during advanced keyboard harmony. I remember it being something along the lines as "God's greatest gift to humans is music to ease their suffering." I wonder if it's still there on his wall today.... The School of Music has an enormous place in my heart and I look forward to travelling halfway across the world to join the celebrations in person!

I have been living in Melbourne since 2017 and studied the Masters of Music Therapy program at the University of Melbourne between 2018-2019. I work as a Senior Music therapist at a palliative care hospital and I also work at a neurorehabilitation hospital. I adore being part of the RAMSR team (Rhythm and Movement for Self Regulation) where I get to travel around Australia providing professional development to early childhood educators. Our mission statement is that workers, internationally, have the skills and resources to lead evidence-based rhythm and movement activities to support childhood development in self-regulation. I still gig professionally but more rarely as my favourite thing to do is play for my husband and rescue greyhound Tara.

Major: Performance
Minor: Composition
Voice

My favourite memory from the School of Music would definitely be singing the Caterpillar in Will Todd’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 2019. The show was my first time performing a role in an opera and taking the show on tour to local schools was such an enriching experience. Funnily enough I’ve now worked multiple times with the opera company who premiered the show, Opera Holland Park, in London, England. That was a very full circle experience for me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the training and experience I got at MUN. Another special moment to me would be my time with MUN Music during my Harlow trip in 2017. Getting the opportunity to see performances with MUN Music at the Royal Opera House and English National Opera, as well as Brindley Sherrat’s Masterclass at the Royal Academy of Music helped me decide to go into performance at MUN and eventually move to London and attend the Royal Academy in 2020. Another full circle moment for me was Brindley Sherratt speaking at my graduation from the Royal Academy and he has now become an artist I have worked with on multiple occasions, an inspiration that would have never come without my experience with MUN Music at the Harlow campus that Summer.

Since leaving the MUN School of Music I attended the Royal Academy of Music in London for my MMus and Advanced Operatic Diploma degrees. I earned another Diploma from the Academy for my MMus Dissertation on Canadian Art and Folk Song. I have worked with numerous opera companies in the UK including, Garsington Opera, Opera Holland Park, Longborough Opera, and Hurn Court Opera. Currently, I am a member of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio program in Toronto as well as a Resident Artist with the Glimmerglass Opera Festival in New York. I’ve been fortunate to sing operas by some of my favourite composers including Berg, Britten, Dvořák, Gounod, Mozart, Offenbach, Puccini, Rossini, Strauss, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and Verdi. I’ve also sung a number of new operas which is very important to me being a composer myself.