Save Our Conservatory

This conservatory should be the pride of Calgary, Alberta and Canada. The impact this conservatory has had on the music community of Canada and beyond has been substantial. It has become part of the identity of Calgary and something that all Calgarians and Albertans should support.

It is widely known in the music community that these two individuals are the lifeblood of the MRU Conservatory. They are internationally recognized pedagogues with immaculate reputations. Growing up in the States, I heard the names of these two cultural leaders for decades, and have had the pleasure of working with many of their fantastic students over the years. This decision is short-sighted and shameful. What an embarrassment for your institution... Ashley Vandiver, Violin National Arts Centre Orchestra The Santa Fe Opera University of Ottawa - School of Music, Violin Faculty

we cannot motivate to reach for excellence and suddenly let go of excellence or shut down.....would be a betrayal of our moral values.......outdated considerations ?????

Having grown up in Calgary in the seventies, I know how important Mount Royal Conservatory was at that time having taken cello lessons there. Since going on to have quite a successful career as a classical music composer, I have returned regularly to the city and certainly know about many of the outstanding programs offered through the institution. The Board of Governors should read all these comments. It is never too late for the Administration to recognize that a mistake needs to be corrected. Dr. John Burge ARTC, DMA, FRSC Queen's University

Eradication of the cultural establishments where excellence is inspired and Art is created is the sign of a decaying civilization. This precursor to societal decline rises well above the education of students, loss of positions, programs and even above music as it asks us where Art, Science and Architecture exist in our society - it questions the place of art in the world. When La Scala was faced with a proposed budget cut of five million Euros, Daniel Baranboim; significant pianist and conductor also citizen of Argentina, Israel, Palestine and Spain, gave a poignant speech to those proposing the cutbacks as he said: "In the names of the colleagues who play, sing, dance and work, not only here but in all of the theatres, I am here to tell you we are deeply worried for the future of culture in the country and in Europe… Culture is not a luxury, it is not something only aesthetic, it is ethical,' 'Human ethics are expressed truly in culture, in music, in opera, in theatre. It is ridiculous to think you can resolve economic problems by cutting culture… he said.” Art is not entertainment but an expression of all which is best in mankind, it creates a juxtaposition to all that is horrible and by that virtue alone Art is a necessary balancing of the world. The moment we eliminate anything that has to do with the creation of beauty and good we throw our civilization out of balance. Excellence in Art and Culture are our collective atonement for all that is wrong with society: murder, destruction, war, and hatred. Dear Members of the Board of Governors of Mount Royal University. Understanding the significantly negative impact your decision will have at every level of our culture, I believe in your ability to reconsider your actions and decisions. Please reinstate Messrs. Kadz and Van der Sloot and not only protect but develop our extraordinary Conservatory Programs further. We, your culture, will respect you moving forward and birth a new era of t

The current administration appears determined in its mission to dismember piece by piece a significant performing arts training institution that took years to build.

Music is important, let's recognize the role of culture in society and support it financially.

What the hell are you thinking?! Clearly you're not, MRU! The Conservatory is your core, the primary differentiator - the thing that makes MRU special.

The world needs more music as it brings people together.

At a time in our history when music is being recognized as a medium able to help and heal, and of great value to all humanity, this dismantling is shocking and abhorrent. Mount Royal must continue to provide education by utilizing the best possible instructors.

Music

As Professor of violin and string area coordinator at Kennesaw State University and former assistant concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony, I owe immense gratitude to the training that I received from the Mount Royal Conservatory program and to Bill van der Sloot and John Kadz. They have raised the standard of playing in Calgary, Alberta, and across Canada through the excellence of their teaching and vision. It is unthinkable that this could happen, and I implore the board to reinstate them and to save the future of music in Canada! Helen Hwaya Kim Professor of Violin/Chair of Strings Kennesaw State University School of Music Atlanta, Georgia (MRC alumnus)

Please don't take away another source of food for my soul. Music, Music, Music!

As of today (Sept. 5 at 2:48 pm) MRU's website is still listing John Kadz as Cello faculty, and Bill as Director. After these positions are reinstated, there should also be recompense to the incoming and returning students for the undoubtable stress this has caused them, after selecting (from other options), uprooting their lives, and paying for education with these men. False advertising at its finest, and still no public announcement of this decision.

Please consider this signature as a endorsement for Professor Van der Sloot's reinstatement. As a mentor to his students, he is invaluable, and to remove him from his position is tantamount to jeporadizing the growth and careers of his students during their seminal years at the conservatory, as musicians only have a few years to study and prepare for careers of 40+ years as professional musicians. Thank you for your consideration of this serious matter.

Save the conservatory! This is one of the major institutions in Canada and I'm heartbroken by this. The conservatory system in Alberta is one to be proud of, and one without which I'd never have become a musician.

I would like to express my deep concern about the termination of the two positions, especially since they are associated with the names of world class musicians and wonderful human beings. We all hope that this horrible decision will be reversed and that the pedagogues whose names are adored worldwide will be reinstated. Anything else would simply damage the Mount Royal University and deal an irreparable blow to the arts in Canada and abroad.

Disappointed to continue hearing about what appears to be dysfunctional administrators making poor choices regarding such prominent educators. Ironically these people tend to be gone shortly after they make such a mess.

The Mount Royal University Conservatory is one of finest institutions of it's kind n the country - due in part, if not wholly, to the fine contribution and efforts of Mr. John Kadz and Mr. van der Sloot. I strongly urge the governing board to reconsider their position regarding the future of the Conservatory and the future of Mount Royal University.

Why cut back on the arts? The music is great at reducing stress and enhancing performance in other areas of our lives. Where will our future musicians , authors and playwrights come from if you continuously undermine their learning environment?