Save Our Conservatory

As a student, I had the great fortune to study at Mount Royal Conservatory through the Morningside Music Bridge program. Both John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot contributed to the wordclass atmosphere of music-making. Losing these two pedagogues would be a terrible blow to the prestigious of the conservatory and to the Western Canadian music scene.

This is outrageous. Please fix this situation.

I am deeply saddened by this continued erosion of what was once a world class music training ground. In the international music community, Calgary is considered a the true gem of Canadian conservatory system, and that reputation was built on the tireless contributions of individuals such as Professor van der Sloot and Professor Kadz. The mere dismissal of these two is a clear indication of the myopic vision of the current administration, and the manner in which it was done is a further indictment of their basic professionalism. While I do not hold out high hopes that there will be an acknowledgment of wrongdoing, I do know that time will surely find this administration sorely lacking in judgment. Jay Sun Piano Department Chair Xinghai Conservatory Middle School Yamaha Concert Artist

This is madness. I thought it is a university board's responsibility to recognize, sustain and promote excellence in it's faculty, students and cirriculum. This is a sad and inexcusable departure from this ethic.

Please protect the Conservatory

As an alumnus of the conservatory program and a full time professional musician in Europe I can testify to the fact that the conservatory programs helped me become what I am today. I am saddened to see the way the program is being gutted and its most valuable teachers and staff are being sidelined. This is unacceptable.

Professors Kadz and van der Sloot are world-class pedagogues and educators. Mount Royal Conservatory is known as a top institution of its kind. The successes of its alumni are staggering and well-documented. I have seen both John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot teach. They are masters of their craft. It is pedagogues like them that make the conservatory what it is. The decision to eliminate their positions is short-sighted, cynical, and wrong. It sends a message to the Calgary community and to the world that the board of this institution no longer values quality of instruction above all else. Noah Bendix-Balgley 1st concertmaster Berlin Philharmonic

We shut our arts study facilities at our peril. Please think again.

I do believe the board was unaware of the magnitude of this decision. We expect this enormous mistake to be resolved quickly.

Well I couldn't help to notice that the decision makers are academic individuals. None have any substantial accreditation in the field of music and arts. One has served on a couple of boards of important art institutions. However, it's not an embarrassment for these decision makers to realize that they don't have the right set of decision making tools in this field that is obviously out of there sphere of understanding. It is so very apparent, in that they've single handedly removed two of the most highly regarded teachers, musicians, performers, mentors, adjudicators etc.etc., from a highly regarded institution not only in our little town of Calgary but from the International Community. The dismissing of these two have dimmed your beacon in the music world considerably. Shame on you. You, the decision makers, have not only diminished the standard of a valued institution, but you have taken away the desire for future students to attend. It's not weak to reverse your decision on this and it's not weak to seek advice from others who know the music and art field better than you. Before you eliminate the other valuable musicians from your institution and make a terrible mess...SEEK ADVICE FROM THOSE THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. To be an elite institution you must have positions filled with elite people and that's Mr Kadz and Bill Van der Sloot

An institution's reputation can take years to build but only a moment to destroy... How sad is this reality... Vandersloot and Kadz, the very people largely responsible for building the excellent reputation of the MRC and by extension MRU are not in a position any longer to maintain and uphold the reputation because they have been turfed. Those with the power to destroy something so quickly had nothing to do with the years of hard work and dedication it took to build and develop it. This situation defines severe injustice and its time for the Board of Governors to show real leadership and reinstate these two gentleman to their positions

I cannot claim to know all the background which has led to this petition, but I wish to add my name to the many, many supporters and beneficiaries of the academy program at MRU. May I also say that, with all the research findings regarding the benefits of high level music (and other fine arts) education on individuals as well as society, it seems logical that administrators and education decision makers should use their influence and position to promote such programs.

Truly disgusted. Destroying a first-class arts institution!

How ironic that this is happening in Calgary's "Year of Music". Whoever is behind this decision needs to quickly correct it, and immediately resign. What a horrible Scandal.

Alumni

Dismantling arts programming is a growing trend in Alberta. This is really sad.

There is a facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1807777772774099/?fref=ts You can also write a personal letter to Dr. David Docherty, PhD, President, Mount Royal University ([email protected]) with copies to Dr. Charles Webber, Dean, Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension, ([email protected]) Elaine Danelesko, Director, Mount Royal Conservatory ([email protected]) and Bridget Damps, Governance Assistant, Board and President ([email protected]) Thank you for your help and support.

Mount Royal Conservatory has been a strong recognized venue locally and internationally for students throughout the decades. When you have instructors of the caliber of Mr. Kadz and Mr. van der Shoot why terminate their positions? They are outstanding teachers and leaders. with marvelous results. I am totally against terminating their positions and allowing the Mt. Royal Conservatory to be pulled down in their reputation.

Please keep the quality of MRC music high and respected.

REINSTATE JOHN KADZ AND VAN DER SLOOT + STAFF. Many of us have come from around the world to work with them! The conservatory never gave any warning or formal response, and it's too late for the students to find another teacher that has chemistry and works will with the student, too late to go anywhere else and too late for us to be reimbursed. I'm absolutely baffled, appalled t hat who in their right mind would even consider such a decision! REINSTATE THEM. IT'S UNFAIR AND UNJUST.