I am greatly saddened and distressed to hear this news. As Artistic Director of the High River Gift of Music Society, we have had the opportunity to engage some of the best students in the country from both Messrs. van der Sloot and Katz. Their termination from MRC is a loss for Calgary, all of Alberta, and Canada.
S
Sally Baydala
10 years ago
Arts programs feed the community soul... do we still have one in Calgary and Alberta or has it been replaced by technology?
S
Simon Fryer
10 years ago
A sad state of affairs
H
Heather Wootton
10 years ago
Truly shocked and saddened by this news.
A
Alexander Malikov
10 years ago
John Kadz was our chamber group coach for two years. Under him, my trio, including violinist Elizabeth MacCorquodale and cellist Ashton Lim, have won top prizes in chamber music performance, including the 2006 Canadian Music Competition National Chamber Music Prize. During our time with Mr Kadz, we performed extensively across Canada and also in China. It is embarrasing and disrespectful to even consider such a thought as to not include Mr Kadz and Mr Van der Sloot on the faculty after they have built this international program.
G
Greg Payce
10 years ago
truly a shortighted, disappointing decision. the conservatory is such a bright light in our city.
B
Barbara Sutherland
10 years ago
I have witnessed the growth of extraordinary young musicians that have studied at the Mount Royal Conservatory and the Morningside Music Bridge programme. I have had the privilege to experience the passion for music that this community brings to Calgary and beyond. My heart is heavy at the thought of MRU allowing the loss of of this community and supporting the erosion of an important cultural institution.
N
Nancy McManus
10 years ago
Music is an integral part of our culture and communities and to dismantle a world class program like this is a travesty.
A
Aimee-Jo Benoit
10 years ago
When will someone hold MRU accountable for their absolute disregard for one of the most important and revelatory human experiences? How dare they take money from our taxes only to throw it in our faces.
H
Heather Schmidt
10 years ago
The Gifted Academy program is invaluable for young musicians. My professional career was shaped by this program. It would be an incomprehensible loss to terminate these positions.
D
Dayle Sutherland
10 years ago
Music Bridge has been a wonderful program for so many years - why sabotage it now?
A
Anthony Tan
10 years ago
Instructors and Professors of the stature of John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot are the most valuable resources of a Conservatory and University. The removal of such important and world renowned teachers represents a loss of not only musical talent, but also a loss of valuable economic resources that attracts students from around the world. These teachers are the very reason Mount Royal Conservatory is so recognized. Thus, if their removal is of economic reason, this recent move makes little sense, since their very presence in the Conservatory is of prime economic value.
J
Jack Wilson
10 years ago
Where is the response from MRU to this outpouring of dismay and disgust? The longer they wait to explain their actions, the more it is perceived as a petty personal or ideological set of actions. Just like our trust in MRU leadership, it takes much work and inspired long-range planning to build a world class educational program, and very little to tear it down.
MRU Board of Governors, please work to regain our trust by seeing the wrongheadedness of these dismissals and get back the reputation of MRU.
N
Nikki Chooi
10 years ago
This decision by the MRU is shocking and extremely disappointing. Bill and John were responsible for inspiring a generation of instrumentalists all over the world. It was because of them, that I chose to study at the MRC for 4 years and attended MMB for 6 years. Please reinstate both Bill and John to their respective duties - they are the pillars of the MRC and it would be a huge loss to not reverse this decision.
L
Laurie-Jeanne Lister
10 years ago
Featured
I add my shock and deep concern to this long and eloquent list of comments. Yes, the world is watching indeed, and the repercussions of this will be felt for generations to come. How shortsighted.
Prof. Laurie-Jeanne Lister
MiraCosta College
San Diego, CA
W
Wilmer Fawcett
10 years ago
This is becoming such a Dickensian world: money rules all, the bottom line, balancing the books. In many many cases throwing out the stuff that really matters: art, music, literature, ideas...what a world this is where the worthwhile is sacrificed for the ledger.
M
Martin Arnold
10 years ago
Make this right. This kind of attrition is ugly and dangerous.
A
Anna Cone
10 years ago
Quebec saved it's conservatories to spite budget cuts. It's not impossible. It's a choice.
D
Darrett Zusko
10 years ago
Signed
W
Wei He
10 years ago
Bill is a genius violin teacher, and his contribution goes way beyond Mt, Royal.
I am greatly saddened and distressed to hear this news. As Artistic Director of the High River Gift of Music Society, we have had the opportunity to engage some of the best students in the country from both Messrs. van der Sloot and Katz. Their termination from MRC is a loss for Calgary, all of Alberta, and Canada.
Arts programs feed the community soul... do we still have one in Calgary and Alberta or has it been replaced by technology?
A sad state of affairs
Truly shocked and saddened by this news.
John Kadz was our chamber group coach for two years. Under him, my trio, including violinist Elizabeth MacCorquodale and cellist Ashton Lim, have won top prizes in chamber music performance, including the 2006 Canadian Music Competition National Chamber Music Prize. During our time with Mr Kadz, we performed extensively across Canada and also in China. It is embarrasing and disrespectful to even consider such a thought as to not include Mr Kadz and Mr Van der Sloot on the faculty after they have built this international program.
truly a shortighted, disappointing decision. the conservatory is such a bright light in our city.
I have witnessed the growth of extraordinary young musicians that have studied at the Mount Royal Conservatory and the Morningside Music Bridge programme. I have had the privilege to experience the passion for music that this community brings to Calgary and beyond. My heart is heavy at the thought of MRU allowing the loss of of this community and supporting the erosion of an important cultural institution.
Music is an integral part of our culture and communities and to dismantle a world class program like this is a travesty.
When will someone hold MRU accountable for their absolute disregard for one of the most important and revelatory human experiences? How dare they take money from our taxes only to throw it in our faces.
The Gifted Academy program is invaluable for young musicians. My professional career was shaped by this program. It would be an incomprehensible loss to terminate these positions.
Music Bridge has been a wonderful program for so many years - why sabotage it now?
Instructors and Professors of the stature of John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot are the most valuable resources of a Conservatory and University. The removal of such important and world renowned teachers represents a loss of not only musical talent, but also a loss of valuable economic resources that attracts students from around the world. These teachers are the very reason Mount Royal Conservatory is so recognized. Thus, if their removal is of economic reason, this recent move makes little sense, since their very presence in the Conservatory is of prime economic value.
Where is the response from MRU to this outpouring of dismay and disgust? The longer they wait to explain their actions, the more it is perceived as a petty personal or ideological set of actions. Just like our trust in MRU leadership, it takes much work and inspired long-range planning to build a world class educational program, and very little to tear it down. MRU Board of Governors, please work to regain our trust by seeing the wrongheadedness of these dismissals and get back the reputation of MRU.
This decision by the MRU is shocking and extremely disappointing. Bill and John were responsible for inspiring a generation of instrumentalists all over the world. It was because of them, that I chose to study at the MRC for 4 years and attended MMB for 6 years. Please reinstate both Bill and John to their respective duties - they are the pillars of the MRC and it would be a huge loss to not reverse this decision.
I add my shock and deep concern to this long and eloquent list of comments. Yes, the world is watching indeed, and the repercussions of this will be felt for generations to come. How shortsighted. Prof. Laurie-Jeanne Lister MiraCosta College San Diego, CA
This is becoming such a Dickensian world: money rules all, the bottom line, balancing the books. In many many cases throwing out the stuff that really matters: art, music, literature, ideas...what a world this is where the worthwhile is sacrificed for the ledger.
Make this right. This kind of attrition is ugly and dangerous.
Quebec saved it's conservatories to spite budget cuts. It's not impossible. It's a choice.
Signed
Bill is a genius violin teacher, and his contribution goes way beyond Mt, Royal.