Save Our Conservatory

The whole world is watching you. What will your kids think?

Music programs teach and reinforce thinking, collaboration, cooperation, planning, and leadership skills, all of which seem to be sorely lacking in this appalling and short-sighted decision. It's clear that they are desperately needed among MRU's administration.

I am appalled to hear of the systematic dismantling of the Conservatory at Mount Royal University. The act shows such a lack of wisdom and foresight, and I sincerely hope that the governing body reverses its mistake.

Whoever is making these decisions must be astonishingly ignorant. These people are the leaders in our community with unchallenged abilities and success stories attached to their many years of devotion. To dismiss them is an action of stupidity or intense jealousy.

At a time when our world society desperately needs logic, discipline, complex problem solving & active complex social interaction -- not mention the cross cultural value of the arts -- the systematic dismemberment of such a noted conservatory is reprehensible.

I would like to hear what kind of justification the MRU conservatory management has in terms of fulfilling its mandate, their accountability and governance.

Deeply saddened and shocked by this news. John Kadz and Bill van der Slot are both part of Canada's musical giants in education and vision and so many of us who are near or at the top of our professions owe so much of our training to John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot. Their personal investments in the communities, the country, the college, their students - I cannot fathom how this might come to pass. They not only taught not their instruments, but chamber music, artistry, technique, the art of being human. The conservatory of Music would not exist in any way or form the elite institution it is today without either of these two. I personally, would not have any vibrato without John Kadz - and I'm fairly certain I would not be anywhere near where I am today without vibrato! I cannot stress enough what a terrible, uninformed and short sighted decision this would be and a true black spot on any recommendations or standing the Conservatory holds today if it is not changed. William Fedkenheuer Miró Quartet University of Texas at Austin Faculty - Violin and Chamber Music

This makes me sick! Just another September at the new Mount Royal. Disgusting!

Band teacher - Edmonton Public Schools Freelance musician

I studied with both Bill van der Sloot and John Kadz at the Mount Royal Conservatory. I count those two years as the most important time in my development as a young musician and I owe it to those two amazing teachers - Bill, my violin teacher, and Mr. Kadz, who was my chamber music coach. I certainly would not be where I am today if it hadn't been for their guidance. I am now pursuing a Doctorate in Composition at the University of Toronto where I have the privilege of teaching undergraduates and passing down what I learned with Bill and Mr. Kadz to them. I sincerely hope that their positions are re-instated.

Music is what makes us a civilized nation.

Our favorites music Adjudicators in Ottawa. The have brought so much to our city.

WTF. These two men are the backbone to the Conservatory. I've studied with one & knew the other for over a decade, back in the 80s-90s. Both are outstanding people. Get a grip, please; this is conservatory suicide.

As an Edmontonian living in the UK as a professional musician I'm shocked at the lack of forward thinking and sense of community from the BoG for Mount Royal. There are countless success stories that have studied and taught at this institution's music department. It needs support for its continuous growth and community enrichment. Please look at the last success of Alberta College and Grant McEwen. It can be done.

Bill van der Sloot was my teacher from age 13 to 20 at the Mount Royal Conservatory. He not only has taught me the violin, but also impacted me as a person. His intelligence and knowledge in music education have developed and nurtured lots and lots of young musicians across Canada and even to other parts of the world. Losing him at MRU would be a huge loss to the potential talented musicians in our community and country. I would recommend all my friends, my students and their parents, to sign this petition as Bill van der Sloot plays such a significant role in the music society.

John Kadz was one of my formative chamber music teachers who taught me how to listen and think like a string player. If not for him I would certainly not be the musician I am today. The loss of culture and arts in our educational institutions is the loss of the future of culture and arts in our country.

Seriously... what are you people up to?!

Universities are now caring more about profit and less about the students

I support this petition as I feel that MRU has made a horribly mistake, and I wish the best of luck going forward.

What takes decades to build from talent, vision, dedication and integrity, can be destroyed in a meeting of administrators lacking in these qualities. The wrong people have been fired. The Conservatory is not just a piece of real estate. This action represents a disgraceful legacy for the board and senior administration of Mount Royal University. The Conservatory is being absorbed by continuing education. Music must always be in pursuit of excellence, continuing education is by design, mediocrity - the two are incompatible. The Conservatory and the works of musicians and great teachers such as John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot should stand as a beacon for Mount Royal University. I believe MRU should be sued. No thinking person can recommend an institution which makes such unconscionable choices.