Save Our Conservatory

As a violinist with over 40 years playing professionally in the UK I am writing to support the save our Conservatory at Mount Royal. James Hutton

Mount royal has had a world class music program prior to this. Given the tremendous losses in personel you have had prior to this, these last two losses will ultimately destroy the music program. How tragic.

Save money later from the social services budget. Invest early in our children!

Bill van der Sloot and John Kadz are the backbone of the Conservatory Academy Program, which has done so much for my four children, two of whom are now working as professional musicians. The Academy and its teachers are recognized for their excellence throughout the world. I simply cannot understand and deplore Mount Royal's failure to support and commend Bill van der Sloot and John Kadz for the excellent job they have done in teaching students and running Academy program.

This is outrageous. You don't need to look far to see the legacy of the conservatory. The legacy extends far beyond the music community. In my medical school class, residents and attending physicians that I have come across, MANY were former students at the conservatory, and all maintain that the life skills, communication skills and work ethic that we learned at the conservatory has contributed greatly to our success in medicine. Medicine is not the only field into which former graduates of this program have gone into. To eliminate this high level program is to significantly limit the potential of Calgary's young people, and is highly irresponsible. I cannot fathom the logic that has precipitated this decision. Unbelievable.

I studied with Bill van der Sloot for ten years and more. I've known him for a lifetime, and I can honestly say I've never seen him take a real holiday from his job as a violin teacher or from the Academy Program. We will never see someone so dedicated to making the Conservatory one of the best in the world. His shoes will be impossible to fill. A person qualified for this position needs to be a musician/teacher to fully understand the demands of a top notch Music Academy. The job also takes so much dedication, so many hours and understanding of how to plan masterclasses, recitals, mixing different instrumentation (knowing the repertoire), and worldly connections. Anyone else could simply not do the job properly. Bill has the background, the knowledge, the skill, the respect, the dedication and the connections to do this job. Many infamous guest artists come because they hold Bill van der Sloot and John Kadz in high regard!! Otherwise, I'm sure these artists will be travelling to other Conservatorys where they'd feel comfortable with those running the programs. These guest artists and students that these wonderful teachers are producing is what fills the concert hall! This is what the Bella was built for!!! Can you imagine??? Reinstating both John and Bill's position is reinstating the Conservatorys future, the face of MRU and the Calgary music scene. All our faculty is invaluable but we work together as whole. If it cannot go back to the way it was-keeping people in positions they're best at, you are taking out the foundation the whole Conservatory was built on and that beautiful Mount Royal University Conservatory will collapse. Instead of taking our teachers away please honour these amazing teachers so they know we appreciate them and need them. We don't want to lose them. I sincerely hope a formal apology will be made to both John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot as well as the whole Conservatory, parents and students. No one deserved to go throug

I have been immensely privileged in working very closely with both Bill VanderSloot and John Kadz for the last 18 years or so, 25 years at the Conservatory. In doing so, I have first hand witnessed the unbelievable commitment to each student, the ability and willingness to coach every student in the most individual way so that their learning can flourish, the utmost respect for the student as a human being - and the immense joy of sharing their deep knowledge of the unique and powerful language of music. Bill and John are enormously influential, legendary and loving teachers and true colleagues. The artistic ramifications of the admin decisions are horrendous. It takes a long time and strong vision to build something of true artistic value, such as the MRU Conservatory and Academy program that has gained a very respected international reputation in the music world, especially through Bill and John's teaching and management. Please reinstate.

I don't know how many people I can speak for, but music is what I live for, and without it I would feel like I had no purpose. please don't let other youth feel this way