While I acknowledge that the Mount Royal Conservatory occupies valuable real estate in a school desperate to become a "real university," it is an indicator of Bad Management to kill an arts programme to do so. Alas, I cannot say I'm surprised by such appallingly poor management, however I am shocked at the cold, mercenary methods you are using to kill music at Mount Royal.
Shame on you for being blind to the needs of young musicians, and shame on you for being deaf to their cries!! Where would you have them go???
Are you the least bit aware of what you are doing by destroying the only real music conservatory in Calgary??!!
Yeah, I didn't think so...
L
Laurence Lesser
9 years ago
It's very hard to conceive that Mount Royal Conservatory is trying to destroy itself. It has a been a beacon of excellence for a great many years and both John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot have been principal reasons for that. As former president of New England Conservatory, I can point to numerous young artists who have studied at Mount Royal's Conservatory programs and who have become leading lights in the world of music.
How sad to read of these latest moves!
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
You can draw a clear line from the removal of these faculty and the downfall of the Conservatory. You can easily debunk any kind of argument that they need to go by simply looking at the facts. Then, it should bring into question the intentions and/or competence of the people making these alarmingly reckless decisions. Don't burn down your investment in the brand new Conservatory facilities by sabotaging the faculty. To everybody else watching these events unfold, it's very clear who should be losing their jobs - and it's not Bill van der Sloot and John Kadz.
E
Emily Fowler
9 years ago
John Kadz has dedicated decades to building up the absolutely world-class preparatory academy that Mount Royal hosts. He has been instrumental in forming a generation of Calgarian musicians who can be found in prominent positions across the globe. John Kadz is a treasure - for his students, for the Conservatory and Calgary as a whole! Mount Royal ought to be celebrating their star employees, rather than this!
Z
ZouHuibin
9 years ago
I love Morningside Music Bridge and I love Mr. Bill van der Sloot and Mr. John Kadz. They are both fantastic teacher.
H
Hank Stam
9 years ago
In a vibrant and culturally rich city, Mount Royal's music programs have played a key role. Both of our children studied for years in the Academy Program and this led them to international careers in music. It is stunning that John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot should not be allowed to continue in their highly successful programs. Sacrificing quality for administrative expedience is a tragedy.
M
Michael Green
9 years ago
This is very sad turn off events for the arts in Alberta and indeed Canada. All eyes are on the administration of the conservatory at Mt Royal. I do hope they have the humility to recognize their mistake and change their minds.
X
Xinyi Li
9 years ago
It's unfair for those two wonderful teachers, they have paid a lot of time and expenditure to the conservatory, the school can not fire the teacher like that!!!!
E
Elias-Axel Pettersson
9 years ago
I was privileged to judge some wonderful students who went through the Mont Royal Conservatory system as part of the CMC. I think it would be a terrible travesty for Alberta to lose such an institution.
S
Shirley Vercruysse
9 years ago
Mount Royal alumni.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Save the conservatory with the reinstatement of the key senior faculty
J
Jessica Lutzak
9 years ago
As one of many proud Alumni of the Conservatory Program, I can say with 100% certainty that I would not currently have a successful career in music if it were not for the training I received in this program. It has been heartbreaking to watch the slow demise of this gem of a program for the last while, because I have seen how much it has been of benefit for so many successful musicians and colleagues, as well as for my own students. It is worth considering that there is an unbelievably large amount of talent in our relatively young city, and forcing such a large population to seek training elsewhere will surely be a negative consequence on many levels. A vibrant city absolutely must have a thriving Arts community, and to dismantle this program is not congruent with that. Worst of all, to rip its leaders from the vessel completely will surely lead the whole ship to sink. It is deeply concerning to me to think that so many aspiring musicians may not have the option of benefitting from the quality of training at the Conservatory. I urge The Board of Governors to reconsider these actions, for the sake of our very large music community both here and abroad, as well as the general public who enjoy having a vibrant Arts community in their city!
M
Megan Vignal
9 years ago
As someone who has watched students plan their entire music careers around the MRU conservatory, I'm disappointed that it continues to make decisions like this.
When MRU shut down its music and theatre associate's degree programs, I chose to not apply to MRU for my university studies, even though my program of choice is unrelated to the arts and is still currently available.
I question my own desire to participate in my 2 conservatory programs this year, knowing that the directors of my classes could be let go just as easily as Bill and John were. I am very hesitant to provide them with any money, even for the high caliber programs that I would be missing out on.
One of the things that the board of governors must recognize is that unlike the sciences, music lessons can be taught in a home, and there are other medium sized venues available in the city. If they continue to deconstruct the arts program, they will be left with an empty conservatory and concert hall.
The conservatory also bridges the community with MRU; I know many conservatory students who chose to attend MRU for academic studies because it was familiar to them. Engagement with the general public through the conservatory (whether they be musicians, friends, or family) has an impact on people's opinions and expectations of the university as a whole, and continuing to dismantle the conservatory will only serve to further lower public opinion of the school.
V
Vicky Han
9 years ago
They should stay for Calgarians！
P
Phillip Field
9 years ago
I support a strong music program and the notion of due process. Reinstate these two staff members and rectify any problems within the management!
J
Judi Lee
9 years ago
Shutting down the Mount Royal Conservatory would be a travesty. It is an important institution in the city of Calgary and has produced many outstanding musicians. There will be a huge void in the city's music community if it is shut down.
M
Marja du Plessis
9 years ago
Save the Conservatory !!!
M
Michael Klazek
9 years ago
Highest regard for these two musical mentors. They, along with Sheldon Nadler, Paul Dornian and others are part of our roster of masters whose years of experience are a valuable resource which cannot be substituted.
J
Jessie chen
9 years ago
How can this happened ? Please do something to save the conservatory !
K
Karla Smith
9 years ago
Our city needs the MRU program to provide the strong, high-quality program that we have come to expect from it! Please do not cut or underfund these valuable programs. The excellence of the staff make all the difference in the excellence of the program. Keep the great staff and fund the programs!
While I acknowledge that the Mount Royal Conservatory occupies valuable real estate in a school desperate to become a "real university," it is an indicator of Bad Management to kill an arts programme to do so. Alas, I cannot say I'm surprised by such appallingly poor management, however I am shocked at the cold, mercenary methods you are using to kill music at Mount Royal. Shame on you for being blind to the needs of young musicians, and shame on you for being deaf to their cries!! Where would you have them go??? Are you the least bit aware of what you are doing by destroying the only real music conservatory in Calgary??!! Yeah, I didn't think so...
It's very hard to conceive that Mount Royal Conservatory is trying to destroy itself. It has a been a beacon of excellence for a great many years and both John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot have been principal reasons for that. As former president of New England Conservatory, I can point to numerous young artists who have studied at Mount Royal's Conservatory programs and who have become leading lights in the world of music. How sad to read of these latest moves!
You can draw a clear line from the removal of these faculty and the downfall of the Conservatory. You can easily debunk any kind of argument that they need to go by simply looking at the facts. Then, it should bring into question the intentions and/or competence of the people making these alarmingly reckless decisions. Don't burn down your investment in the brand new Conservatory facilities by sabotaging the faculty. To everybody else watching these events unfold, it's very clear who should be losing their jobs - and it's not Bill van der Sloot and John Kadz.
John Kadz has dedicated decades to building up the absolutely world-class preparatory academy that Mount Royal hosts. He has been instrumental in forming a generation of Calgarian musicians who can be found in prominent positions across the globe. John Kadz is a treasure - for his students, for the Conservatory and Calgary as a whole! Mount Royal ought to be celebrating their star employees, rather than this!
I love Morningside Music Bridge and I love Mr. Bill van der Sloot and Mr. John Kadz. They are both fantastic teacher.
In a vibrant and culturally rich city, Mount Royal's music programs have played a key role. Both of our children studied for years in the Academy Program and this led them to international careers in music. It is stunning that John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot should not be allowed to continue in their highly successful programs. Sacrificing quality for administrative expedience is a tragedy.
This is very sad turn off events for the arts in Alberta and indeed Canada. All eyes are on the administration of the conservatory at Mt Royal. I do hope they have the humility to recognize their mistake and change their minds.
It's unfair for those two wonderful teachers, they have paid a lot of time and expenditure to the conservatory, the school can not fire the teacher like that!!!!
I was privileged to judge some wonderful students who went through the Mont Royal Conservatory system as part of the CMC. I think it would be a terrible travesty for Alberta to lose such an institution.
Mount Royal alumni.
Save the conservatory with the reinstatement of the key senior faculty
As one of many proud Alumni of the Conservatory Program, I can say with 100% certainty that I would not currently have a successful career in music if it were not for the training I received in this program. It has been heartbreaking to watch the slow demise of this gem of a program for the last while, because I have seen how much it has been of benefit for so many successful musicians and colleagues, as well as for my own students. It is worth considering that there is an unbelievably large amount of talent in our relatively young city, and forcing such a large population to seek training elsewhere will surely be a negative consequence on many levels. A vibrant city absolutely must have a thriving Arts community, and to dismantle this program is not congruent with that. Worst of all, to rip its leaders from the vessel completely will surely lead the whole ship to sink. It is deeply concerning to me to think that so many aspiring musicians may not have the option of benefitting from the quality of training at the Conservatory. I urge The Board of Governors to reconsider these actions, for the sake of our very large music community both here and abroad, as well as the general public who enjoy having a vibrant Arts community in their city!
As someone who has watched students plan their entire music careers around the MRU conservatory, I'm disappointed that it continues to make decisions like this. When MRU shut down its music and theatre associate's degree programs, I chose to not apply to MRU for my university studies, even though my program of choice is unrelated to the arts and is still currently available. I question my own desire to participate in my 2 conservatory programs this year, knowing that the directors of my classes could be let go just as easily as Bill and John were. I am very hesitant to provide them with any money, even for the high caliber programs that I would be missing out on. One of the things that the board of governors must recognize is that unlike the sciences, music lessons can be taught in a home, and there are other medium sized venues available in the city. If they continue to deconstruct the arts program, they will be left with an empty conservatory and concert hall. The conservatory also bridges the community with MRU; I know many conservatory students who chose to attend MRU for academic studies because it was familiar to them. Engagement with the general public through the conservatory (whether they be musicians, friends, or family) has an impact on people's opinions and expectations of the university as a whole, and continuing to dismantle the conservatory will only serve to further lower public opinion of the school.
They should stay for Calgarians！
I support a strong music program and the notion of due process. Reinstate these two staff members and rectify any problems within the management!
Shutting down the Mount Royal Conservatory would be a travesty. It is an important institution in the city of Calgary and has produced many outstanding musicians. There will be a huge void in the city's music community if it is shut down.
Save the Conservatory !!!
Highest regard for these two musical mentors. They, along with Sheldon Nadler, Paul Dornian and others are part of our roster of masters whose years of experience are a valuable resource which cannot be substituted.
How can this happened ? Please do something to save the conservatory !
Our city needs the MRU program to provide the strong, high-quality program that we have come to expect from it! Please do not cut or underfund these valuable programs. The excellence of the staff make all the difference in the excellence of the program. Keep the great staff and fund the programs!