TORONTO, November 30, 2007 - The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, today announced funding for the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Funding of $1.25 million will give the School much-needed support to advance professional training programs.
"I am proud to support professional Canadian arts training institutions," said Minister Verner. "Quality arts training is essential to sustain the vitality of our culture and ensure the future of the arts in Canada. The Glenn Gould School provides some of our most gifted young artists with advanced classical music training in their own country."
"Thanks to the ongoing support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory continues to be Canada's great centre of excellence for professional training in music performance and pedagogy," said Dr. Peter Simon, President of the Royal Conservatory of Music. "Next year, with the opening of our state-of-the-art new home, the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, the Conservatory will broaden its impact even further as a national and international leader in professional training, arts-infused public school programs, early childhood education, concert presentation, publishing, and examinations."
The Glenn Gould School was created in 1997 to advance the Royal Conservatory of Music's mission to develop human potential through classical music and the arts. It offers a four-year undergraduate performance diploma program for piano, voice, and orchestral instruments and a two-year post-graduate artist diploma program for voice, solo piano, orchestral instruments, and performance and pedagogy (piano). The curriculum is designed with academic and supplementary courses, but its primary focus is on performance.
The Government of Canada has provided this funding through the National Arts Training Contribution Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program supports independent, non-profit, incorporated Canadian organizations that train Canadians for professional national and international careers in the arts.
Information: Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
