McGill Conservatory of Music to shut down after more than 100 years

Prior to the health crisis, more than 500 people were enrolled in private lessons offered by the Conservatory, but that number declined to under 300 last year

“Our best-case projection for in-person enrolment for next year would not exceed 100 students,”

“The trend is as clear as it is unfortunate.”

The idea of losing a 100 year old institution that used to train more than 500 music students a year kind of feels like a big deal. Especially for a city known for its music scene.

I really hope this decision is sound and not driven by some hidden politics or whatever.

just to be clear, this is not about the music faculty, but a side organization which is basically a small private classical music school for the young. think summer school or weekly lessons. those 500 trained per year are not professionals; they might (eventually) be CEGEP-ready.

it is important and fundamental to have student go into in music but as far as the news goes, this could be about just any private music school business.

I was a student of the McGill conservatory. To be honest, the only role they played was in my yearly exams downtown. Aside from that, it was private lessons like any other conservatory.

Also,so people understand, this is not the end of music education at McGill. This is a completely different association and would have only had about 100 students from toddler to adult this year.

It may be shutting down, which would be sad. However the announcement may also be a way to raise funds before a restructuring of the music school.

This is extremely sad. I studied piano here for years as a child/​teenager. Would have never thought that it could just... shut down.