The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. More
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2
Desautels Faculty of Music students have the opportunity to study all standard orchestral and wind ensemble instruments, as well as voice, piano, conducting and a variety of instruments in the area of jazz.
Students are nurtured in an environment that allows them to fully explore and develop as performers and educators.
Solo performance is balanced with ensemble playing. Students are encouraged to become well-rounded musicians and educators.
Undergraduate students participate in two ensembles each year. Post-baccalaureate and master’s students participate in ensembles in consultation with their advisors.
Learn about our many areas of study, our talented faculty and staff, and our innovative programming.
Classical brass instruction is offered for trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba. Jazz brass instruction is offered for trumpet and trombone.
The classical brass program provides students with the tools needed for a lifetime of music making, including a balance between technical study and an intensive study of repertoire. Solo performance is balanced with ensemble playing and academic courses are balanced with performance-based courses. Students are encouraged to become the well-rounded musicians and educators needed in today’s changing world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year performance, fourth-year performance, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses, where they perform for our own faculty and invited artists.
The Desautels Faculty of Music is revolutionizing jazz education. Our program is innovative, allowing students to take advantage of dedicated study at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, and giving students opportunities to learn the language of jazz through ongoing collaborations with the leading musicians of the jazz world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year, fourth-year, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for and alongside our own faculty and visiting artists such as trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, violinist Regina Carter, trumpet legends Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Herlin Reily.
The Desautels Faculty of Music’s Composition Department offers a unique and creative approach to music making. With an emphasis on individual student focus, the program offers opportunities in a broad range of innovative areas. The faculty possesses world-class expertise in acoustic and live electronic music, as well as projects incorporating computer-assisted composition, improvisation, multimedia and interdisciplinary elements.
One of the advantages of studying at a medium-sized faculty is increased opportunity, not only for public performance, but also individual instruction. In addition to a wide array of seminars and lectures, undergraduate composition students receive one hour of private instruction (90 minutes for graduate students) each week. Other specialized areas of study include computer music and orchestration.
Students have access to numerous valuable resources at the faculty: Studio FLAT, a state-of-the-art computer music studio with 8-channel playback; the eXperimental Improv Ensemble (XIE); and the comprehensive Eckhardt-Gramatté Music Library.
Composition students have many opportunities to collaborate with ensembles within and outside the university. These collaborative projects give students the chance to work closely with performers and receive valuable feedback on their writing. In particular, our graduate composition program includes designated funding to hire professional musicians for each graduate student’s final recital, and the opportunity to write for a dedicated but flexible student chamber ensemble.
In addition, the larger ensembles of the Desautels Faculty of Music—such as the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, University Singers and the Contemporary Opera Lab—regularly perform student compositions. Many students also have their music performed by professional ensembles at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra’s concert series, GroundSwell’s new music series, the Cluster: New Music + Integrated Arts Festival, and the send + receive festival of sound art.
Each year the Desautels Faculty of Music hosts an impressive roster of world-renowned guest composers and performing artists, often in conjunction with a concert, lecture, masterclass, reading session or private lessons. Recent guests have included such luminaries as Steve Reich, Hans Tutschku and Lori Freedman, as well as ensembles like eighth blackbird and the Penderecki String Quartet.
The Desautels Faculty of Music offers a Master of Music degree in the area of conducting with students specializing in either choral or instrumental conducting.
The emphasis of the conducting program is on full professional preparation in a strong academic context, including courses in major practical study, ensembles, music history, bibliography and research methods and music theory.
Each student works closely with one of our outstanding faculty members in developing their conducting skills and there is ample opportunity for students to conduct our instrumental ensembles.
Classical guitar instruction is offered for students interested in classical studies. Jazz guitar instruction is offered for students interested in jazz studies.
The classical program provides students with the tools needed for a lifetime of music making, including a balance between technical study and an intensive study of repertoire. Solo performance is balanced with ensemble playing and academic courses are balanced with performance-based courses. Students are encouraged to become the well-rounded musicians and educators needed in today’s changing world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year performance, fourth-year performance, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for our own faculty and invited artists.
The Desautels Faculty of Music is revolutionizing jazz education. Our program is truly innovative, allowing students to take advantage of dedicated study at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, and giving students opportunities to learn the language of jazz through ongoing collaborations with the leading musicians of the jazz world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year, fourth-year, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for and alongside our own faculty and visiting artists such as trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, violinist Regina Carter, trumpet legends Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Herlin Reily.
Classical percussion instruction is offered for students interested in classical studies. Jazz drumset instruction is offered for students interested in jazz studies.
The program provides students with the tools needed for a lifetime of music making including a balance between technical study and an intensive study of repertoire. Solo performance is balanced with ensemble playing and academic courses are balanced with performance-based courses. Students are encouraged to become the well-rounded musicians and educators needed in today’s changing world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year performance, fourth-year performance, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for our own faculty and invited artists.
The Desautels Faculty of Music is revolutionizing jazz education. Our program is truly innovative, allowing students to take advantage of dedicated study at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, and giving students opportunities to learn the language of jazz through ongoing collaborations with the leading musicians of the jazz world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year, fourth-year, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for and alongside our own faculty and visiting artists such as trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, violinist Regina Carter, trumpet legends Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Herlin Reily.
Classical instruction is offered for piano and organ. Jazz piano instruction is offered for students interested in jazz studies.
The classical program provides students with the tools needed for a lifetime of music making including a balance between technical study and an intensive study of repertoire. Solo performance is balanced with ensemble playing and academic courses are balanced with performance-based courses. Students are encouraged to become the well-rounded musicians and educators needed in today’s changing world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third year performance, fourth year performance, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for our own faculty and invited artists.
The collaborative piano program encompasses the study of instrumental, vocal and ensemble repertoire. Students join the inspiring and collegial environment at the Desautels Faculty of Music, where collaboration and mentorship between collaborative pianists, their performing partners, and faculty members occurs daily.
Collaborative piano students are involved in every area of performance at the faculty, and they regularly receive support and feedback from active musicians who perform on the local, national, and international stage.
The Desautels Faculty of Music offers many opportunities for performing both at the university and in the larger community. Students have the option to emphasize instrumental or vocal collaboration and are encouraged to continue their solo piano studies if they wish.
We offer collaborative piano study at the post-baccalaureate and master’s level.
Our students have come from across Canada and many have gone on to participate in programs such as SongFest, VISI, Opera NUOVA and the Schubert Institute in Baden, Austria. Graduates of the program have continued their studies at schools including the Eastman School of Music and the Boston Conservatory. They have established themselves in active performing careers, both as freelance artists and within institutions.
Meet our collaborative piano faculty
The Desautels Faculty of Music is revolutionizing jazz education. Our program is truly innovative, allowing students to take advantage of dedicated study at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, and giving students opportunities to learn the language of jazz through ongoing collaborations with the leading musicians of the jazz world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year, fourth-year, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for and alongside our own faculty and visiting artists such as trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, violinist Regina Carter, trumpet legends Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Herlin Reily.
Classical strings instruction is offer for violin, viola, violoncello, double bass and harp. Jazz bass instruction is available for students interested in jazz studies.
The program provides each student with the tools needed for a lifetime of music making including a balance between technical study and an intensive study of repertoire. Solo performance is balanced with ensemble playing and academic courses are balanced with performance-based courses. Students are encouraged to become the well-rounded musicians and educators needed in today’s changing world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third year performance, fourth year performance, post-baccalaureate and master;s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition string players attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for our own faculty and invited artists.
The Desautels Faculty of Music is revolutionizing jazz education. Our program is truly innovative, allowing students to take advantage of dedicated study at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, and giving students opportunities to learn the language of jazz through ongoing collaborations with the leading musicians of the jazz world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year, fourth-year, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for and alongside our own faculty and visiting artists such as trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, violinist Regina Carter, trumpet legends Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Herlin Reily.
Classical voice instruction is offered for students interested in classical studies. Jazz voice instruction in available for students interested in jazz studies.
The classical voice program provides each singer with the tools needed for a lifetime of expressive singing. Technical study is balanced with intense work on language and interpretation; solo performance is balanced with ensemble performance; academic courses are balanced with performance-based courses. Working in a collaborative environment led by our outstanding vocal faculty, students are encouraged to become the well-rounded singers and teachers needed in today’s changing world.
Along with core academic courses in theory, history and basic skills, we offer coursework that builds student skill in diction, song interpretation, role studies, advanced opera studies, and many more skills.
Learn more about advanced opera studies
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year performance, fourth-year performance, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. Vocal coaching is scheduled for all voice students on a bi-weekly basis. Interpretation coachings, focusing on text and physicality, are also a feature of our program.
Each singer sings once per term in a vocal masterclass. Clinicians for the masterclass include our own faculty along with guest instructors. Guest instructors have included Rachel Andrist, Judith Forst, Darryll Edwards, Christiane Riel, Mark Wilson, Nikki Einfeld, John Tessier, Deen Larsen, Robert Tweten and Theodore Baerg.
Singers at the Desautels Faculty of Music have countless solo-performing opportunities through their ensembles, performance classes, masterclasses, and recitals. Also available are numerous performing opportunities with the larger arts organizations found in Winnipeg’s robust arts community. These organizations include the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera, Little Opera Company, Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Canzona, Winnipeg Singers, Camerata Nova and the Musical Offering.
Meet our classical voice faculty
Our program is truly innovative, allowing students to take advantage of dedicated study at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, and giving students opportunities to learn the language of jazz through ongoing collaborations with the leading musicians of the jazz world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year, fourth-year, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for and alongside our own faculty and visiting artists such as trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, violinist Regina Carter, trumpet legends Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Herlin Reily.
Classical woodwind instruction is offered for flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet and saxophone. Jazz woodwind instruction is offered for students interested in jazz studies.
The classical program provides students with the tools needed for a lifetime of music making, including a balance between technical study and an intensive study of repertoire. Solo performance is balanced with ensemble playing and academic courses are balanced with performance-based courses. Students are encouraged to become the well-rounded musicians and educators needed in today’s changing world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year performance, fourth-year performance, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for our own faculty and invited artists.
The Desautels Faculty of Music is revolutionizing jazz education. Our program is truly innovative, allowing students to take advantage of dedicated study at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, and giving students opportunities to learn the language of jazz through ongoing collaborations with the leading musicians of the jazz world.
Students receive 26 lessons each year (one hour per week). Those in third-year, fourth-year, post-baccalaureate and master’s programs have 1.5 hours of lessons each week. In addition, students attend weekly masterclasses where they perform for and alongside our own faculty and visiting artists such as trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, violinist Regina Carter, trumpet legends Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, and drummer Herlin Reily.
All Desautels Faculty of Music students seeking a Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree participate in our highly regarded ensembles.
All new and returning music students must audition for ensemble placement for their credit ensembles every year.
We also welcome auditions by community members and students from other faculties.
Desautels Faculty of Music programs prepare students for a wide range of careers, including traditional performance, music education, composition and history, and many other music and arts-related professions.
Students enjoy an environment of intense creativity and collaboration, built on a foundation of academic excellence, with an inspiring balance of tradition and innovation.
