Growing up in small town Cape Breton in the ’70s, I dreamt of studying music in Montreal. The city was then experiencing something of a classical musical tidal wave: the Montreal Symphony Orchestra was blossoming as one of the world’s best, and the city was fast becoming an international destination for Early Music (the study of music from the 18th century and earlier, and my passion!). McGill’s Faculty of Music with its new home at Royal Victoria College was at the centre of this artistic revolution, and the Faculty’s expert teaching staff made sure we were part of it. Exciting times!
Thus began my 40 year journey in the performing arts in Montreal, and McGill has been at my side the entire time. After graduation, I continued to teach at the university, and soon joined CBC Radio as a music producer and host. I eventually became senior producer of the CBC/McGill Concert Series, organizing and broadcasting hundreds of concerts from Pollack and Redpath Halls. It was an honour to give McGill staff, students, and guests a regional, national, and international platform on radio and digital.
One highpoint was in 2004 at a concert in Pollack Hall in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the CBC/McGill Series and featuring a future prime minister of Canada AND a future music director of the Metropolitan Opera. Justin Trudeau, BA’94, narrated Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, DMus’17, conducting.
When I returned to McGill in 2012 as Director of University Advancement for the Schulich School of Music, I knew I had come home. It feels great to give back to a place that has given me so much.
Photo: Kelly Rice backstage in 2007, ready to record McGillians in concert.