Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto)

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The Royal Conservatory of Music building at 273 Bloor Street West in Toronto, in the left background is the Royal Ontario Museum. Both buildings are presently under major reconstruction.

The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is a music school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that is noted throughout the country. It was founded by Edward Fisher, in 1886 as the Toronto Conservatory of Music. In 1947, King George VI awarded the conservatory its Royal charter.

The conservatory was affiliated with the University of Toronto until 1991, at which time it became a wholly-independent institution. Its home, McMaster Hall, was the original home of McMaster University, now located in Hamilton, Ontario. The conservatory has currently embarked on a major expansion that will see the construction of a large new concert hall, scheduled to open in 2007. The expansion has resulted in the temporary relocation of the music school to a former high school, located in the Dufferin and Bloor West area, at 90 Croatia Street.

The Royal Conservatory produces the most popular and comprehensive teaching method in Canada, encompassing strict guidelines for ten grade levels. The ARCT diploma for Teacher's or Performer's is the culmination of all the grades which is also recognized worldwide. Comprehensive theory and history corequisites are required to obtain a certificate. Many Canadian provinces recognize completion of higher levels of the curriculum, awarding students high school credits upon successful completion.

The professional division of the Royal Conservatory of Music is The Glenn Gould School, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance.

[edit] Notable teachers and students

The RCM's notable teachers have included Healey Willan, Sir Ernest MacMillan, Alberto Guerrero, Boyd Neel (Dean of the Conservatory from 1953 to 1971), Lorand Fenyves, Boris Berlin and Nicholas Goldschmidt.

Many who attended the RCM as students, have gone on to success inside and out of the music industry. Two students starred together in the same TV show, Paradise Falls. Past students include: