Music

Louise Lantagne Culture

Championing Quebec culture 

As the president and director general of the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), Louise Lantagne, BA’77, plays a crucial role in supporting Quebec culture – both inside the province and around the world. (Cet article est disponible en français.)

A person singing into a microphone Culture

The story behind Chromeo’s distinctly funky charms

If the Montreal electro-funk duo Chromeo’s music hadn’t caught on, David Macklovitch, BA’00, MA’03, the band’s vocalist and guitarist, might be at the front of a university classroom right now, teaching French literature.

Two people sitting on a bench Culture

Forging their own unique musical path  

Stick&Bow, a cello and marimba duo composed of Schulich School of Music graduates Juan Sebastian Delgado and Krystina Marcoux, have an eclectic approach to their music – regularly tackling everything from Beethoven to Bowie.

A person holding a record in front of a shelf full of books and records On Campus

New dean of education a man of many talents 

In his academic pursuits, Vivek Venkatesh is just as comfortable on stage with a guitar as he is at the head of a classroom. He uses many methods – some of them unconventional – to explore the roots of violent extremism while promoting pluralism.

A galaxy full of stars Culture

An out-of-this-world composition

Composer Sophie Kastner, MMus’22, recently took part in a unique collaboration with NASA, creating a vivid piece of music about the Milky Way based on data about the galaxy that has been gleaned by the Chandra, Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes.

Darcy James Argue Culture

Updating big band jazz for the 21st century

Darcy James Argue and his big band the Secret Society make some of the most daringly ambitious music in contemporary jazz and they have the Grammy Award nominations and critical acclaim to prove it.

Kid Koala, a pioneering innovator of turntable music, performed at student dorm parties while pursuing an education degree at McGill (Photo: Corinne Merrell) Culture

From DJing at Gerts to touring with Radiohead

Before he became a pioneer of turntable music and a contributor to Hollywood soundtracks, Kid Koala (aka Eric San, BEd’96) performed at student dorm parties while pursuing an education degree at McGill.

Jim-West-Justin-West-square-crop Culture

A father and son in tune with the music business

Some of the best music released in Canada, albums that have contended for Junos and the Polaris Prize, come from a pair of Montreal-based record labels. Meet Jim West, BA’79, the president of Justin Time Records, and his son Justin West, BCom’04, the president of Secret City Records.

Burt Bacharach smiling Culture

We say a little prayer of thanks

Tributes continue to pour in for masterful pop composer Burt Bacharach, AMus’48, DMus’72, who passed away on February 8. Bacharach’s music spanned decades and included a long list of smash hits, including “I Say a Little Prayer” and “The Look of Love”.

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