Jamal Al Titi and Catherine Tan receive Faculty's top honours
The Faculty of Music is delighted to announce that Jamal Al Titi and Catherine Tan are the winners of the Tecumseh Sherman Rogers and William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Awards, respectively. These awards, both established in 2005, are the largest given by the faculty with a prize of $25,000.00 each. The competitive application process includes a student submission outlining future plans and how the award will assist with career development, and letters of recommendation from faculty members.
Jamal Al Titi
Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award
Baritone Jamal Al Titi is graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Performance, having studied with Professor Wendy Nielsen. During his final year as an undergraduate, Jamal won the Jim and Charlotte Norcop Prize in Song, the Faculty of Music’s most prestigious vocal award. The annual prize is awarded to the singer showing the most promise in performance of the song literature and includes a recital in Walter Hall. In addition, Jamal placed third in the Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition in 2023 and was a National Audition Finalist for L’Atelier Lyrique de L’Opéra de Montréal in 2022. Along with his love of art song, Jamal performs in opera and has been featured numerous times with Brott Opera Festival. His roles have included Masetto in Don Giovanni, Schaunard in La Bohème and Casacada in The Merry Widow. Born in Belarus, Jamal now makes his home in Canada and began his studies at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts with Roland Fix. Jamal’s upcoming performances include L’Elisir di Amore and Don Giovanni.
Catherine Tan
William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Award
Music Education graduate Catherine Tan has made significant and meaningful contributions to the university and faculty throughout her undergraduate studies at U of T. Her research interests, supported by a Minor in Psychology, have included working with Dr. Michael Thaut, Music and Health Sciences Research Collaboratory (MaHRC), and Dr. Laura Cirelli, TEMPO Lab, Department of Psychology at UTSC. The recipient of numerous awards, Catherine has been recognized as both a scholar and student leader. Among her many honours, Catherine received the University of Toronto Student Leadership Award in 2023, won first prize in the Faculty of Music Undergraduate Research Showcase in 2022, and was shortlisted for the Rhodes Scholarship the same year. As a representative on the university’s student union and multiple years as a member of the Faculty of Music Undergraduate Association (FMUA), most recently as President, Catherine has made a lasting impact, from championing wellness and inclusion at the faculty to co-directing and producing VOICES Through the Arts, part of the Students for Survivors Campaign. Catherine is also an active piano instructor and community volunteer.
We are very pleased to announce five additional graduates are receiving smaller awards. Congratulations to:
- Futian Yao, MMus Piano Pedagogy
- Benjamin Gabbay, MMus in Composition
- Stefan Haynes, MMus in Music Technology & Digital Media
- Aidan McConnell, BMus in Jazz Performance
- Lindsay McIntyre, DMA in Performance
“Congratulations to all the recipients of this year’s graduating awards. Coming from a range of degrees and programs across the breadth of the Faculty of Music’s offerings, these remarkable graduates have emerging careers that embody excellence, innovation, and service. I wish all of our graduates the best for the next chapters in their lives.”
– Prof. Ryan McClelland, Associate Dean, Academic & Student Affairs
Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award
2022 – Sami Anguaya (MMus Composition 2022, BMus 2020)
2021 – Katharine Petkovski (MMus Composition 2021, BMus 2019)
2020 – Andrew Ascenzo (DMA 2020, MMus 2011, BMusPerf Cello 2009)
2019 – Parisa Sabet (DMA Composition 2019, MMus 2014)
2018 – Joel Allison (MMus Opera 2018)
2017 – Younggun Kim (DMA Piano Performance 2017)
2016 – Emily D’Angelo (BMusPerf Voice 2016)
2015 – Charles Sy (MMus Opera 2015, BMusPerf Voice 2013)
2014 – Alexandra Smither (BMusPerf Voice 2014)
2013 – Andrew Haji (MMus Opera 2013, BMusPerf Voice 2011)
2012 – Riho Maimets (MMus Composition 2012)
2011 – Leslie Ann Bradley (MMus Voice Performance 2011, OpDip 2002, BMusPerf Voice 2000)
2010 – Lindsay Barrett (OpDip 2010)
2009 – Christopher Ku (MA Music 2009, BMus 2007)
2008 – Lucille Mok (BMus 2008)
2007 – Christopher Donnelly (MMus 2007 Jazz Piano, BMusPerf Jazz Piano 2005)
2006 – Ryan Jackson (BMusPerf Organ 2006)
William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Award
2022 – Adrian Berry (MMus Music Technology and Digital Media 2022)
2021 – Carol Mak (BMus 2021)
2020 – Kai Leung (BMus Composition 2020)
2019 – Bekah Simms (DMA Composition 2019, MMus 2015)
2018 – Elaine Choi (DMA Choral Conducting 2018, MMus Choral Conducting 2010, BMus 2008)
2017 – Matthew Emery (MMus Composition 2017)
2016 – Bianca Chambul (BMusPerf Bassoon 2016)
2015 – Michael Bridge (BMusPerf Accordion 2015)
2014 – David Zucchi (BMusPerf Saxophone 2014)
2013 – Matt Woroshyl (BMusPerf Jazz Saxophone 2013)
2012 – Coco Chen (BMusPerf Violin 2012)
2011 – Laura Silberberg (MMus Composition 2010, BMus 2008)
2010 – Alex Goodman (BMusPerf Jazz Guitar 2010)
2009 – Lauren Sweetman (MA Music Ethnomusicology 2009, BMus 2007)
2008 – Katarzyna Sadej (MMus Voice Performance 2008)
2007 – Stephen Hegedus (MMus Voice Performance 2007, BMusPerf Voice 2005)
2006 – Sarah Nematallah (BMusPerf Violin 2006)
The Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award was established by Dr. John B. Lawson, and the William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Award was established by Dr. William Waters.
TORONTO
The University of Toronto is a world-renowned university in a celebrated city where knowledge meets achievement, history meets future and ambitions meets inspiration. Leading academics and employers from around the world have rated the University of Toronto as #1 in Canada and among the best in the world. Our undergraduate students have an exceptional range, choice and depth of study; they can choose from 700 academic programs, learn from the best minds, get involved with research, and take advantage of smaller learning communities across our three campuses, which span the Greater Toronto Area. Each campus offers a wealth of opportunities across multiple disciplines. To the west, the University of Toronto Mississauga combines advanced research with an intimate academic experience. The University of Toronto’s St. George campus features diverse college communities within Toronto’s vibrant downtown core. And to the east, the University of Toronto Scarborough leads community-engaged research, hands-on learning and co-op programs both locally and internationally. Working with faculty and other students in close-knit communities, our students tailor their experiences to their interests and develop passions that help them make their mark on the world.
TORONTO MUSIC
Home to Canada's largest number of musicians and venues, Toronto is a creative and business hub for music in Canada.
While in Toronto, plan on attending a performance of the Canadian Opera Company or the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Check out Toronto Life and Toronto (the official website of Tourism Toronto) for current shows, concerts and events.
There's music around every corner.
OUR U of T
We are very proud to be part of U of T—a vibrant university community located in an amazing city with global reach.
U of T is a leader in research and teaching, an intellectual environment unmatched in depth and breadth.
We live here.
U of T MUSIC
The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto brings together creative and motivated students with outstanding educators. With extensive curricula in fields such as classical and jazz performance, music education, composition, music history, music theory, and ethnomusicology, the Faculty of Music also offers courses that explore music’s intersections with health sciences, technology, and humanities.
Our commitment to artistic and academic achievement, the vast possibilities of the University of Toronto campus, and the vibrant and diverse cultural life of Toronto provide an exciting and inspiring learning environment.
HEAR
Our season is well underway and there is so much to choose from.
Visit our online calendar often for concerts and events and subscribe to our YouTube channel for exciting premieres, livestreams and performances from our archives.