January Events
Photo: Sophie Huang, 2024-2025 Fred Pattison Piano Award Competition winner
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Western University
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We welcome students back after a well-earned break as they embark on a new year, a new academic term, and new opportunities in 2026. And speaking of, we are pleased to welcome internationally renowned pianist Paul Lewis as this year’s guest artist for the Vancouver Recital Society Visiting Artist Series. As part of the VRS Visiting Artist Series supported by alumna Elaine Adair, he will provide two wonderful (and free!) opportunities for our students and community to learn and engage; a solo evening recital on January 9 (pre-registration required) and a masterclass on January 10. This will be the third recital and masterclass to take place as part of the new partnership between Vancouver Recital Society and Western University.
Two student performance competitions take place this month, with the final rounds of the annual Maritsa Brookes Concerto Competition and Fred Pattison Piano Award Competition which are open to the public. You can hear last year's winners of the Brookes Concerto competition during Symphony Orchestra concerts, and enjoy a solo recital from Sophie Huang, 2025 Pattison Piano competition winner, on January 15—the eve of this year's event.
The Fridays at 12:30 concert series hosts three concerts this month. The first features faculty members Bethany Hörst, soprano and Marianna Chibotar-Rutkevich, piano, presenting Canadian repertoire thematically tied to winter. Up next is Brahms’ Sonata for Two Pianos op. 34bis performed by James Anagnoson and faculty member Leslie Kinton. And lastly, faculty member Christine Tithecott, piano, leads friends and colleagues in concert.
Join us for Clarinet and Saxophone Day a day dedicated to exploring, learning, and celebrating everything clarinet and saxophone! Musicians of all levels are invited to take part in this exciting event, hosted by professors Bobbi Thompson and Jana Starling, alongside exceptional guest artists and leading equipment exhibitors.
Catch our Jazz Ensemble out in the community at Wolf Performance Hall, and the Opera Gala with Early Music Studio at the end of the month. Both concerts are free and all are welcome to attend.
News and Changes
Our printed concert guide is published in August, with changes, edits and updates to be expected. This month's updates will be listed here:
- [no additions yet]
Last edited August 14, 2025. Always check the official events listings before visiting for the most up-to-date information.
Behind the Events
January's an exciting month of new beginnings for the winter term, with a flurry of activity preparing for new courses, taking in masterclasses and learning new repertoire.
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Ensemble Auditions
Are you a Western student and play an instrument or sing? All Western students – regardless of major – are eligible to audition for ensembles and opera.
Opera at Western
It's an exciting year for Opera at Western. Two fully-staged productions—one each term, featuring two distinct casts each—plus a gala event in the winter term.
New Horizons Band
Do you want to learn (or re-learn) to play wind or percussion instruments? New Horizons Band is a popular community outreach program for adults.
General Event Inquiries
519-661-3767 (during business hours)
musicevents@uwo.ca
Music changes lives. So do our donors. Charitable gifts from music lovers like you provide critical support for student performances and programming. To help us to continue to enrich our community through music, please consider donating.
