Support for Ukraine

We send our compassion to all those whose lives are under threat and whose freedoms and rights to self determination are suppressed. As the situation unfolds, we will consider tangible ways in which we can support the Ukrainian people, in particular music students who may need assistance.

Dr. Peter Simon, President and CEO, performs Federico Mompou: Canción y danza VI

ARC Ensemble to donate all proceeds from the purchase of Klebanov: Chamber Works to Ukraine 

The ARC Ensemble (Artists of the Royal Conservatory) focuses on the research and recovery of music that was suppressed and marginalized under the 20th century's repressive regimes. Their latest recording, Klebanov: Chamber Works, features the music of persecuted Ukrainian composer Dmitri Klebanov, and has been nominated for a 2022 JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year, Small Ensemble. 

“The news from Ukraine is both hard to watch and impossible to ignore,” said Simon Wynberg, Artistic Director of the ARC Ensemble, about the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. “We are thinking of Jewish-Ukrainian composer, Dmitri Klebanov, whose career was a casualty of Soviet-era cultural suppression – his works nearly forgotten under Stalin's regime. May we listen to his music today and not forget the terrible cost of conflict and war.” 

Purchase ARC CD

The Royal Conservatory of Music Participating in Virtual Concert to Benefit Ukraine

A group of top independent music conservatories and professional training programs in Canada and the United States have come together to present a free virtual benefit concert to honor and support the people of Ukraine. Young artists from the eight organizations – The Royal Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Colburn School, Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, New World Symphony, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music – will perform in an online benefit concert, introduced by celebrated violinist, activist, and educator Midori.

Hosted by The Violin Channel at theviolinchannel.com, the concert will be streamed on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at 12 pm PDT/3 pm EDT. During the concert, viewers will be able to make donations to support organizations providing humanitarian aid, supplies and transportation, and medical services to the people of Ukraine.

Peter Eom, Kuan-Yu Huang, and Kanon Shibata, all cello students at The  Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School (the sole Canadian Conservatory in this group) gave a moving performance of David Popper's "Requiem, Op. 66" along with collaborative pianist Jeanie Chung, in Koerner Hall.

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Watch GGS students in Virtual Concert for Ukraine

Donation Drive for the People of Ukraine by RCM Community 

Students and faculty of The Royal Conservatory’s schools, many of whom have strong ties to Ukraine, initiated two donation drives in March in support of humanitarian efforts. 

Led by Kelly Parkins-Lindstrom, an RCM strings teacher, along with her husband, George Lindstrom, a retired longtime staff member, students mobilized to donate needed supplies to the Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine Program at St Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Oakville. Donations were directed to Poland for incoming Ukrainian refugees. 

Building on the strong response to those efforts, the schools extended their donation drive by collecting donations for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Toronto. The items were collected at the RCM building and will be distributed to refugees via St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church.