The Schulich School of Music is the music faculty of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, founded in 1904 and renamed in 2005 after a major gift from Seymour Schulich. It enrolls over 800 students taught by more than 200 professors. The school is best suited for musicians seeking professional training in orchestra, opera, jazz, early music, contemporary music, or sound recording at a research university.
Here is the McGill Symphony Orchestra performing Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, recorded at Pollack Hall and published on the Schulich School of Music's official YouTube channel:
Notable Alumni
Schulich graduates have won Juno Awards, toured with major pop artists, and built careers across jazz, classical, and contemporary music:
- Caity Gyorgy (MMus '22) - Three-time Juno Award-winning jazz vocalist. Gyorgy won Vocal Jazz Album of the Year in 2022 for Now Pronouncing, in 2023 for Featuring, and in 2025 for Hello! How Are You?. She is known for bebop and swing singing and scatting, and has performed at clubs and festivals across Canada, the US, Mexico, Finland, and Japan. She has over 83,000 Instagram followers and 122,000 TikTok followers, where she promotes jazz to younger audiences. Here she performs "Thou Swell" with pianist Emmet Cohen on Cohen's official YouTube channel:
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Ric'key Pageot (BMus '03) - Montreal-born pianist, accordionist, producer, and music director. Pageot became the youngest musical director ever hired by Cirque du Soleil in 2005 for the show Delirium. He has toured with Madonna on four world tours: Sticky & Sweet (2008 to 2009), MDNA (2012), Rebel Heart (2015), and Madame X (2019 to 2020). He has also worked with Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Ross, Cher, Jill Scott, and the late Dr. John. He is a Steinway Artist and was personally sent by Madonna to the Steinway factory in Astoria, New York, to select a Model B grand piano for the Madame X tour. Visit his official website for more.
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Christine Jensen (BMus '94, MMus '06) - Juno Award-winning jazz saxophonist and composer. Jensen won Juno Awards for her jazz orchestra albums Treelines (2011) and Habitat (2014), and was nominated for Day Moon (2023). She received the Prix Oscar-Peterson from the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2017. She is the founding artistic director of the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra and teaches jazz composition. Visit her official website for more.
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Marina Thibeault (MMus '16, DMus '22) - Juno Award-winning violist. Thibeault won Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble) at the 2023 Juno Awards for Viola Borealis with l'Orchestre de l'Agora, conducted by fellow Schulich alumnus Nicolas Ellis (MMus '15).
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Elinor Frey (DMus '12) - Juno Award-winning cellist, gambist, and researcher. Frey won Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble) at the 2023 Juno Awards for Early Italian Cello Concertos. She is a prolific recording artist and performer of early music.
About the Schulich School of Music
Schulich offers a Bachelor of Music (BMus) with majors in performance, composition, jazz, early music, music history, theory, and music education. The school also offers a Licentiate in Music (LMus) for advanced performers wanting to focus on practical training. Graduate programs include master's and doctoral degrees in performance, composition, musicology, and sound recording. The school is recognized for its music technology and sound recording programs, which provide unique collaboration opportunities with the broader musical community. Schulich Scholars hold renewable scholarships valued at $6,000 for undergraduates and $11,000 for graduates.
Real-World Example
For the 2026-2027 academic year, Quebec residents pay approximately $7,538 CAD in tuition. Non-Quebec Canadian students pay $17,405 CAD. International students pay $40,998 CAD, with the rate guaranteed for the duration of their program. Major entrance scholarships range from $12,000 to $48,000 and are renewable for up to four years. A jazz performance major from Ontario pays roughly $17,405 CAD per year, significantly less than comparable US conservatories charging $50,000 USD or more.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Schulich combines conservatory-level performance training with university-level academic resources. Montreal has one of North America's most active and affordable music scenes. The jazz program is among the best in Canada, with direct connections to Montreal's festival ecosystem. The sound recording program offers technical skills that complement performance training. Tuition for Canadian students is substantially lower than at US conservatories. International students benefit from a guaranteed tuition rate that does not increase during their program.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
International tuition at $40,998 CAD is still a significant financial commitment. Montreal winters are harsh, with temperatures regularly dropping below -15 degrees Celsius. The admissions process is competitive, particularly for performance and jazz programs. French language skills, while not required for admission, help with living in Montreal. The school's large size means students must actively seek out individual attention from professors. Housing in Montreal has become increasingly expensive in recent years.
Related Resources
- Music Schools Directory
- Visit Schulich School of Music for more info
Related Schools
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - Conservatory training in a similar price range for UK students
- Royal Northern College of Music - Another leading conservatory with strong jazz and classical programs
- University of Michigan School of Music - University-based music school with comparable breadth
- Indiana University Jacobs School of Music - Large university music program with strong jazz and orchestral programs
