history of the undergraduate association

In the fall of 1947, the Faculty of Music Undergraduate Association was established (as the “Undergraduate Association”) after several members of the senior class felt the need for a student organization. During the first year of operations, the Association elected representatives from each class and drafted the first constitution. The purpose of the Association during this time was to “encourage student participation in University activities and to develop an awareness of the future of music in Canada and in our country’s musicians”. The accomplishments of the 1947-48 Association include the Canadian Composer lecture series with Healey Willan and John Weinzweig as lecturers; a concert held in Convocation Hall that raised $1100 for the Red Feather drive; and membership in the Juilliard Chapter of the International Federation of Music Students. At this time, the Faculty of Music offered two programs, one in general music, and one in school music, which turned into the academic stream and music education stream today.

During the 1950s, the Association continued to operate. The Faculty of Music calendars during this time mention the name “The Undergraduate Association of the Faculty of Music” with a description of the new objects of the Association, “to promote the interests of undergraduates in the Faculty of Music, to cultivate relations between the faculty and the student body, to encourage the participation of the student body in University activities, and to further goodwill among the members themselves.” During this time, the constitution defined the officers being the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Students’ Administrative Council representative, and an Executive Committee composed of members representing each year and course. Furthermore, one member of the faculty is chosen to act as an advisor to the Association.

The cover of da Capo, the first yearbook of the Faculty of Music, 1971. Faculty of Music collection.

The Edward Johnson Building (shameless plug) officially opened in 1964. However, the building was completed two years earlier in 1962, save for MacMillan Theater, thus allowing for classes to be held at the new building at the start of the fall term, 1962. In this very exciting time of the Faculty of Music history, the Undergraduate Association started a series of publications, three of which we have evidence for, the weekly bulletin “The Muse” which turned into “This Week at EJB”, the freshmen information publications “The Calendar from Our Side” (1969, contains many cultural tidbits on life at the Faculty at that time) and “Das Helpautbuchlein” (1970) and the Yearbook (published in years 1971, 72, 80, 85, 86, 87, 88, and 98). When the Faculty of Music moved into the Edward Johnson Building, the Association was housed in Room 119. At this time, the Association ran both the common room, the current Room 130, and the lunch room, Room 058.

Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, the Undergraduate Association continued to serve the students at the Faculty of Music. During this time, the FMUA Office moved from Room 119 to Room 114 in 1972, then to the upper basement Room 050 in 1985, to the 90W building, and finally to the current location on the third floor of the EJB. Publications from the FMUA that were collected in the archives during this time include weekly bulletins, magazines, article collections, and music reviews. 

Photo of Jane Marie Hastings (6) who served as the first Secretary of the Association in the 1947-48 academic year. From Torontonesis.

A letter from the Association supporting PM Trudeau’s enactment of the War Measures Act in response to the FLQ, in opposition of The Varsity’s statement. This Week at EJB, Vol 3, No. 3, 1970. Faculty of Music collection.

Published March 16, 2025

Written by Eric Yang

Acknowledgments 

This project would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Becky Shaw, our legendary music archivist down at the (second!) music library at the Edward Johnson Building. Her immense knowledge and expertise when it comes to Canadian music and the history of this institution is unmatched, and being able to squeeze out so much information through the archives (on the Undergraduate Association of all things!) would not have been possible without her. The scans you see on this website of previous Association publications have all been made possible through her truly industrious work of digitizing the archival collections. Thank you Becky!

Bibliography and Archives

Published Volumes

Beckwith, John. Music at Toronto: A Personal Account. University of Toronto Press, 1995.

Schabas, Ezra. There’s Music in These Walls: A History of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Dundurn Press, 2005.

Archival Materials

Beckwith, John. John Beckwith fonds. University of Toronto Music Library. University of Toronto, Toronto, CA.

Faculty of Music collection. University of Toronto Music Library. University of Toronto, Toronto, CA.

Faculty of Music collection. University of Toronto Archives. University of Toronto, Toronto, CA.

Opera Division fonds. University of Toronto Music Library. University of Toronto, Toronto, CA.

President’s Reports. University of Toronto Archives. University of Toronto, Toronto, CA.