Scholarships and Fellowships - Womens Musical Club of Toronto

Since its earliest days, the WMCT has supported young Canadian musicians with scholarships, awards, and performance opportunities. In 2000, the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Foundation was established and now provides funding for these awards. Annual undergraduate scholarships are awarded at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, and The Glenn Gould School, The Royal Conservatory of Music. Also at the U of T Faculty of Music, a Graduate Fellowship was established with a gift of $25,000 from the WMCT and the WMCT Foundation, and matched by the University of Toronto, to create an endowment that will sustain an annual award for an outstanding graduate student in Performance. Special summer music scholarships are also awarded.

2023-2024 Scholarship Winners

Graduate Fellowship

Bud Roach, tenor is in his fourth year of the DMA program in Historical Performance at the Faculty of Music, U of T. After receiving degrees from UWO and Yale, he is continuing his research into self-accompanied performance practice in Early Modern Italian and English song with theorbo and baroque guitar. He founded and leads the vocal quartet Capella Intima; their CDs of Canzonette Spirituali e Morali, 1657, and Alessandro Scarlatti’s Gli equivoci nel sembiante have met with critical acclaim. Bud has premiered works by Jeffrey Ryan, Andrew Staniland, Melissa Hui, Abigail Richardson-Schulte, and Norbert Palej.

WMCT Centennial Scholarship

Susannah Zou is a fourth year undergraduate student studying with Lydia Wong at the University of Toronto where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance. She is a regular competitor in festivals and competitions, awards and scholarships since the age of seven. Susannah has given solo recitals across Canada, as well as internationally in Italy, and the Netherlands. She was a national finalist in the Canadian Music Competition of 2023. In 2017, she made her solo debut in the Crescendo International Music Competition where she claimed the first prize award, with a performance at Carnegie Hall. Susannah was a finalist in the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2017 which gave her the opportunity to work with conductor Jin Zhang and the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra.
She has attended the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, Tuckamore Music Festival, Orford Musique, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, as well as the Holland International Music Sessions. Aside from solo piano, Susannah enjoys collaborating with instrumentalists, and is the co-founding pianist of Trio Hiraeth.

WMCT and WMCT Foundation 110th Anniversary Scholarship

Tiffany Yeung is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in violin under Min-Jeong Koh and Erica Raum at the Glenn Gould School, after beginning her studies at the New England Conservatory.

This year, Tiffany was named one of CBC Music’s “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30” and was the winner of the 2023 Canada Council Michael Measures Prize. She has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.

Tiffany was also a winner of the 2023 Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank competition, and performs on the 1869 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin with Vuillaume model bow, on loan from the Bank.

Scholarships History

Women’s Musical Club of Toronto | Centennial Scholarship
Faculty of Music, University of Toronto

2024-2025 – Ian Gillis, baritone
2023-2024 – Susannah Zou, piano
2022-2023 – Lynna Bao , piano
2021-2022 – Gabrielle Turgeon, soprano
2020-2021 – Emily Bosenius, violin
2019-2020 – Hannah Corbett, violin
2018-2019 – Alex Hetherington, mezzo-soprano
2017-2018 – Vivian Chen, piano
2016-2017 – Myriam Blardone, harp and piano
2015-2016 – Emily D’Angelo, mezzo-soprano
2014-2015 – Alessia Disimino, violin
2013-2014 – David Zucchi, saxophone
2012-2013 – Claire Bellemare, soprano
2011-2012 – Sara Schabas, soprano
2010-2011 – Florence Mak, piano
2009-2010 – Jian Zhang, piano
2008-2009 – Mark Dimitroff, clarinet, and Ilana Zarankin, soprano
2007-2008 – Krista Wodelet, bassoon
2006-2007 – Marie Cristine Pelchat-St. Jacques, cello
2005-2006 – Kenin McKay, violin
2004-2005 – Elizabeth Loewen, violin
2003-2004 – David Haskins, French horn
2002-2003 – Annick Santschi, flute
2001-2002 – Rafael Hoekman, cello
2000-2001 – Angela Soo-Jung Park, piano
1999-2000 – Sarah Pratt, violin
1998-1999 – Stephen Tam, flute
1997-1998 – Rachel Mercer, cello

Women’s Musical Club of Toronto and Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Foundation | 110th Anniversary Scholarship
The Glenn Gould School, The Royal Conservatory of Music

2024-2025 – Olivia Morton, soprano
2023-2024 – Tiffany Yeung, violin
2022-2023 – Daphné Bourbonnais, violin
2021-2022 – Keris Choi, violin
2020-2021 – Hee-Soo Yoon, violin
2019-2020 – Vivien Ilion, soprano
2018-2019 – Abigail Bachelor, harp
2017-2018 – Milica Boljevic, soprano
2016-2017 – Milica Boljevic, soprano
2015-2016 – Michaela Kleer, viola
2014-2015 – Tess Crowther, cello
2013-2014 – Whitney Mather, soprano
2012-2013 – Alyssa Ramsay, cello
2011-2012 – Beth Hagerman, soprano
2010-2011 – Ronelle Schaufele, viola
2009-2010 – Leigh-Anne Martin, mezzo-soprano
2008-2009 – Jeanette Comeau, viola

Women’s Musical Club of Toronto and Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Foundation | Graduate Fellowship
Faculty of Music, University of Toronto

2024-2025 – Anna Boyes, soprano
2023-2024 – Bud Roach, voice and theorbo
2022-2023 – Isabella Czyrnyj, clarinet
2021-2022 – Juliette Moreno, clarinet
2020-2021 – Vlad Soloviev, collaborative piano
2019-2020 – Katherine Moffatt, trumpet
2018-2019 – Katherine Moffatt, trumpet
2017-2018 – Chieh-Ying Lu, oboe
2016-2017 – Alexandra Bourque, conducting
2014-2016 – Braden Young, collaborative piano
2012-2014 – Lisa Tahara, piano
2010-2012 – Melody Chan, piano
2009-2010 – Mark Vuorinen, choral conducting
2008-2009 – Rebecca Norman, bassoon
2007-2008 – Andrea Cerswell, soprano
2006-2007 – Jennifer Smele, piano
2005-2006 – Joel Cormier, percussion
2004-2005 – Laura Reid, violin

Women’s Musical Club of Toronto and Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Foundation | Summer Music Scholarships and Fellowships

2024 – Christine Thanisch-Smith, soprano, violin, Toronto Summer Music Academy
2022 – Jesse Kim, violin, Toronto Summer Music Academy
2019 – Fiona Robson, cello, Toronto Summer Music Academy
2018 – Frances Armstrong, piano, Toronto Summer Music Academy
2017 – Madeleine Zarry, violin, National Youth Orchestra of Canada
2017 – Emily Eng, viola, Toronto Summer Music Academy
2016 – Danielle Green, violin, National Youth Orchestra of Canada
2016 – Sophia Anna Szokolay, violin, Toronto Summer Music Academy
2012 – Vladislav Kalinichenko, trombone, National Youth Orchestra of Canada
2011 – Hugo Rinfret-Paquet, double bass, National Youth Orchestra of Canada
2009 – Rachel Desoer, The Banff Centre, Cello Master Class
2008 – Kaili Maimets, The Banff Centre, Flute Master Class
1964 – Maria Pellegrini, soprano, The Banff Centre, Study Grant

Women’s Musical Club of Toronto | Ottilie M. Gunning Memorial Scholarship
The Glenn Gould School, The Royal Conservatory of Music

WMCT Royal Conservatory Scholarship (est. 1975, first awarded 1979)
Re-established as Ottilie M. Gunning Memorial Piano Scholarship in 1992

2011-2012 – Rudin Lengo, piano
2010-2011 – Samuel Deason, piano
2009-2010 – Grace Kim, piano
2008-2009 – Katsiaryna Khatsko, piano
2007-2008 – Baharak Beizaei, piano
2006-2007 – Matthew Bagasao, piano
2005-2006 – Marketa Ornova, piano
2004-2005 – Shoko Inoue, piano
2003-2004 – Sarah Choi, piano, and Matthew Wicks, piano
2002-2003 – Sabrina Lin, piano
1999-2002 – Kimberley Fairbrother, piano (3 years)
1998-1999 – Mari Ogawa, piano
1997-1998 – Maneli Pirzadeh, piano
1996-1997 – Kirsten Olafson, piano
1995-1996 – Gillian Frost, piano
1994-1995 – Yeo-Jung Kim, piano
1993-1994 – Stephen Ham, piano
1992-1993 – Micah Yui, piano
1991-1992 – Susan Archibald, piano
1990-1991 – Susan Archibald, piano
1989-1990 – Francine Plouffe, piano
1988-1989 – Julianne Schoen, piano
1987-1988 – Elise Desjardins, piano
1986-1987 – Mariko Anraku, harp
1985-1986 – David Chokroun, piano
1984-1985 – Mami Kuroda, piano
1983-1984 – Elina Doverman, piano
1982-1983 – Laura Ippolito, piano
1981-1982 – Melana Karpinsky, piano
1980-1981 – Elina Doverman, piano
1979-1980 – Chia-Lin Chou, piano

Women’s Musical Club of Toronto | Entrance Scholarship
Faculty of Music, University of Toronto Scholarship categories to 1993:
ISH – Irene Simons Hume Awa (1966-71)
JGF – Scholarship in memory of Mrs. J.G. Fitzgerald (1957)
MOBA – Mary Osler Boyd Award (WMCTS as renamed in 1955)
WMCTB – WMCT Bursary (est. 1966)
WMCT-JBW – Joan B. Wilch Award in Voice (est. 1985)
WMCT-MOB – MOBA as renamed in 1973 and increased
Re-established as Entrance Scholarship (amalgamating the WMCT Scholarship,1930-1973, and scholarship in memory of Mary Osler Boyd and Joan B. Wilch)

2011-2012 – Dalia Al-Khafajy, flute
2010-2011 – Omar Ho, clarinet
2009-2010 – Christopher Arnold, violin
2008-2009 – Chang Co Co Chen, violin
2007-2008 – William Callaghan, French horn
2006-2007 – Nicolas Mahon, trombone
2005-2006 – Nancy Mann, French horn
2004-2005 – Vania Margani, soprano
2003-2004 – Ashley Foot, tenor
2002-2003 – Tasmin Johnston, oboe
2001-2002 – Emma Tessier, flute
2000-2001 – Elke Mau, double bass
1999-2000 – Yuka Kobayashi, piano
1998-1999 – Praise Lam, violin
1997-1998 – Megan Bulluz, oboe
1996-1997 – Joni Henson, soprano
1995-1996 – Measha Brueggergosman, soprano
1994-1995 – David Braid, piano
1993-1994 – Elissa Lee, violin
1992-1993 – Erika Tanner, soprano (WMCT-MOB); Teri Dunn, soprano (WMCT-JBW)
1991-1992 – Dianne Wells, mezzo-soprano (WMCT-MOB); Cheryl Hickman, soprano (WMCT-JBW)
1990-1991 – Xia Liao, violin (WMCT-MOB); Hope Nightingale, soprano (WMCT-JBW)
1989-1990 – Mary Catherine Duff, mezzo-soprano (WMCT-MOB); Russell Braun, baritone (WMCT-JBW)
1988-1989 – Nicholas Papadakis, violin (WMCT-MOB); Lori Klassen, mezzo-soprano (WMCT-JBW)
1987-1988 – Meredith Hall, soprano (WMCT-MOB); Shelagh Tyreman, mezzo-soprano (WMCT-JBW)
1986-1987 – Jack Bakker, classical guitar (WMCT-MOB); Laura Schatz, soprano (WMCT-JBW)
1985-1986 – Mark David Cavlovic, piano (WMCT-MOB); Mary Hahn, soprano (WMCT-JBW)
1983-1985 – Edmond Agopian, violin (WMCT-MOB) (2 years)
1982-1983 – Jean Ducharme, saxophone (WMCT-MOB)
1981-1982 – Hamish Gordon, oboe (WMCT-MOB)
1980-1981 – Joseph Orlowski, clarinet (WMCT-MOB)
1979-1980 – Raymond Bisha, French horn (WMCT-MOB)
1978-1979 – Lise Vaugeois, French horn (WMCT-MOB)
1977-1978 – Giselle Dalbec, violin (WMCT-MOB)
1976-1977 – Colleen Farrier, piano (WMCT-MOB)
1975-1976 – Galia Shaked, piano (WMCT-MOB)
1974-1975 – Caralyn Tomlin, soprano (WMCT-MOB)
1973-1974 – Helena Bowkun, piano (WMCT-MOB)
1972-1973 – Jill Pert, contralto (MOBA); Connie Stewart, piano (WMCTS)
1971-1972 – Bonnie Silver, piano (MOBA); Fujiko Imajishi, violin (WMCTB); Caralyn Tomlin, soprano (WMCTS)
1970-1971 – Jane Coop, piano (MOBA); Allan Stellings, cello (WMCTB); Roderick Campbell, baritone (ISH)
1969-1970 – Mary Lou Fallis, soprano (MOBA); Bonnie Silver, piano (WMCTB); Madeleine Courtney, contralto (ISH)
1968-1969 – Judith Kenedi, piano (MOBA); Adele Armin, violin (WMCTB); John Dodington, bass-baritone (ISH)
1967-1968 – Renee Rosen, soprano (MOBA); Judith Kenedi, piano (WMCTB); Sonya Rohozynsky, contralto (ISH)
1966-1967 – Isabel Vila, violin (MOBA); Paul Brown, baritone (ISH); Burnetta Day, soprano (WMCTB); Walter Buczynski, piano and composer (JGF)
1965-1966 – Nancy Greenwood, contralto (MOBA)
1964-1965 – Maria Pellegrini, soprano (BSG)
1962-1965 – Ruth Shakarian, soprano (MOBA) (3 years)
1961-1962 – Janet Thom, piano (MOBA)
1960-1961 – No award given
1959-1960 – Robert Aitken, flute (MOBA)
1958-1959 – Orval Ries, oboe (MOBA)
1957-1958 – Teresa Stratas, soprano (MOBA)
1956-1957 – Bruce Mather, piano and composer (MOBA)
1955-1956 – Pierrette Lepage, piano (MOBA)
1954-1955 – Paul Helmer, piano (WMCTS)
1953-1954 – Bernard Turgeon, baritone (WMCTS)
1952-1953 – Bernard Turgeon, baritone (WMCTS)
1951-1952 – Ray Dudley, piano
1950-1951 – Betty-Jean Hagen, violin (WMCTS)