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.
2024-2025 Scholarship Winners
Graduate Fellowship
Anna Boyes, soprano is a doctoral candidate in Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Toronto, where she studies under the supervision of Dr. Lorna MacDonald. Her research focuses on creating a pedagogical guide for selected vocal works by Reena Esmail, Kamala Sankaram, and Naresh Sohal. Anna will present her research as a national finalist in the 2025 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association student competition in Montreal. She holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Literature from Western University, as well as a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from McGill University. At the U of T Anna has been the vocal coach for the Soprano-Alto Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Elaine Choi, for three years. She also mentors Undergraduate Vocal Pedagogy students and is a voice instructor for the music minor engineering program.
WMCT Centennial Scholarship
Bass-Baritone Ian Gillis is in his final undergraduate year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music in the studio of Frédérique Vézina. A member of the U of T Undergraduate Opera Ensemble, his operatic experience includes Il cappello di paglia di Firenze (Rota), Cendrillon (Massenet), Castaway (Berkeley), and Riders to the Sea (Vaughan Williams). Ian has performed with the Centre for Opera Studies and Appreciation Canada, in collaboration with the Northumberland Orchestra. A passionate choral singer, Ian was a member of the University of Toronto MacMillan Singers from 2021-23. His ensemble work has led him to collaborations with the The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Tenors, and Andrea Bocelli. In 2024, Ian furthered his operatic training with the Canadian Opera Company in their 3rd annual Summer Opera Intensive program for artists pursuing careers in professional performance. For the 2024-25 season Ian holds the position of Sidgwick Scholar for the Orpheus Choir of Toronto.
WMCT and WMCT Foundation 110th Anniversary Scholarship
Olivia Morton, soprano is in the Artist Diploma Program at the RCM Glenn Gould School. She first studied at Western University, then went on to earn a Masters at the San Francisco Conservatory. She has performed with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Opera York, and Toronto Operetta Theatre. Her appearances have been described as “engaging” by Opera Canada. Olivia sings a variety of concert and sacred repertoire, most recently in concerts with Kindred Spirits Orchestra and with the Metropolitan United Church of Toronto. Olivia will perform the role of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte in a Glenn Gould School production at Koerner Hall on March 19 and 21, 2025, and in a recital with pianist Peter Tiefenbach at Mazzoleni Hall in Spring 2025.
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)