Canada represents a compelling opportunity for the aspiring college music student.
The great white north (Canada’s most well-known nickname) has numerous metropolitan centers, such as Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, which are home to comprehensive music schools where students can study with some of the country’s most accomplished musicians.
It’s not uncommon for students to study with orchestra principals, professional opera singers, and contemporary musicians who have worked with some of the biggest names in music today.
Outside of musical excellence, Canada offers a substantial tuition discount not only for Canadian students but also for international students. As of 2024, the tuition for an international student attending college in Canada is less than half of that in most private schools in the United States.
Whether it is a financial consideration, an exceptional educational opportunity, or both attracting you to music colleges in Canada, you can’t go wrong looking into this beautiful country for your musical future.
Here are 7 of the very best music schools in Canada.
McGill University Schulich School of Music
McGill is often viewed as one of the top music schools in Canada, especially for students interested in classical, jazz, early music, and contemporary genres.
The school houses world-class facilities, including concert halls, the Wirth Opera Studio, and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, where students can access cutting-edge recording and production equipment.
The performance program spans classical, jazz, early music, and contemporary genres, while programs in sound recording and music technology are available for master’s degree students.
The school’s location in Montreal, a UNESCO City of Music, provides opportunities for students to develop their musicianship off campus, while its affiliation with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra allows students to learn from and perform under the expertise of professional players.
Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music
The Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music is home to one of the most selective music programs in Canada, if not the most selective.
Glenn Gould School, named after the legendary Canadian pianist, has a maximum enrollment of just 130 students. This size is akin to American schools like the Curtis Institute of Music, which has a similar number of students.
Students receive weekly 90-minute private lessons, a feature that sets the school apart from other music programs, which typically only offer 1-hour lessons.
Faculty members include some of Canada’s most accomplished artists, including vocalist Adrianne Pieczonka, who has been honored with one Canada’s most important awards, the Officer of the Order of Canada, given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to Canada.
The school’s very own Koerner Hall, a stunning concert venue, provides students with numerous performance opportunities throughout the school year. The program focuses on practical experience, with students performing in weekly master classes, participating in the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, and engaging in numerous chamber music ensembles.
The Glenn Gould School is committed to attracting the best students, with 70% of its students being awarded a full-tuition scholarship.
University of British Columbia School of Music
The magic of UBC’s School of Music begins with the school’s faculty, many of which are members of major professional arts organizations. In fact, some of the college’s classical performance faculty have joint appointments as tenured members of the Vancouver Symphony.
Within the school’s remarkable Chan Centre for the Performing Arts complex, students have access to the Chan Shun Concert Hall, the Telus Studio Theatre, and numerous practice rooms equipped with Steinway pianos.
Students benefit from participating in immersive performance opportunities through the school’s many ensembles, including the UBC Symphony Orchestra, UBC Opera, chamber ensembles, and the Gamelan Ensemble.
UBC’s jazz faculty is impressive, with musicians like Alan Mattheson having written music a number of jazz musicians, including trumpet legend Clark Terry.
Like the other schools on this list, the tuition is exceptionally favorable for Canadian students, and still a very competitive deal for international applicants.
University of Toronto Faculty of Music
In Canada, the higher education phrase “faculty of music” is synonymous with America’s “school of music.”
University of Toronto’s proximity to the city’s downtown music scene serves as a conduit for students to attend performances by significant arts organizations, such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company (the largest opera company in Canada), and numerous clubs & venues.
The opera division at UT is particularly impressive. The school stages three full productions annually in its MacMillan Theatre. It is an excellent option for graduate students, as only 20 students a year are pursuing either a master’s or diploma (not a bachelor’s degree).
With approximately 950 total students, the Faculty of Music provides intimate class sizes despite its urban setting. The university boasts world-class facilities, including the University of Toronto Electronic Music Studio (UTEMS) and the Music Library, with over 500,000 pieces in its collection, from scores to recordings to books.
MacEwan University
MacEwan University’s Conservatory of Music, based in Edmonton, Alberta, is among Western Canada’s leading institutions for contemporary music education.
In fact, the program automatically stands out from other music schools because of its focus on contemporary styles, including pop, rock, R&B, and jazz, allowing students to develop skills within modern genres.
The school’s industry-focused approach combines performance with music business, recording technology, and audio production education.
Students benefit from the institution’s visiting artist program, which regularly brings acclaimed musicians and industry professionals to campus for masterclasses and workshops.
MacEwan’s downtown Edmonton location allows for strong connections with the local music scene, providing students with regular opportunities to perform at venues throughout the city and engage with the professional music community.
The program maintains competitive tuition rates compared to other Canadian institutions, with costs ranging from approximately $7,000 for domestic students to $20,000 for international students per academic year.
University of Victoria School of Music
Located in Victoria’s picturesque campus across “the pond” from Seattle, the school’s programs operate from the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall and the MacLaurin Building, which houses teaching spaces, practice rooms, and a music technology lab.
Students here benefit from nearby cultural institutions regularly putting on musical shows for the public, including the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Opera Victoria.
Indeed, many of the faculty at school are employed by these groups, giving students access to professional musicians who are working in the field. Faculty members include Victoria Symphony clarinetist David Bourque, Principal Oboist Michelle Feng, and vocalist Marion Newman, who has sang with the Vancouver Symphony.
Outside of classical performance, a distinctive program at UVic is the “Music and Computer Science” major, where students can combine passions for math with music technology applications like synths, samplers, and digital audio workstations.
Montreal Conservatory of Music
The Montreal Conservatory of Music (official name is Conservatoire de musique de Montréal), founded in 1943, represents one of Quebec’s most prestigious music institutions, operating as part of the Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art of Quebec network (formal name is in French: Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique du Québec).
The institution follows the European conservatory model, providing classical performance training for outstanding musicians.
Located in downtown Montreal, the Conservatory maintains close relationships with major cultural institutions, including the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Opéra de Montréal, facilitating strong professional opportunities for its students.
A distinguishing feature of the Conservatory is its highly selective admission process combined with remarkably affordable tuition rates, as it receives substantial government funding to support Quebec’s cultural development.
The faculty consists of leading performers and pedagogues from Montreal’s vibrant classical music scene, many of whom maintain active careers with major orchestras and ensembles while teaching at the institution.
