Students at Camosun often attend one of two campus: Interurban or Lansdowne. But a select few students go to an entirely different campus. Some of these students are in the Camosun music department, located downtown at the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM).
Technically, the VCM is one of Camosun’s satellite campuses. About 80 students attend three programs at the conservatory and the partnership with Camosun is over two decades old.
“Camosun’s community of musicians exists at the conservatory,” says VCM postsecondary registrar Fuchsia Shier.
Currently, the music department offers students a choice of three programs: a certificate in music foundations, a diploma in music, and a diploma in jazz studies.
Luckily, unlike other arts departments, the music department and the sense of musical community that Shier describes isn’t only available to students enrolled in one of the three programs.
“The classes are not exclusive to music students,” she explains. “It is important that the rest of Camosun knows they are welcome to join.”
Many of the classes are open as electives for students from other programs. When space allows, there are even more options for non-music-department students to get involved in classes and groups at the VCM.
It’s also possible to be a part of Camosun’s musical community without having to take any classes, or demonstrate any musical ability. Shier cites the conservatory’s free Thursday concert series as one way of getting involved.
“We invite all students, staff, and faculty to join us for the Thursday lunchtime concert series” says Shier. “All performances occur at the VCM, although we plan to have some performances in the Gibson Auditorium at Lansdowne.”
The last three concerts of the year are on November 3 and 24, and December 1. See vcm.bc.ca for information.