Student Profiles
#myCMUlife | Finding purpose through music
If you would have asked me back in 2020 where I saw myself in five years, your guess would've been as good as mine. I've always been indecisive, but with the world in disarray, nobody knew what the future had in store. However, I do know my response would have involved doing something I'm passionate about, helping others, and making a difference. Still, I wouldn't have believed it if you'd told me I would be back at school, studying music no less, and just ten minutes down the road from me. Yet here I am, a CMU student looking to become a music therapist.
I have always had a passion for music and art. My mom is an artist, so she raised us surrounded by all kinds of music and art. My favourite childhood show was The Wiggles—need I say more? One of the only after-school activities I was ever in was elementary school choir, and I sang in school talent shows even though my anxiety made it extremely scary. Looking back now, I realize I should have taken band in middle school. I was a bit scared of the commitment to something so foreign, since reading music wasn't something I felt confident doing. Plus it felt like I didn't have the time for the early mornings and late after-school practices. So, I just continued to sing literally everywhere I went, if I could, and I began collecting instruments in hopes of learning how to play on my own (unsuccessfully, I might add). Because when I sing or play, I feel something deep inside connecting me to the music.
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From napkin sketch to piano concerto: two CMU students' collaborative journey
What began as a student's rough sketch on a napkin has now grown into a sweeping piano concerto commissioned by the Mennonite Community Orchestra (MCO).
Written by Liam Berry and performed by Georg Neuhofer, "Rains Dance" is a piece that carries great significance for the two Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) students. It's the consolidation of musical congeniality, collaboration, and years of friendship.
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CMU student receives prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award
CMU student Katrina Lengsavath is one of only 17 Canadians to receive the 2022 Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. She was chosen from 503 applicants across the country for the prestigious scholarship, which honours Terry Fox's legacy by encouraging young people who are passionate about helping others and who demonstrate perseverance in the face of adversity.
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CMU student and instructor make music come alive through synesthesia, art
Imagine if you could see sound. When Anna Schwartz listens to music, she not only hears the different instruments, keys, and dynamics—she sees them. That's because she has synesthesia, a neurological condition in which information entering a person's brain stimulates multiple senses at once.
Only four percent of people worldwide are synesthetes. For some, biting into a juicy apple might cause them to see a specific image, while others might experience a physical feeling of touch when they hear a certain word. Schwartz sees a kaleidoscope of colours when she listens to music.
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CMU master's degree offers flexible practicality to those called to heal world injustices
"Students in the Master of Arts in Peacebuilding and Collaborative Development (MA-PCD) program are a diverse group. They come from around the world, and they bring a wide variety of educational, vocational, and life experiences," says Associate Registrar for Graduate Studies, Valerie Smith.
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