Mary Morrison, Convocation 2017 Honorary Degree Recipient

TL;DR

In her commencement speech, the speaker reflects on her own journey, encourages graduates to pursue their passions, and emphasizes the importance of perseverance and self-belief.

Transcript

Chancellor Wilson vice president Doyle distinguished guests faculty and support staff family and friends and graduates that's a pretty hard act to follow I'm deeply honored to be standing here today at my advanced aged and doubly thrilled to be here with Barbara Hannigan a former student and a dear friend it is a great privilege to teach at the Fac... Read More

Key Insights

• 😯 The speaker is deeply honored to deliver the commencement speech and emphasizes her gratitude for the warm support and friendship she has received from colleagues and students.
• 💪 Her upbringing, marked by the determination of her parents and their strict Presbyterian values, instilled in her a strong work ethic and appreciation for education.
• 🗺️ The speaker's own musical journey involved a diverse array of performances, collaborations, and travels, which she considers the best of all possible worlds.
• 💦 She highlights the importance of championing new works by Canadian composers and forming lifelong friendships with them.
• 👪 The chaos of having a musical household with multiple family members practicing different instruments is described.
• 👻 The speaker's late entry into teaching allowed her to focus on personalized guidance for students and the importance of discovering their individual paths.
• 🧑‍🎓 She recognizes Barbara Hannigan, a former student and esteemed performer, as the queen of risk-taking for branching out into conducting while singing.

Questions & Answers

Q: What role did the speaker's parents play in her musical journey?

The speaker's parents, who had emigrated from Scotland, made significant sacrifices to provide their children with a musical education, even amidst economic difficulties during the Great Depression.

Q: How did the speaker contribute to the music scene in Canada?

The speaker had a successful performing career, collaborating with various opera companies, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and the lyric arts trio. She also championed new works by Canadian composers, many of whom became lifelong friends.

Q: What was the speaker's approach to teaching?

The speaker came to teaching later in life and believed in understanding and supporting students' individual choices and development. She emphasized the importance of discovering what would help students achieve their full potential.

Q: How did the speaker's personal life intersect with her musical career?

The speaker married a composer who played in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. They had three daughters who all studied musical instruments and eventually became teachers and performers themselves.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker expresses gratitude for the opportunity to teach at the Faculty of Music and acknowledges the support of colleagues, staff, and students.

• Reflecting on her own upbringing and musical career, the speaker highlights the sacrifices made by her parents and the joy she found in performing and championing Canadian composers.

• The speaker shares her late entry into teaching and emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting individual students' choices and development.