Prof. Sean Ferguson began his new tenure as Dean of the Schulich School of Music in July 2022. 听
Dean Ferguson has been an active part of the 91社区 landscape for years, having started his time here as a student, earning both his master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in composition. He joined the 91社区 faculty as an Assistant Professor of Composition in 2003 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2009. 听
An experienced senior administrator with a deep understanding of the School, Prof. Ferguson previously served as Dean from 2011 to 2016. He was also the Director of the (CIRMMT) from 2009 to 2011, and its Associate Director (Artistic) from 2006 to 2009.听Prof. Ferguson鈥檚 research focuses on computer-assisted composition, psychoacoustics applied to musical harmony, live electronics, and digital musical instruments. He teaches composition and co-directs the Digital Composition Studios. 听
Though for now Dean Ferguson may be spending less time in the classroom, he continues to focus his efforts on our students: 鈥淎s the 鈥榦ld鈥� new Dean, I鈥檓 looking forward to once again working to help maintain our position as Canada鈥檚 finest music school. I鈥檓 excited about the future and eager to start the year with fresh energy.鈥澨�
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We connected with Dean Ferguson by email as he hit the ground running for this new school year, and learned what piece made him want to become a composer, the advice he would give to his starting-at-university self, something he looks forward to in his workday as Dean, and so much more!听
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Is there a composer / genre / single piece of music that never fails to transport you?听听
The piece that made me want to become a composer was Verdi鈥檚 Requiem. I bought a box set of the piece when I was 18 (on vinyl, of course!) and listened to it so often that I wore it out and had to buy a new copy. There are so many amazing moments in it, but every time I listen to the Tuba Mirum from the Dies Irae it never fails to make my heart beat faster.听
If faced with obstacles or uncertainty, how do you keep moving forward?听
When you鈥檙e Dean, sometimes things can honestly seem pretty bleak. In those circumstances 鈥揳nd in the face of many other kinds of challenging situations 鈥� it鈥檚 helpful to think back to similar situations and realize that no matter how impossible and overwhelming they seemed, they didn鈥檛 last forever. Of course, the older you are the easier this is to do because more things have happened to you (but then you start forgetting them鈥�).听
What are some of the things you look forward to in your regular workday as Dean?听
Although I鈥檓 an introvert, I really enjoy talking with people. It鈥檚 often possible to come to solutions when exchanging ideas with colleagues that I would never have arrived at on my own.听
I鈥檓 not always comfortable addressing large groups of people, but I do find individual or small group meetings to be stimulating and enjoyable.听
What is one of the most valuable things you鈥檝e learned in the classroom (either as student or instructor)?听听听
That not everybody learns in the same way. I don鈥檛 have a great memory and I tend to remember things as part of a logical chain of linked consequences (e.g. I never learned my times tables, I just add very quickly). I remember once explaining all the steps that I would use to arrive at a particular piece of information to a class and a student finally putting up their hand and saying 鈥淪ean, could you just write it down and we鈥檒l memorize it?鈥� 听
If听not for music, what might an alternate career path have been?听
In my teens I became very interested in photography and I think if music hadn鈥檛 come along I might have enjoyed continuing in that field.听
What enables the best kind of music-making and music-learning experiences?听听听
The exhilaration of creating music out of thin air and sharing it with others. For me, music is a social activity that enriches the lives of those who are lucky enough to make it and those who are lucky enough to experience it.听
What is听exciting to you about your field right now?听听听
In the field of composition, for me the most exciting development in recent years has been the degree to which things we鈥檝e learned from music perception, music cognition and psychoacoustics are able to be incorporated into compositional practice. I think composers have a deeper knowledge of the underlying mechanisms through which even quite complex music is heard and understood by the listener than they might have in the past. At one time, integrating this knowledge into one鈥檚 composing was something that required individual programming skills or access to large research institutions. Today it鈥檚 possible for composers to take advantage of these concepts much more easily using their own laptops.听
What advice would you give to your starting-at-university self?听听听
There鈥檚 nothing so beautiful, pure, or meaningful in human existence that it can鈥檛 be ruined by taking it too seriously. Music should be a joy.听
What should every student leave Schulich knowing?听听
Remember to always double the leading tone and ensure that V progresses to IV before resolving to I.听
If you had a mantra/philosophy/phrase for where you are right now, what would it be?听听听
鈥淩emember, no matter where you go, there you are.鈥澨�
We would love to know what composer (or artist, or ensemble, or album, or genre) you would suggest we all go and listen to right now!听听
Martin Hayes is an Irish fiddle player originally from East Clare. He made a recording in 1999 called Live in Seattle with the recently deceased guitarist Dennis Cahill. On that album there鈥檚 a 27-minute set of tunes that begins with the beautiful slow air Port na bP煤ca铆听and ends with an ecstatic reel, with lots of delightful music in between. You can find it on iTunes or (but be sure to listen to this particular version). There鈥檚 a strong element of improvisatory ornamentation and melodic variation in this style, and their performance has a lot of spontaneity and playfulness. The material is simple, but I love what they do with it. This track always makes me smile. If you can, listen to the whole thing when you have time to relax and enjoy it.听
What are some recent things you鈥檝e enjoyed? (book, podcast, board game, tv show, movie, album, etc.) Any recommendations?听听
I鈥檝e enjoyed playing board games with my son for many years. We鈥檝e tended to play pretty involved ones that can require multiple plays over many sessions to complete. For example, we played through to the end of the Gloomhaven game campaign with my eldest daughter during the pandemic and it took us months. But recently we鈥檝e been enjoying lighter games that the whole family can play in an evening. We鈥檙e having a lot of fun playing a game about hiking called Parks, which I highly recommend. 听
What is something people might be surprised to find on your playlist?听
Terrible synthesizer music with sequenced drums at 180 bpm that I listen to instead of a metronome when I鈥檓 running. 听
When you're not school-focused, how do you relax?听听
I love to play tin whistle in traditional music sessions in local pubs. I call it 鈥淚rish group therapy.鈥� No matter how bad a day I鈥檝e had, 10 minutes into the session I鈥檝e forgotten all my troubles!听
