On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, friends, faculty, staff and students of the Schulich School of Music gathered for the naming ceremony of the Elizabeth Wirth Music Building. Following remarks by McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier, Music Dean Sean Ferguson and Elizabeth Wirth, guests moved outside for the breaking of a bottle of bubbly at the building’s entrance, inviting good luck to the School’s newly named facility. The excitement continued as the party moved to Pollack Hall for the season-opening of the McGill Symphony Orchestra.
(All photos, Brent Calis)
Elizabeth Wirth BA’64, son Eric Brand and husband Lou Fauteux arrive at the Schulich School of Music
As celebrations get started, students in the McGill Symphony Orchestra (MGSO) prepare for the evening's concert
Food and drinks are served in the lobby of the Elizabeth Wirth Music Building
Outside, Schulich School of Music staff plan a safe trajectory for the bottle of champagne
Countdown! 3,2,1 …
Elizabeth Wirth breaks the bottle of champagne against the newly-named Elizabeth Wirth Music building
The crowd, gathered outside on Sherbrooke St. West, applauds
Next door, Prof. Martha de Francisco and students prepare to record the evening's concert in Pollack Hall
Dean Sean Ferguson, Elizabeth Wirth and McGill Vice-Principal Marc Weinstein
Fellow Nova Scotians Prof. Richard King, MMus’91, Suzanne Crawford and Director of Advancement Kelly Rice, MA’92
Schulich Prof. Michael McMahon BMus’78, Eileen Kennedy MSc’02, Prof. Dominique Labelle LMus’86 and Prof. Jean-Michel Vallée
The crowd moves to Pollack Hall where the MGSO, with Geoffrey Conquer at the piano, performs under the direction of Maestro Alexis Hauser
The MGSO concert comes to a close, signalling the end of a glorious evening