Humber Today Winter 2012 web exclusive
Ben McConchie
Bachelor of Applied Music – Contemporary Music, Class of 2010
School of Creative & Performing Arts
For Ben McConchie, a double major in Political Science and History was not the end of his post-secondary education, but the beginning of a new era. Though he was planning on going to law school, McConchie decided that a career in music was more in tune with his future.
With a passion for writing and playing music, McConchie started researching Music degrees. In the end, the Humber four-year Bachelor of Applied Music – Contemporary Music program grabbed his attention.
“It was Humber’s list of accomplished faculty that drew me to the Music degree program. Some of my musical heroes – people such as Hilario Duran, John MacLeod and Pat LaBarbera – teach at Humber and I didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to learn from them,” he says.
“The program boasted a tight knit community of musicians with varied musical interests, fostering a well-rounded learning environment. The clinics, performances and guest artists also provided us with ample hands-on experience and networking opportunities.”
After graduating from Humber in the spring of 2010, McConchie started his Masters in Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto (U of T) in the fall of that year. Music is keeping him busy, as he tours frequently across the country, and, as a teaching assistant at U of T, he teaches undergraduates improvisation and jazz ensemble. He is planning to enter the doctoral music program at U of T in September 2012.
