New music travel award for students inspired by mother’s career

Music has always been a major part of Irene McEwen’s (BA’49) life.

McEwen’s mother, Jean Eilers, was a violinist who attended what is now the Royal Conservatory of Music in 1918. Eilers started studying at the conservatory shortly after graduating high school.

“It was a very big deal,” McEwen said. “She talked about (the Conservatory) her whole life. It was a big, big thing in her life—a very, big opportunity.”

Eilers graduated in 1920, where she received a scholarship for obtaining the highest marks in Canada. She spent a summer in Chicago, studying with famous and well-known violinists, McEwen said.

“That was a very big deal for (my mother) back in those days,” she said. “I’m sure she saved all her money for several years in order to be able to do that.”

Eilers made her debut at Massey Hall in Toronto before returning to Regina where she joined the Conservatory of Music at Regina College as a staff member.

Inspired by her mother’s career as a violinist, she decided to establish the Irene McEwen Travel Award for Music Students in the College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

The award is intended to provide financial assistance to both undergraduate and graduate students majoring in music who want to participate in academic and experiential learning activities outside of Saskatchewan.

Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, a $2,000 award will be available annually. The fund will be endowed in perpetuity.

McEwen said that musicians face plenty of expenses when pursuing their careers—including travel expenses for auditions.

“For example, if you’re an opera singer and you want to get a part in an opera, you have to go where the auditions are being held,” she said.

McEwen recalled that her mother’s dedication to her career as a violinist shaped the family’s schedule while growing up in Regina.

Music was a constant in McEwen’s childhood home. Her family would make sure to turn on the radio on Sunday afternoons to tune in and listen to the symphony orchestra, the New York Philharmonic. Together, the family would have lunch before Eilers went to rehearse on Sunday afternoons at the Conservatory of Performing Arts. Sometimes Eilers would invite the other members of her string quartet to practice in her home.

As a violinist in the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Eilers continued to play with the Regina Symphony Orchestra as a violinist until 1949, when the family moved to Victoria, B.C. She then joined the violin section of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra for many years.

McEwen grew up in Regina, attending Regina Central Collegiate for school and starting post-secondary in Regina. She decided to move to Saskatoon to attend USask for her final two years of her degree.

McEwen has fond memories of going to university at USask—from making friends and living in residence in Saskatchewan Hall, to moving and living only 10 minutes away from campus.

“It was my first time away from home and it was just all a big adventure,” McEwen said.

USask always had a soft spot in McEwen’s heart. While she moved away to earn her master’s degree at the University of British Columbia, McEwen’s connection to USask helped her decide to donate to create the travel award.

“I just hope (this award) can help some music student on their way to a career in music,” she said.

Currently, McEwen and her sister continue to attend the symphony together in Vancouver. When they hear performances of Johannes Brahms’ symphonies —their mother’s favourite composer—they think of her.  To this day, McEwen’s roommate from Saskatchewan Hall, San Given, joins them to enjoy Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performances together.

“Oh music—it's just that I can’t imagine life without it, that’s all.”

Article originally published at https://artsandscience.usask.ca