Hnatyshyn Foundation and McGill Schulich School Launch New Fellowship for Young Conductors

September 22, 2017

Thanks to an exciting initiative, graduate conducting students at  McGill’s Schulich School of Music are now eligible to receive a substantial new grant – the Hnatyshyn Foundation Christa and Franz-Paul Decker Fellowship in Conducting. The $15,000 Fellowship will be  awarded to an exceptional Canadian graduate student at Schulich as of the 2018-19 school year. 

Together, the Decker family and the Hnatyshyn Foundation created the Fellowship to honour the late  conductor Franz-Paul Decker and his wife, Christa, who both made a significant impact on the musical  landscape in Canada and around the world. Maestro Decker, who held conducting positions at many  orchestras of international repute (including an appearance as guest conductor of the McGill Symphony  Orchestra), was also an advocate of music education and received an honorary doctorate of music from  McGill University in 2002. 

Alexis Hauser, conductor of the McGill Symphony Orchestra, was excited to share his perspective on the opportunities the Fellowship will provide.  

“Some of my very best former conducting students are Canadians and are now busy and very  successful in Europe, the United States and in Canada. It is a big joy for me to remain in  regular contact with them. Therefore, I wholeheartedly welcome the Hnatyshyn Foundation  Christa and Franz-Paul Decker Fellowship in Conducting as an important means to  encourage top students from around the country to come to Schulich to further develop their  talents. Montreal has always been a unique starting place for young gifted conductors, and the  Foundation will be an immense tool for assisting future careers.” 

With this new program, The Hnatyshyn Foundation continues to extend its support to exceptionally talented  young Canadian students in the performing arts. 

“We are proud to be associated with the Schulich School of Music and the Decker family and  provide new opportunities for exceptional students to complete their studies at one of the  world’s finest educational institutions,” said Kim Lymburner, Executive Director of The  Hnatyshyn Foundation. 

All Canadian applicants to the Schulich graduate conducting program will be considered for the Fellowship  – no separate application is necessary.