Professor Emeritus Timothy J. McGee and late wife Bonnie McGee make historic donation to musicology
Thanks to the extraordinary gift of $500,000 from Faculty of Music Professor Emeritus Timothy McGee and wife the late Bonnie McGee, the Bonnie and Timothy McGee Musicology Fellowship was established in 2023 to support musicology graduate students. The inaugural fellowship will be awarded in the 2024-25 academic year.
Musicologist Timothy McGee was inspired to make a transformational gift to the Faculty of Music due to his lifelong dedication to teaching and his feeling of gratitude to the University of Toronto for allowing him to do that at the very highest level.
The Musicology Program can now support top-notch young musicologists with a focus on historical musicology thanks to the Bonnie and Timothy McGee Musicology Fellowship. Student awards like these play a crucial role in the student experience, freeing them from financial worry and allowing them to concentrate on their studies.
From very early in his life, Timothy McGee wanted to be a teacher and to help others learn. His appointment as professor at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto turned out to be the ideal place to accomplish that goal. He feels honoured to have spent 29 years on the faculty of one of the finest universities in the world, where he was able to associate with scholars in a number of fields and to participate in the education of highly talented students.
“By establishing the fellowship, I thank the Faculty of Music for the appointment and I am pleased to be able to help them continue to attract talented graduate students”, said Professor McGee.
Bonnie and Tim McGee shared a passion for music and artistic expression. They met in high school, and both played the clarinet. After being married in the 1950s and sharing a remarkable 71 years together they had eight incredible children, thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, who are their pride and joy.
One of Tim’s favorite hobbies was woodworking, and he was incredibly talented, furnishing their home with most of their furniture. Bonnie was an exceptionally gifted artist and would help with the design of the furniture, and he would choose the wood. He built the tea wagon and a coffee table in the 90’s that has round corners, as Bonnie said if its square, we can hurt ourselves and so can our children, so he made it round. Their relationship synergized like a well-orchestrated symphony, providing balance and joy to their artistic creativity while executing projects together.
In addition to teaching a range of classes and publishing articles in leading music journals, Tim was a talented fundraiser who raised $4.6 million for the Faculty of Music during his time at the University of Toronto.
In the early 1980s Professors McGee and Timothy Rice raised funds for special projects. Their first solicitation saw the establishment of an endowed professorship in Canadian music studies and the Institute for Canadian Music. John Beckwith was appointed as the first Jean A. Chalmers Professor and director. The endowment of $1 million came from the family of Floyd S. Chalmers. Later they were successful in securing $3.6 million from the Rupert E. Edwards Foundation to support building the library wing at the Faculty of Music.
This scholarship is truly full circle for Tim’s 29-year career at the Faculty of Music, from fundraising for what he is passionate about, the Faculty of Music, to being at a point in his life where he could also give back and leave a magnificent legacy.
With the support of donors, alumni, and faculty members like Professor McGee, the Faculty of Music is able to support artistic and academic excellence in music creation, performance, education, and research.
“This will be a truly significant boost to the musicology area. It is the largest donation ever to musicology in the history of the Faculty of Music, and all the more significant and special as it comes from a distinguished emeritus musicology faculty member and his late wife,” said Dr. Robin Elliott, Acting Associate Dean, Academic & Student Affairs, Professor of Musicology.
The musicology faculty at U of T is widely known for its scholarly accolades and varied approaches to the study of music, and for its dedication to helping students develop their investigative and analytical skills, and to think creatively and write effectively about music.
Musicology is the study of music in all its aspects. Beyond playing and composing, musicians benefit from understanding the broader significance of music and the role of musicians in historical and contemporary contexts; learning about musical genres, approaches to composition, changing musical styles and expression; learning to research, analyze, think critically, and to write about music; and to perform as knowledgeable and informed musicians.
Donors play an instrumental role in shaping the lives of our students, propelling their potential and empowering them to thrive in an ever-changing world. This gift stands as a testament to the profound impact philanthropy can have on music and the future of musicology.
Please join Tim in making a gift to an area at the Faculty of Music that you have a passion for by clicking the link. Making a gift is easy! Donate Now
To learn more about how to establish a fellowship like Tim and Bonnie, establish your own scholarship or support a specific music program, please contact Heather Yearwood, Associate Director, Major Gifts at heather.yearwood@utoronto.ca or 416-978-8545.
