Walter  Buczynski

Professor Emeritus


Walter Buczynski

Biographical Note

Walter Buczynski, composer and pianist, is one of Canada's most esteemed musicians. Born in Toronto in 1933 he studied theory at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and with Godfrey Ridout, piano with Earle Moss and with the renowned Rosina Lhevinne in New York. He made his orchestral debut in 1955 with the Toronto Symphony under the baton of Henry Rzepus playing the Chopin F minor piano concerto. In 1960 he was the first Canadian ever to compete in the prestigious Chopin Competition in Warsaw. He continued his studies in composition with Darius Milhaud in Aspen, Colorado (winning the Fromm Award in 1955), and in Paris 1960-62 with the legendary Nadia Boulanger.

From 1962 to 1969 Walter Buczynski taught piano and theory at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 1969 he joined the University of Toronto Faculty of Music as professor of Theory and Composition. His compositions have been performed from coast to coast and in Europe and the United States. He has been recorded and broadcast frequently on radio and television by such distinguished artists as William Aide, Robert Aitken, Antonin Kubalek, Mary Morrison, Mark Dubois, Mark Pedrotti, Lorna MacDonald, Michael Colvin, Doug MacNaughton, Joe Macerollo, Gregory Oh, Mark Fewer, Peter Longworth, Scott Irvine, Marie Berard, James McKay, Phillip Candelaria, and Steven Dann. His music is played by ensembles such as the Canadian Brass, Purcell String Quartet, and Accordes String Quartet; and by conductors such as Franz Paul Decker, Boris and Alexander Brott, Gary Kulesha, Roy Goodman, Lukas Foss, John Avison, Raffi Armenian, Victor Feldbrill, Victor Di Bello, and Simon Streatfeild.

His compositional catalogue contains works for solo piano including 12 sonatas, 6 string quartets, the Cameo Series (solo wind and string trio), 23 Lyrics for solo voice or instruments and orchestral ensemble, songs for all voices, choral works and a multitude of pieces for accordion, guitar, bassoon, tuba, harp, and flugelhorn.

In 1977 he received the Queen Elizabeth medal for achievement and development of Canadian culture. In 1992 he received the Governor General's 125th Commemorative medal. In 2008 the Polish Government bestowed on him the Gloria Artis medal for his musical achievement and body of work.

Walter Buczynski was President of the Canadian League of Composers from 1974 to 1975.

After 30 years of teaching Professor Buczynski retired from the University, and is currently Professor Emeritus. He continues to compose and has resumed his concert career.

In 2014 he celebrated his 80th year by having concerts preformed of his music at the Faculty of Music, U of T, the Arts and Letters Club, Canadian Music Centre, Syrinx Concert Series, and at the Leith Historic Church in Leith. Performers included, pianists Gregory Oh, Peter Longworth, William Aide, Ilya Poletaev, Richard Herriott, and Walter Buczynski. Other musicians included Melanie Conly, soprano, Joe Macerollo, accordion, Mark Fewer, violin and the Talisker Quartet.

Walter Buczynski completed, recorded and concertized his sesquicentennial project of 36 piano sonatas in 2017 for Canada 150.

John Abberger
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Baroque oboe
Waleed Abdulhamid
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz
Shireen Abu Khader
Sessional Teaching Staff: Choral Conducting
Patricia Ahern
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Baroque violin
William Aide
Professor Emeritus
Eddy Aitken
Performance Administrator
Michael Patrick Albano (RETIRED)
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Opera
Kathleen Allan
Sessional Teaching Staff: Choral Conducting
Hilary Apfelstadt
Professor Emerita
Ethan Ardelli
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Drums
Andrew Ascenzo
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Cello
Keith Atkinson
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Oboe
Mia Bach
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano, Voice Studies
Christopher Bagan
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Collegium Musicum, Historical Keyboards (harpsichord, fortepiano, organ)
Peter Barnes
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Hillary Barron
Director, Office of the Dean
Lee R. Bartel
Professor Emeritus
David Beach
Professor Emeritus
Rea Beaumont
Adjunct Professor: Piano (Solo & Chamber), Music Industry, Canadian Music
John Beckwith (1927-2022)
Professor Emeritus
Helen Becqué
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies, Lieder
Marie Bérard
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments
Roger Bergs
Sessional Teaching Staff: Composition
Calista Biermans Tunney
Student Services Coordinator (Admissions)
Sebastiano Bisciglia
Director, Information and Learning Technology
Victoria Boerner
Graduate Programs Assistant
Roman Borys
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Cello
Russell Braun
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Opera
Michael Bridge
Sessional Lecturer
Eliot Britton
Associate Professor: Composition, Music Technology & Digital Media
Rich Brown
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Bass, Small Ensemble
John Brownell
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Music Education, Percussion
Walter Buczynski
Professor Emeritus
Thomas Burton
Sessional Teaching Staff: Conductor, Tenor/Bass Chorus
Mark Campbell
Assistant Professor: Musicology, Music Technology & Digital Media
Harley Card
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Guitar
Rob Carli
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Saxophone
William Carn
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Trombone
Kate Carver
Sessional Teaching Staff: Opera
Ernesto Cervini
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Drums
Alejandro Céspedes
Events Coordinator
Ka Nin Chan
Professor Emeritus: Composition
Megan Chang
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano
Tanya Charles Iveniuk
Sessional Teacher Staff: Music Education, Violin
Stephen Chenette
Professor Emeritus
Emily Chiang
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano
Eric Chow
Concert Office Supervisor
Max Christie
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Clarinet
Maya Churbaji
Acting Chief Administrative Officer
Caryl Clark (RETIRED)
Professor: Musicology
Terry Clarke
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Drums
Jon Clemens
Project Manager, Climate and Culture Review
Amy Clements-Cortés
Associate Professor: Music and Health Sciences
Shannon Coates
Sessional Instructor, Voice Pedagogy
Greg Colley
Sessional Lecturer: Music Education
Michelle Colton
Sessional Teaching Staff: Percussion
James Conquer
Advancement Coordinator
Candace Cox
Sessional Teaching Staff: Opera
Jonathan Crow
Associate Professor: Orchestral Instruments,Violin
Joe Cullen
Sessional Teaching Staff: Steel Pan Ensemble
Mark Daboll
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Gregory Dahl
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Tara Davidson
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Saxophone
Tim Dawson
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education, Orchestral Instruments, Double Bass
Trevor Deck
Music & Film Collections Management Librarian
Neil Deland
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Horn
Reshma Dhrodia
Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Lori-Anne Dolloff
Associate Professor: Music Education
Chris Donnelly
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Composition, Improvisation
Richard Dorsey
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Oboe
Thomas Dowling
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education, Clarinet
Andrew Downing
Sessional Instructor: Jazz Bass, Jazz Materials and Ear Training, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Composition
Mark Duggan
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Orchestral Instruments
Christine Duncan
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Voice, Voice Improvisation
Kwasi Dunyo
Sessional Teaching Staff: African Drumming and Dance Ensemble
Darryl Edwards
Professor: Voice Studies
Mark Eisenman
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Piano, Composition
Robin Elliott
Acting Associate Dean, Academic & Student Affairs
Donald Englert
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education, Jazz, Orchestral Instruments, Saxophone
Michael Esch
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano
Amanda Eyer Haberman
Performance Assistant
Robert Falck
Professor Emeritus
David Fallis
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Lauren Falls
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Small Ensembles
Adrean Farrugia
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Piano
Mark Fewer
Associate Professor: Orchestral Instruments, Violin
Mary-Katherine Finch
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education, Cello
Tony Flynt
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Double Bass
Jane Isabelle Forner
Postdoctoral Fellow
Daniel Fortin
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Double Bass
Matt Foster
Director, Operations, Performance and Facilities
Vanessa Fralick
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trombone
Nick Fraser
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Drums
Sal Fratia
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Tuba & Euphonium
Pratik Gandhi
Sessional Lecturer: Wind Symphony
Tania Gill
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Piano
Duc Goi
Property and Facilities Supervisor
Christopher Gongos
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Horn
Antía González Ben
Assistant Professor, Music Education
Elizabeth Gould
Associate Professor Emerita
Allison Grant
Sessional Teaching Staff: Opera
Tyler Greenleaf
Director, Advancement
Jan Guise
Head Librarian
Sarah Gutsche-Miller
Assistant Professor: Musicology
John Haines
Professor: Musicology
Doreen Hall
Professor Emeritus
Eric Hall
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Orchestral Instruments, Bassoon
Wallace Halladay
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Orchestral Instruments, Saxophone
Darren Hamilton
Assistant Professor: Music Education
Russell Hartenberger
Professor Emeritus: Percussion, Ethnomusicology, Musicology
Nicholas Hartman
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Horn
Miles Haskins (Jaques)
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Clarinet
Christos Hatzis
Professor: Composition
Farzaneh Hemmasi
Associate Professor: Ethnomusicology
Michael Herring
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Double Bass, Small Ensemble
Jamie Hillman
Associate Professor, Director of Choral Studies, Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting
Ellie M. Hisama (ON LEAVE)
Dean of the Faculty of Music; Professor of Music
Megan Hodge
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trombone
Susan Hoeppner
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Flute
Paul Hoffert
Adjunct Professor (Music, iSchool, Law), digital media IP
Sandra Horst
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Opera
Gillian Howard
Instructor: Music Education, Oboe
Kevin Howey (on leave)
Assistant Dean, Operations
Aiyun Huang
Professor, Percussion
Corene Hurt-Thaut
Associate Professor: Music and Health Sciences
Jehanbakhsh (John) Jasavala
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Orchestral Instruments, Trombone
Kelly Jefferson
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Saxophone
Sarah Jeffrey
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Oboe
Bina John
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Music Education, Early Childhood, Psychology
John Johnson
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Saxophone, Flute
Joseph Johnson
Associate Professor: Orchestral Instruments, Cello
Beverley Johnston
Adjunct Professor: Orchestral Instruments, Percussion
Gregory Johnston
Professor Emeritus
Peter Johnston
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, History
Daniel Jordan
Postdoctoral Fellow
Patrick Jordan
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Baroque viola
Brian Katz
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education, Guitar, Klezmer Ensemble , Eurythmics
Aubrey Kelly
International Recruitment Officer
Younggun Kim
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano
Etsuko Kimura
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Violin
James Kippen
Professor Emeritus
Midori Koga
Professor: Keyboard, Piano, Piano Pedagogy
Kevin Komisaruk
Professor, Teaching Stream: Keyboard, Harpsichord, Organ
John Kruspe
Associate Professor Emeritus, Teaching Stream: Music Theory, Keyboard, Piano
Gary Kulesha
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Composition
Larysa Kuzmenko
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Music Theory, Keyboard, Composition, Piano
Andrew Kwan
Sessional Teaching Staff
Jay Lambie
Library Technician
Sherry Lee
Associate Professor: Musicology
Chantal Lemire
Research Services Officer
Jim Lewis
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Jazz, Trumpet, Materials, Ear Training, Seminar in Jazz Studies
Ellen Lockhart
Assistant Professor: Musicology
Jason Logue
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Trumpet
Judy Loman
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Harp
Rachel Loo
Development Officer, Leadership and Annual Giving
Kelly Zimba Lukic
Adjunct Professor: Flute
Ely Lyonblum
Strategic Research Development Officer
Lorna MacDonald
Professor: Voice Studies, Vocal Pedagogy, Lois Marshall Chair in Voice
Rob MacDonald
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Guitar
Joseph Macerollo, O. C.
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Accordion
Gillian MacKay
Professor: Conducting, Orchestral Instruments, Trumpet
John MacLeod
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Trumpet
Jean MacPhail
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Jon Maharaj
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Double Bass, Small Ensemble
Christina Mahler
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Baroque cello
Sara Maida-Nicol
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Bryan Martin
Library Technician
Denis Martin
Assistant Professor: Music Technology & Digital Media
James Mason
Technical Services Librarian
Uri Mayer
Professor: Conducting
Anita McAlister
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education, Orchestral Instruments, Trumpet
Ryan McClelland
Acting Dean, Associate Dean, Academic and Student Affairs; Professor: Music Theory
Brian McDonagh
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Keyboard, Piano
Elizabeth McDonald
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Jeffrey McFadden
Associate Dean, Performance and Public Events, Professor, Teaching Stream: Orchestral Instruments, Guitar, Area Head: Guitar
Timothy J. McGee
Professor Emeritus
Don McLean
Professor: Musicology; Music Theory
Kathleen McMorrow
Librarian Emerita
Alison Melville
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Recorder and Traverso (Baroque flute)
Lynda Metelsky
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano
Robert Miller
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Tuba & Euphonium
Catherine Moore
Adjunct Professor: Music Technology & Digital Media
Mary Morrison
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Joelle Morton
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, viola da gamba and historical double basses
Fareena Mughal
Finance Director
Mike Murley
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Jazz, Saxophone
Gary Kiyoshi Nagata
Sessional Teaching Staff: Taiko Drumming
Jason Nedecky
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies, Opera
Charlotte Nediger
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Harpsichord
Timothy Neufeldt
Librarian: Musicology
Leslie Newman
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Flute
Gregory Lee Newsome
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Digital Composition
Tam Nguyen
Marketing & Communications Officer
Wendy Nielsen
Associate Professor: Voice Studies, Opera
Nasim Niknafs
Associate Dean, Research, Associate Professor: Music Education, Coordinator, Music Education
Phil Nimmons
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education, Jazz
Andrew Novosky
Senior Piano Technician
Andrea Nussey Atherley
Student Services Administrator
David Occhipinti
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Guitar
Gregory Oh
Sessional Teaching Staff: Chainsaw Ensemble (Experimental Contemporary Techno-rhythms)
Peter Olsen
Music Technologist
Daniel Oore
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz
Joseph Orlowski
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Clarinet
Jeff Packman
Associate Dean, Graduate Education, Associate Professor: Ethnomusicology
Norbert Palej
Associate Professor: Composition
Jennifer Panasiuk
Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment Officer
James Parker
Professor: Keyboard, Piano, Piano Pedagogy
Mary Ann Parker
Professor Emerita
Dawn Pascoe
Assistant Registrar, Student Services
Christine Passmore
Sessional Instructor: Horn
Annalee Patipatanakoon
Professor: Orchestral Instruments, Violin
Dennis Patrick
Associate Professor Emeritus, Teaching Stream: Music Theory, Composition, Electroacoustic Music
Nathalie Paulin
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream: Voice Studies
Paul Pedersen
Professor Emeritus
David Pell
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trombone
Alma Petchersky
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano
Steven Philcox
Associate Professor: Keyboard, Voice Studies
Stephen Pierre
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Clarinet
Joshua Pilzer
Associate Professor: Ethnomusicology
Zimfira Poloz
Sessional Teaching Staff: Music Education
Terry Promane
Associate Professor: Jazz, Trombone, Composition
Didier Ramazani-Buledi
Financial Officer
Doreen Rao
Professor Emeritus
Alexander (Sasha) Rapoport
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream Emeritus
Paul Read
Professor Emeritus
Jeffrey Reynolds (RETIRED)
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Music Education, Conducting, Orchestral Instruments, Trumpet
Abigail Richardson-Schulte
Sessional Teaching Staff: Composition
Laura Risk
Assistant Professor: Musicology, Ethnomusicology
James Rolfe
Sessional Teaching Staff: Composition
Shauna Rolston Shaw
Professor: Orchestral Instruments, Cello
Mike Romaniak
Sessional Lecturer: Music Technology & Digital Media
John Rudolph
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Percussion
Theresa Rudolph
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Viola
Dylan Rykse
Reference Specialist
Mark Sallmen
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Music Theory
Alex Samaras
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Voice
Chase Sanborn
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Jazz, Trumpet
Annette Sanger-Kippen
Lecturer: Ethnomusicology
Manuela Scarci
Sessional Teaching Staff: Opera
Angela Schwarzkopf
Sessional Teaching Staff: Chamber Musician and Orchestral Harpist
Marek Semeniuk
Information Technology Support Analyst
Dayoung Seo
Instructor: Music Education
Charles Settle
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Percussion
Patricia Shand
Professor Emeritus
Rebecca Shaw
Music Library Archivist
Nora Shulman
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Flute
Nancy Sicsic
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Piano
Karl Silveira
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Trombone
Bekah Simms
Sessional Teaching Staff: Composition
Mark Skazinetsky
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Violin
Kata Skoko
Executive Assistant to the Dean
Jill Solomon
Instructor: Music Education, Bassoon
Neil Spaulding
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Horn
James Spragg
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trumpet
Douglas Stewart
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Flute
Les Stockley
Technical Assistant
Peter Stoll
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Clarinet
Carolyne Sumner
Assistant Professor
Kotoka Suzuki
Associate Professor: Composition, Music Technology
Laura Swankey
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Voice
Gordon Sweeney
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trombone
Lisa Tahara
Sessional Lecturer: Piano
Edward Tait
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Double Bass
Stephen Tam
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Flute
Daphne Tan
Associate Professor: Music Theory
Ivars Taurins
Sessional Teaching Staff: Conducting, Collegium Musicum, Baroque Ensemble
Daniel Taylor
Associate Professor, Early Music, Opera, Voice Studies
Dominic Teresi
Sessional Teaching Staff: Early Music, Baroque Bassoon
Mark Tetreault
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Tuba & Euphonium
Michael Thaut
Professor, Music and Health
Richard Thomson
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Clarinet
Julia Tom
Instructor
Kathryn Tremills
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Laura Tucker
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
John Tuttle
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Organ
Joaquin Valdepeñas
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Clarinet
Steven Vande Moortele
Professor: Music Theory
Frédérique Vézina
Sessional Teaching Staff: Voice Studies
Anton Vishio
Associate Professor
Jim Vivian
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Bass
Cameron Walter
Associate Professor Emeritus: Music Education, Orchestral Instruments, Trombone
Sean Wang
Assistant Professor, Violin
Camille Watts
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Flute
Julia Wedman
Instructor: Baroque Violin
Monica Whicher
Assistant Professor of Voice, Teaching Stream
Paul Widner
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Cello
Todd Will
Graduate Programs Administrator
Karen Wiseman
Library Technician
Gordon Wolfe
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trombone
Jeff Wolpert
Adjunct Professor: Music Technology & Digital Media
Lydia Wong
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream: Keyboard, Piano, Collaborative Piano
Barton Woomert
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trumpet
Steven Woomert
Sessional Teaching Staff: Orchestral Instruments, Trumpet
Michelyn Wright
Sessional Lecturer: Music Education
Patricia Wright
Sessional Teaching Staff: Keyboard, Organ
Emmanuela Wroth
Postdoctoral Fellow
Heather Yearwood
Associate Director, Major Gifts, Advancement and Alumni Relations
Samuel Yeung
Adjunct Professor
Timothy Ying
Associate Professor: Orchestral Instruments, Violin
David Young
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Orchestral Instruments, Double Bass
Geoff Young
Sessional Teaching Staff: Jazz, Guitar