Alumni Profile Rita

A multicultural hub for music 

Born in China and raised in Vancouver, Rita was drawn to Toronto because she saw it as “a dynamic and global city with a lot of opportunity.” From performing centres to organizations like the Royal Conservatory of Music, to orchestras, Rita knew she’d find her musical home in Toronto. She also appreciated the multicultural influence Toronto offered, and saw it as something that separated U of T from other universities. 
 

Discovering a passion through work-study  

Participating in U of T’s work-study programs, where students work for the university to try out real-life roles relating to their programs, Rita found her calling for Music Administration. Serving as a Concert Office Assistant, she helped with the preparation of all the concerts and events happening in the Faculty of Music. This included scheduling, outreach, and marketing, which allowed her to develop transferable skills while discovering the parts of the job that she really enjoyed. 
 

Involved faculty 

Of her four years of undergrad, Rita says her favourite class was her first one: the private lessons all Music students take in their first year. In this one-on-one class, students get one hour a week to work with their professors, not only honing their music skills, but gaining industry insights from some of the best in the business. Many Faculty of Music professors are actively performing, and have a wide breadth of experience to share with students. Rita recalls learning a lot more about her instrument in the course, but also gaining mentorship from it too.