Family and friends celebrated alongside faculty and staff on May 21 as School of Music’s Spring 2026 graduates received their Music degrees from the University of British Columbia.
(L-R) Front row: Grace Alexander, Nadya Nuyen, Victoria Kazantseva, Noelle Carey, Briana Sutherland, Sayako Leznoff, Snow Diao, Hilary Jung; Middle row: Thyme Shi, Jobert Leong; Back row (L-R) Jonathon Chan, Gregor Gasovic-Varga, Denis Petrov, Rajat Chowdhury, Adam Isidto. Photo by Chang Che.
This year’s graduating class of 83 students represents the full breadth of music study at UBC — from undergraduate performance and scholarship to the highest levels of doctoral achievement.
To mark the occasion, the School of Music hosted an Open House at the Music Building Lobby where the creativity, dedication, and artistry of the graduates were celebrated.
The list of awards and recipients is below along with the breakdown of the degrees conferred.
Catherine Cooke Topping Memorial Medal
The silver medal has been donated by Dr. C. W. Topping, Professor Emeritus, in memory of his mother, Catherine Cooke Topping, who for many years was a music teacher in Ontario and Quebec. The medal is presented to a student in the School of Music based on musical excellence as expressed by creativity and presentation.
Recipient: Thyme Shi
University of BC Medal in Music
This medal is awarded to the student standing at the head of the graduating class in the Bachelor of Music degree.
Recipient: Adam Sun
The Class of 2026 includes:
- 44 Bachelor of Music
- 8 Dual Degrees
- 4 Bachelor of Arts
- 3 Diplomas
- 20 Master of Music
- 1 Master of Arts
- 2 Doctor of Musical Arts
- 1 PhD
(L-R): Jobert Leong and Kai Segal. Photo by: Mayvelee Bugh.
Mayvelee Bugh
(L-R): Jean Zhang, Adam Sun, Hilary Jung and Carlina Dykstra. Photo by: Mayvelee Bugh.
(L-R): Rajat Chowdhury, Denis Petrov and Owen Glor speaking to School of Music's Academic Advisor, Amy Farahbaksh. Photo by: Chang Che.
(L-R): Thyme Shi & Francis Sadleir. Photo by: Chang Che.
(L-R) Jean Zhang, Mayvelee Bugh
