Thomas receives 25 year long service award from Augustana Faculty of U. of A.

A long service award for 25 year of teaching at the Augustana Faculty of U. of A. was presented in absentia and received on Thomas’ behalf by 3rd year violin student in the B. Mus. comprehensive program, Abigail Milgate.

The award was presented by Ardelle Reis, Director of Music, with the following words:

It is an honour to have this opportunity to recognize our dedicated and innovative string teacher within the Augustana Conservatory, Thomas Schoen.
In evidence of his commitment to professional development and to the expansion of research horizons that inform his creative work, this award is presented in absentia. Thomas is, as I speak, on an airplane flying home from a research trip in Holland where he was investigating the 17th century Dutch composer, Jakob van Eyck. Abigail Milgate, a violinist in his studio and third year BMus comprehensive student will accept the award on Thomas’ behalf.
About Thomas: Thomas is an exemplary teacher, teaching students of all ages from early years to adult.
He is a Registered Teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and was the 2018 recipient of the Teacher of Distinction Award from Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music.
Thomas has had much pedagogical success with generations of students from the Camrose community; in particular, one conservatory alum, Ethan Harty, is the recent winner of the 2019 Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition.
Thomas is the Director of the Alberta Summer Suzuki Institute in Edmonton, the largest teacher-training institute of its kind in Western Canada.

In line with the vision for future Augustana music offerings, Thomas’ pedagogical knowledge will be shared in the 2020 Winter Term in a special Augustana Conservatory professional development workshop in the Suzuki philosophy for pre- service and in-service music educators in our community and beyond.
As a performer, Thomas is very active, especially with the flute and violin Schoen Duo. Along with his musical and life partner Kathleen Schoen—also an Augustana conservatory instructor—the Schoen Duo travels the province with a mandate to make classical music accessible to one and all in K-12 school residencies.
Thomas’ extensive and diverse performance interests also embrace new music and composition. In July 2018 the Schoen Duo received a $10,000 grant from the Edmonton Heritage Foundation and the Edmonton Arts Council to create a piece of sound art. The River Crossing Soundscape Project premiered in late November last year: natural and human made sounds were recorded in the area, featuring musics of Indigenous peoples with a group of Cree drummers and singers from Maskwacis, alongside music of the Metis and European settlers.
We are proud of Thomas’ many and varied achievements and are grateful for his creative spirit, commitment, dedication and belief in what is possible with our university and community conservatory.
Please join Abigail and our music division as we celebrate the many miles traveled between Edmonton & Camrose through the 25 years of Thomas Schoen!