Violin–violist Barry Shiffman to become dean of the Glenn Gould School

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Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) has named Canadian violinist and violist Barry Shiffman as the dean designate of RCM’s post-secondary performance training school, the Glenn Gould School (GGS), effective immediately. He is succeeding James Anagnoson, who was in the role since 2007. Anagnoson will step back from his duties as dean this summer, when Shiffman will officially take on the role. 

Anagnoson will refocus his efforts on teaching as the new director of the GGS’s piano department and will continue as a member of the school’s piano faculty. When he leaves his position as dean, he will become dean emeritus. 

Shiffman was previously associate dean of the school, as well as its head of chamber music. He will continue to lead the RCM’s pre-college programme, the Taylor Academy, therefore becoming dean of both the academy and GGS as of 20 July. 

Alexander Brose, CEO of the RCM, said of the appointment: ’Barry Shiffman’s appointment represents a natural and exciting continuation of James Anagnoson’s legacy. His deep connection to the entire RCM community across Canada, in addition to his internationally renowned artistic and academic vision steeped in innovation, makes him the perfect choice to guide GGS into the future. I look forward to continuing to work with both Jim and Barry in the years to come.’

Shiffman is a violinist and violist with a career as a performer, recording artist, teacher, and administrator. He co-founded the St Lawrence String Quartet in 1989, and recorded extensively with the ensemble during his 17 years in it.

As an administrator, Shiffman is director of the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Festival and is artistic director of Rockport Music, directing the summer chamber music festival and other classical programming at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts.   

He is a sought-after competition juror, having served on the jury of the Tchaikovsky and Montreal Violin Competitions, as well as London’s Wigmore Hall, Geneva, Banff, and Lyon String Quartet Competitions.   

He is the recipient of the Nadia Boulanger Prize for Excellence in the Art of Teaching and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary. He studied at the RCM, University of Toronto, Utrecht Conservatory, Hartt School of Music, Juilliard School and Yale University.