In the halls of the Schulich School of Music, you may hear Calvin Patti perfecting a solo cello suite; but an hour later, he’s across campus deciphering equations in his math lecture. While most cellists start their training in early childhood, Calvin didn’t start playing until he was 12. Why cello?
“Cello really stood out to me because it has such a rich tone,” he said. “It's known to sound most like the human voice, so I think it was a way for me to express myself emotionally and musically.”
For this first-year from Cambridge, MA, moving to Montreal wasn't just about adapting to a different culture, but about finding a rhythm within two demanding paths: a Bachelor of Music in Performance (Cello) at Schulich, alongside math electives in preparation for a double major in Mathematics.
From Cambridge to Montreal
When Calvin was looking at schools, being in a city was important to him, and Montreal offered the liveliness he wanted, not to mention its reputation as the . Moving to Montreal also allowed Calvin to reconnect with his French heritage. “It’s really nice to hear French spoken here,” he said.
Despite that, Calvin’s move to Montreal brought the typical anxieties that come with moving across the border. "I was really nervous, honestly, because it’s another country and a completely new environment," Calvin said. “But I think I felt comforted by the warmth of the Schulich community.”
Calvin’s audition experience eased his nerves even before he decided on Schulich, which stood out as the most positive and least stressful of his application cycle. “It felt like they wanted me to succeed," he said. “This audition felt special.” He attributed much of that calm to Grace, his Audition Day Ambassador, who provided the support he needed to play his best.
That sense of support carried through beyond his audition, helping Calvin put himself out there when he arrived on campus.
“I was like, ‘Hey, do you want to sight-read this quartet together?’ And then people were like, ‘Sure.’ And that’s how I made some of my best friends today.” What initially felt like a big leap quickly proved to be a place where he found a sense of belonging.
Balancing Music and Math
When Calvin was looking at schools, his requirements were specific: he needed a highly regarded music faculty and a strong mathematics department. "I think ɬ is one of those schools, and it’s why I applied,” he said.
"You have to plan around orchestra, and you have to plan your different quartet rehearsals, and individual practice around your different classes, which I didn't have to do before in high school,” he explained. Luckily, Schulich’s music facilities are just a stone’s throw away from the main campus, making the two programs easier to manage.
While the workload is a heavy lift, Calvin didn’t have to figure it out alone. Calvin’s academic advisor helped him figure out that he needs to complete 125 credits for his BMus and another 60 credits that are solely math classes to earn a dual degree.
The rigor of his dual-degree path has been a catalyst for growth, helping Calvin develop the organizational skills needed for any professional path. “Like any other college experience, it kind of forced me to be more independent,” he said.
Learning from Schulich Faculty and Peers
Despite the difficulties that can come with juggling two programs, Calvin found his footing at Schulich thanks to its intimate nature. His cello studio consists of just nine students under the mentorship of Prof. Elizabeth Dolin.
"We are kind of unified by having Prof. Dolin as our teacher... and all sharing this passion for music and improving as musicians, and cellists in particular."
His chamber ensemble work has also reached a new level of technical training, particularly in his quartet coached by Prof. André Roy. “We did an insane amount of work that really helped us to blend our sound," he said.
He recalls an exercise where the group had to blend their individual sounds to match the specific voice of the leading instrument, transforming their collective sound. This exercise was a completely new experience for Calvin and highlighted the rigor of Schulich’s chamber music program.
“I did a lot of chamber music and quartet work before, but I hadn't gone this in-depth,” he said.
Finding Community and Connection
Outside the classroom, Calvin serves as a first-year representative for an organization that gives students a voice in shaping their academic and social experience. In this role, he helps fellow first-years navigate their transition and build connections, gathers feedback through class surveys to improve the student experience, and is actively working on organizing events, like an alumni panel.
“It's really cool how powerful, even though we're just undergrads, our voices can be,” he said, “and how much of an impact they can have.”
Calvin also works hard as a Schulich Ambassador to ensure that prospective students have the same warm experience that he had at his audition. It’s just one of many ways students can get involved at Schulich and make a positive impact on their community.
“I want to do the exact thing that Grace did for me,” he said. “She was professional, but also at the same time, she was warm and helped me to just really stay calm during a really stressful time."
Beyond the cultural perks that come with living in Montreal, like attending the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM), the best part of Calvin's experience thus far is the connections he’s made at the Schulich School of Music.
“We know each other, we know how we play, [and] we don't judge each other's mistakes,” he said of his Schulich peers. “I really appreciate the warm, welcoming environment that Schulich brings, that the professors bring, and that the students show.”
