A passion for music, a desire to help students

Twenty years after he retired, Roy Barnett (BCom ’61) was determined to play the piano. At 72, he enrolled at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Four years later, Barnett plays a range of classical music which includes some Beethoven sonatas, Bach preludes and fugues, and Chopin etudes.

“I’m hoping to develop my playing to a high level and am having a lot of fun in the process,” says Barnett, former treasurer of what was then Novopharm, one of Canada’s largest generic pharmaceutical companies.

“I have always admired performances by classical pianists,” recalls Barnett. “I played and performed classical music on the accordion until my late teens, but knew all along that it was a much less versatile instrument than the piano. In the 1980s, I bought a piano but didn’t have enough time to devote to practicing seriously on it. Time passed, and finally it was my wife, Gunilla, who urged me most persuasively, to start taking lessons. The decision to do so was one of the high points in my life.”

A lifelong interest in music led Roy, with the full support of his wife, Gunilla, to make a gift of $2 million dollars to the UBC School of Music, part of which has now been used to renovate the Recital Hall.

This performance and rehearsal facility was renamed the Roy Barnett Recital Hall in his honour and reopened with a ceremony and concert on September 15, 2010.

“I felt that the opportunity to fund the renewal of the Recital Hall was an exciting and very effective way to give back to the community,” says Barnett of enhancing the facilities for the education and professional development of music students.

“It appealed to me instantly, especially since my funding of this truly worthwhile project would enable me to participate, to some extent, in certain decisions to be made during the renovation. This involvement would be most satisfying.”

The 255-seat concert hall and rehearsal space is occupied nearly every day of the week with student recitals, ensemble programs and performances by faculty, alumni and guest artists.

“Hundreds of events take place in the Recital Hall every year,” says Professor Richard Kurth, Director of the School of Music. “It has been the core of the music building since it opened in 1968 and the renewed space will allow both undergraduate and graduate students to develop as solo and chamber music performers.”

Enhanced acoustics, new audiovisual equipment, updated aesthetics, and increased accessibility make the Roy Barnett Recital Hall an essential space for budding musicians. The enlarged and reconfigured stage will improve the acoustics of students’ performances and allow audience members to benefit from a more intimate experience with the musicians.

“It’s exciting to think that I will actually see and hear the results and benefits that have been realized from this particular renovation,” Barnett says.

From classical to contemporary genres, the Roy Barnett Recital Hall will allow students to develop like never before. The new state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment will encourage the development of electro-acoustic music, the combination of electronic technology with live performance. Updated recording facilities will also enable students and faculty to review and archive their performances based on the latest recording standards.

“It’s essential to hear yourself playing,” says Chris Hutchinson, a 4th year flute major who has performed annual recitals in the hall since 2006. “To be able to hear yourself under the pressures of performance as well as how others hear you is very beneficial for developing one’s career.”

As he embarks on his final year at UBC, Hutchinson recognizes the increasing importance of recording live performances, especially on high definition video.

“Many universities require you to submit a DVD when applying to graduate programs. They’re looking for the whole package: stage presence, sound, technique, command of the stage. These professional resources will give UBC students a competitive edge.”

“This generous gift represents the power of individual philanthropy,” says Kurth. “Roy’s relationship as a proud alumnus and music lover quintessentially represents the School of Music’s efforts to support a culture of music in the community. He understands the
importance of music in everyday life.”

When asked about his vision for the hall, Barnett says, “It’s a facility to be proud of and should be kept in top condition. These renovations will help the hall become more effective in the development of students in the School of Music and provide memorable experiences for all who use it.”

The Barnett Hall is located in the School of Music Building (6361 Memorial Road).