The Royal Conservatory of Music announced today that James Anagnoson will be stepping back from his duties as Dean of The Glenn Gould School, effective this summer.
Having held the position since 2007, Anagnoson will refocus his efforts on teaching and mentorship. He will continue his work at GGS as Director of the Piano Department, will remain an active member of the piano faculty and will oversee the Piano Master Class Program. He will do so as Dean Emeritus, in recognition of his remarkable dedication and the profound impact he has made on the school and its students.
Barry Shiffman, Associate Dean and Head of Chamber Music, has been named Dean Designate, effective immediately. His long-standing leadership at the RCM, deep relationships across the community, and internationally respected artistic vision make him an ideal choice for the role. From July 20, Shiffman will take on the dual responsibility of Dean of The Glenn Gould School and The Taylor Academy.
James Anagnoson’s connection to The Royal Conservatory of Music spans a remarkable 50 years. His unwavering commitment to excellence, humanity, and mentorship has truly defined this great institution. Barry Shiffman’s appointment represents a natural and exciting continuation of James Anagnoson’s legacy. I look forward to continuing to work with both Jim and Barry in the years to come.
Alexander Brose
Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory
Anagnoson is thrilled to have built such a longstanding relationship with the RCM.
It has been one of the great privileges of my professional life to serve as Dean of The Glenn Gould School. After many deeply rewarding years in this role, I am looking forward to devoting more of my time and energy to teaching, mentoring, and working directly with our extraordinary students. I remain profoundly committed to GGS and to its future, and I am delighted that Barry Shiffman will be guiding the next chapter.
James Anagnoson,
Dean
For Shiffman, his new role represents a continuation of a long and deeply personal association with The Royal Conservatory.
“The Royal Conservatory is where I started my music journey, and it has been my artistic home for many years. James Anagnoson’s leadership has shaped the school in lasting and meaningful ways. I look forward to building on the remarkable foundation he has established.”
Barry Shiffman,
Dean Designate
Shiffman, a violinist and violist, has built a rich and varied career as a performer, recording artist, teacher, and administrator. In 1989, co-founded the St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ). During his 17 years with the ensemble, Shiffman appeared in more than 2,000 concerts worldwide. Under contract with EMI Classics the quartets critically acclaimed recordings won a JUNO award and GRAMMY nomination. With the quartet he served on the faculty of Stanford University from 1998-2006.
Since the fall of 2010, Shiffman has held senior leadership roles at the RCM, serving as Associate Dean and Director of Chamber Music at The Glenn Gould School and Director of The Phil and Eli Taylor Academy for Young Artists. Shiffman is also Director of the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Festival and has previously served as Director of Music Programs and Artistic Director of Summer Classical Programs at The Banff Centre.
In addition to his work at Banff Centre and The Royal Conservatory, Shiffman has served as Executive Artistic Director of Vancouver’s Music in the Morning Concerts from 2009-2017.
Since 2017, Shiffman has been Artistic Director of Rockport Music, directing the summer chamber music festival and other classical programming at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts.
A sought-after juror, he has 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 awarded by the Longy School of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary. His formal studies were at The Royal Conservatory, the University of Toronto, Utrecht Conservatory, Hartt School of Music, Juilliard School and Yale University.
James Anagnoson is one of Canada’s best-known pianists and pedagogues. He has been on the piano faculty at GGS since its formation in 1987 and has also taught at the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario.
Mr. Anagnoson’s students have won prizes in major international competitions including the Maria Canals, International Franz Liszt, Gina Bachauer, and Dublin International Piano Competitions, and have been frequent prize winners in Canada’s national competitions. He has given master classes throughout Europe, North America, and Asia and has served on juries for numerous international competitions.
In 1976, Anagnoson began his long-standing duo partnership with Canadian pianist Leslie Kinton. The duo Anagnoson & Kinton has performed in more than 1,500 concerts worldwide, appeared as concerto soloists with Canada’s leading orchestras, and recorded 10 acclaimed albums. They were named Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory of Music in 2019.
Mr. Anagnoson received his master’s degree from The Juilliard School, and his bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, which he attended on scholarship.