CBC Music’s hosts and producers have rounded up their 22 favourite classical albums of 2022 and, once again, artists from the Royal Conservatory of Music community figure prominently among the outstanding recordings on the annual list. 

From alumni and faculty of the RCM Certificate Program, The Glenn Gould School (GGS), and The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists, to Koerner Hall performers, here are the RCM artists in the Top 22 this year.

22. Horizons, Buzz Brass 

Featuring Frédéric Gagnon, principal trumpet, an alumnus of the RCM Certificate Program.  

19. Lumena, Topaz Duo 

Both members of this Toronto duo have strong ties to the RCM: Harpist and JUNO Award-winner Angela Schwarzkopf is an alumna and faculty of The Glenn Gould School; and flutist Kaili Maimets is an RCM alumna, ARCT, and gold medalist. 

18. Debussy Piano Duets, Louis Lortie, Hélène Mercier 

Both Louis Lortie and Hélène Mercier are Koerner Hall artists. 

16. Preludes, Julia MacLaine 

Cellist Julia MacLaine is an RCM alumna. 

15. Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp. 106 & 111, Angela Hewitt 

Pianist Angela Hewitt is an RCM alumna and Koerner Hall artist. 

14. Nikolai Korndorf: The Smile of Maud Lewis, various musicians 

Among the acclaimed musicians on this album are RCM alumni Jae-Won Bang, violin; Angela Cavadas, violin; Katrina Chitty, viola (gold medalist); Leslie Dala, conductor; Chris James, flute/piccolo/recorder - (ARCT, gold medalist, FHMC Scholarship); Jenny Lim, violin; Isidora Nojkovic, cello; Timothy Steeeves, violin (ARCT, gold medalist, FHMC Scholarship); and RCM teachers Ariel Barnes, cello; Evelyn Creaser-Rumley, violin; Mark Ferris, violin; Jane Hayes, piano; Anna Levy, piano; Domagoj Ivanovic, violin; Ann Okagaito, violin; Reg Quiring, viola; Isabelle Roland, viola; Mary Sokol-Brown, violin; Xiaoxue Sunny She, violin; Nicholas Wright, violin; and RCM alumni and teachers AK Coope, clarinet; and Jennie Press, violin. 

11. Viola Borealis, Marina Thibeault, Orchestre de l'Agora, Nicolas Ellis 

Conductor Nicolas Ellis is a Koerner Hall artist. 

10. Portrait: Alex Baranowski, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà 

Violinist Angèle Dubeau and her chamber orchestra, La Pietà, are Koerner Hall artists, including performances at the RCM’s 21C Music Festival. 

7. C.P.E. Bach: Sonatas & Rondos, Marc-André Hamelin 

Pianist Marc-André Hamelin is a Koerner Hall artist and a contributor to the RCM’s Celebration Series^®, Sixth Edition Repertoire books. 

6. Massenet: Complete Songs for Voice and Piano, Olivier Godin and various musicians 

Featuring RCM vocal alumni Karina Gauvin; Sophie Naubert; and Stéphane Tétreault, who is also an RCM voice teacher. 

5. Schumann: The Three Violin Sonatas, Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin 

Violinists Andrew Wan is an RCM alumnus, and Charles Richard-Hamelin is a Koerner Hall artist. 

4. Pachelbel: Magnificat Fugues, Space Time Continuo 

This baroque chamber ensemble includes RCM alumna and cello teacher Amanda Keesmaat. 

3. Night Music, Jan Lisiecki 

A JUNO Award winner and UNESCO Ambassador, pianist Jan Lisiecki is also Koerner Hall artist and alumnus of the RCM. 

2. Fables, Philip Chiu 

Pianist Philip Chiu is an alumnus of The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists. 

1. Vagues et ombres, collectif9 

Among the musicians of collectif9 are RCM alumni Chloé Chabanole, violin; John Corban, violin; and Andrea Stewart, cello.