Ryan McClelland, a music scholar and educator renowned for his expertise in rhythmic-metric theory, tonal analysis and performance studies, has been appointed dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music.
(photo by Johnny Guatto)
A professor of music theory, McClelland will serve as dean for a five-year term from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031. He has served as interim dean since January 2025.
His appointment was approved by the university this week.
"I'm very excited by the opportunity to serve as dean of the Faculty of Music over the next five years," said McClelland, who has also been appointed the inaugural Metcalfe Family Decanal Chair in Music. "I am inspired by what our students, faculty and staff accomplish every year - and, as the world changes, I'm excited to lead our own evolution at the Faculty of Music.
"It's important that we continue to provide students with a wide range of opportunities, offering them both breadth and depth in our programs and a world-class education."
A faculty member at U of T since 2004, McClelland's work has appeared in leading journals including Music Theory Spectrum and Music Analysis, as well as in essay collections on composers such as Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert. He is the author of a monograph on Brahms's music and co-authored a textbook analyzing 18th- and 19th-century musical works in the classical tradition. He also co-edited the Cambridge Companion to Rhythm.
His current research projects include a book on motional qualities in the music of Brahms, studies of performance timing in Brahms's late piano works and a broader examination of the scherzo across the 19th century.
McClelland has held several leadership roles at the Faculty of Music, including associate dean, academic and student affairs from 2013 to 2024, and acting dean in 2016-17 and again from June 2023.
"Professor McClelland's deep understanding of the Faculty of Music and clear sense of where it can go next is a tremendous asset," said Trevor Young, U of T's vice-president and provost. "His commitment to scholarship and excellence in musical education, as well as his collaborative approach, will help guide the faculty in building on its many successes in the years to come."
McClelland holds a bachelor of music degree from McGill University and a master of music degree in piano performance and PhD in music theory from Indiana University.
As dean, McClelland said he is focused on expanding opportunities across the faculty.
"Our students have a wide variety of goals coming into our programs," he said. "Many of them are focused on areas that have been longtime strengths at the Faculty of Music - our programs in performance, composition, music education and academic areas like musicology, ethnomusicology and music theory."
He added the Faculty of Music has expanded offerings in emerging fields such as music and health sciences, music technology and digital media, with graduate programs offered in those interdisciplinary areas - and that there are plans to launch a new undergraduate program in music technology and digital media in the fall of 2027.
"There has been a broadening of interest among our students and an increasing interest in interdisciplinary opportunities, with students holding a really wide range of aspirations for their careers and lives following graduation from the Faculty of Music," McClelland said.
"For me, the big priority that lies ahead is ensuring that we have the resources to support our students, faculty and staff. That includes infrastructure in terms of facilities and space, as well as robust financial aid for our students and a faculty complement that supports the breadth of our programs and advances our ability to continue to provide world-class education in a wide array of musical fields."
