Parents, students and staff at Villa Maria High School say they were shocked and disappointed to find out that the private school in NDG is shutting down its 164-year-old music program at the end of the school year, leaving 20 teachers out of work and over 140 students in limbo.
Charlotte Cumberbirch, voice teacher and union rep, said she got the news two weeks ago.
"It's a sadness," said Cumberbirch in an interview with CJAD 800 News.
"Yes, the orchestra remains, and that's cool but there's no guitar in the orchestra, there' s no voice in the orchestra, there will be a hole."
Sec III student Teale Bishopric said she only started voice lessons this year and has become attached to it, adding she "was very heartbroken when I found out about it"
"It helps you get through your day, and I find that that's very important or else you're overwhelmed by the stress of every other subject," Bishopric told CJAD 800 News.
"You feel like there's a lot less stress. It just feels like the most amazing place on earth."
Bishopric said she probably wouldn't have enrolled if she had known, a sentiment echoed by Maureen Marovitch whose daughter is a Sec III cello student.
Marovitch is among the parents and others fighting the closure in the wake of the decision and last week's information session at the school.
"Not really much of a session except to say we'll listen to your voices but we're not going to change our mind," said Marovitch.
Cumberbirch said things haven't been the same at the music school since the director was let go and they've been "left to fend for themselves."
"I know that one of the reasons that the employer has cited for the closure of the school is lack of interest but there has been, frankly, zero promotion on the part of the school for this program since they got rid of our director," said Cumberbirch.
Marovitch said music is an important part of life.
"It's just good for students - my daughter wants to be a doctor, she's really interested in the sciences, and that's great, we're so excited - but it just gives her a chance for her to have an artistic side as well," said Marovitch.
Villa Maria said in a statement to CJAD 800 News that the decision to close the music school was based on declining enrolment and would not say how much money it would save by closing it because "the school does not disclose its financials due to confidentiality issues."
The school said that they did their best to promote the program, adding the decision is final.