June Convocation 2026 | Student Spotlight on Wiktoria Jurkiewicz

Department of Music - June 4, 2026

We caught up with convocating Bachelor of Music student Wiktoria Jurkiewicz, who shared her story with us.

A little about myself and my background

I was born in a small town in Poland called Kwidzyn. Not long after, my family immigrated to Galway, Ireland, in search of work opportunities, leaving everything behind. Growing up in Ireland was quite different from my later experiences in Canada, especially in education. It wasn’t until we moved to Canada that I was first introduced to music class in elementary school.

I really struggled with the transition of immigrating to Canada - my English was still a work in progress, and everything felt unfamiliar. Music class quickly became the one place where I felt safe. Over time, I became more involved in music through choir, handbells, and recorder. I still remember being chosen to play three handbells for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” because we didn’t have enough players. It was chaotic but exciting, and one of the first moments I realized how much I loved music, and that others could see that passion in me as well.

When it came time to choose a junior high and high school, I saw a poster for Victoria School of the Arts. It felt out of reach, but I auditioned and was accepted. There, I immersed myself in jazz and concert ensembles, honour ensembles, and audio classes. It was where I fell in love with both singing and playing the oboe, and where I was encouraged by my teachers to pursue music at the university level.

Musical practice and training

My musical practice has grown significantly since entering university. I came in with little formal classical training, mostly experience in pop, jazz, oboe repertoire, and some composing and songwriting.

I auditioned for the Bachelor of Music degree on both voice and oboe, which was unusual, but the music department at the University of Alberta supported me in pursuing both throughout my degree. I shaped my studies through ensembles, including the University Opera Theatre, University Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Marching Band, and Madrigal Singers. These experiences helped me grow as a musician. Some of my highlights include my roles in the opera and musical theatre productions with the Opera Theatre class, as well as challenging instrumental repertoire with the instrumental ensembles. All of this led to external opportunities such as singing with the Edmonton Opera Core Chorus and playing with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra.

I also took additional courses out of interest, where I learned conducting, explored other instruments, and studied the International Phonetic Alphabet. I later performed a recital featuring both voice and oboe, which felt like a meaningful culmination of my degree.

Awards, competitions, and leadership

Throughout my degree, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone. One professor told me that the worst decision is no decision at all, which led me to take risks even when it meant having to fail over and over again. Over time, I learned to see failure as a necessary part of my growth and journey.

A major turning point for me was performing a concert aria with the University Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear, which felt surreal after previously struggling with debilitating stage fright. It was my first time singing with an orchestra, which reassured me that things were starting to come together for me.

As music students, we are fortunate to have so many opportunities at this university. In my senior year, I decided to go all in and take part in absolutely everything the university had to offer, despite the fear and vulnerability that came with it. I competed in the University of Alberta Concerto Competition on both voice and oboe, which showed me where I needed to improve - so it was back to the practice room. Then, I was selected as the student participant for the Rumbold Vocal Prize where I worked with professionals within the opera industry, and placed first in the Anne Burrows Competition after previously placing third. I also won the Alberta Baroque Ensemble Competition, received the Johann Strauss Foundation Scholarship, and represented the winds category in the Edmonton Chamber Music Society Competition.

Outside of the university, I was a finalist in the Royal Canadian Artillery Band Concerto Competition and won the Northern Alberta Concerto Competition, which led to a performance of my oboe concerto with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra at the Winspear. I also received a Polish Heritage Society Scholarship recognizing my leadership skills.

Looking back, it is surreal. I did not begin my degree thinking I would take part in performance opportunities, as I did not think I had it in me to perform, but through mentorship and experience, that completely changed. In a short time, both of my goals - singing and playing as a soloist with orchestra - became reality.

Post-graduation plans

I will be taking a year to teach music lessons as I find fulfillment in passing my love of music onto others, while exploring other opportunities after graduation. My goal is to pursue graduate studies, with the possibility of returning to Europe. My upcoming projects include the Domaine Forget de Charlevoix oboe intensive and singing Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte in Vienna with the Vienna Opera Academy.

I will always look back on my time at the University of Alberta with gratitude, where my mentors saw potential in me that I did not see in myself and helped me grow into the person and musician I am today.