This year’s series of Masterminds free public lectures traverses an eclectic terrain of ideas. A singer, trombone player and a tuba player meet on stage to play music and tell stories about some of their life-changing musical experiences. A computer scientist compares historical and current photographs of mountain glaciers as part of an investigation into the effects of climate change in the West. A medical anthropologist combines research, storytelling and zombie metaphors as part of a cautionary tale of stress in our culture. And a linguist and app developer uses sound and video to demonstrate how we produce language.

A historian who is increasing our understanding of Islam. An engineer and a computer scientist who are making our lives easier with new technologies. A nurse who is helping the terminally ill and their families cope. And a performing artist who inspires us to better appreciate the world around us.

Show your heart is filled with song this Valentine's Day by sending your significant other a singing Valentine! There’s no better way to impress your lover than with a romantic barbershop medley sung by UVic School of Music students in the Vocal Jaz…

A decade ago he was recording the likes of A-list rockers R.E.M., Bryan Adams and the Foo Fighters, but these days you’ll more likely find Kirk McNally tweaking the levels in the MacLaurin Building’s recording studio. But as the Audio Specialist and Recording Engineer for the School of Music since 2004, the best part of McNally’s job is that he doesn’t really have a typical day.

Update January 2014: The winner of UVic's School of Music / Vikes Nation Rally Song Contest was decided at the Vikes men’s basketball game on Jan. 10—and first prize went to the music school's songwriting instructor Colleen Eccleston.  Vikes Nation …