Brandon University’s School of Music now shares its location with an honorary street name: James Ehnes Way.

The designation was unveiled during a two-day visit by violinist James Ehnes, who returned to his hometown of Brandon, Man., for a concert and related events. The honorary name appears along the 200- and 300-blocks of 20th Street, adjacent to the university’s music facilities.

The unveiling took place shortly before a sold-out concert at Brandon University’s Lorne Watson Recital Hall. Ehnes and his family were present at the event.

In remarks at the event, Ehnes reflected on his upbringing in Brandon and its role in his early development as a musician, saying, “You have a community that is close-knit, that is supportive, where people look after one another, where it’s small enough to be noticed. It also is a city, as I mentioned, that makes it clear to you that you can be anything and you can go anywhere.”

‘Homecoming’

James Ehnes attended Brandon University’s School of Music in his early training years, where his father, Alan Ehnes, served as trumpet professor. He later studied at the Juilliard School in New York. Over his career, he has received multiple honours, including Grammy Awards, Gramophone Awards, and several Juno Awards, and has been appointed to the Order of Canada.

The honorary street naming is only the third of its kind in Brandon, according to the city. It coincided with Ehnes’ visit, which is part of a 50th birthday tour that includes performances in all of Canada’s provinces and territories.

During the visit, Ehnes also led a masterclass with students from Brandon University’s School of Music and the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory. Acting dean of music Leanne Zacharias called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of the kids, saying, “Despite his international fame, James credits his roots in Brandon and its strong arts community as a significant part of his development. His return provided us a great opportunity to celebrate the spirit within our musical community.”

Ehnes described his return to the campus as a homecoming and acknowledged the role the School of Music and its faculty have played in his career.