Mia-Lin Gromko wins the Governor General’s Silver Medal

Mia-Lin Gromko, a Schulich School of Music student who is graduating from her undergraduate degree this year, is the winner of the prestigious Governor General’s Academic Silver Medal. She is the first-ever Schulich student to earn this recognition at McGill. 

“I am extremely honored to have been selected to receive the 2023 Governor General’s Silver Medal and am immensely thankful for this recognition,” she said. “I would like to thank my family, friends, colleagues and teachers for all their love and continuous support throughout my musical and educational journey.” 

The Governor General’s Silver Medal is awarded to students who earn the highest academic standing in a Bachelor program across McGill University. This award was first created by Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third Governor General after Confederation, in 1873. It has since become one of the most prestigious awards that students in Canadian schools can receive. Only two are awarded at McGill per year. 

Mia-Lin earned her Silver Medal thanks to her exceptional performance in Schulich’s Jazz Performance program, with a minor in Psychology. While she began her musical training as a classical pianist at four years old, she quickly fell in love with the saxophone during her musical education at Collège Sainte-Anne de Lachine. She then discovered the jazz saxophone at Marianopolis College, which fueled her passion for jazz and put on her a path towards Schulich. 

“I feel especially grateful for my years at McGill, where I was encouraged to go outside of my comfort zone while learning tremendously,” she said.  

In Fall 2023, she will begin a master's degree in psychology (with a specialization in Music Cognition) at l’Université de Montréal, where she hopes to study the various health benefits of music on the brain and well-being. 

Congratulations Mia-Lin!