The Victoria Conservatory of Music, originally called the Victoria School of Music, was founded as a training school in 1964 to provide musicians for the Victoria Symphony, and soon evolved into a community music school of a high standard. The direction broadened immediately with the arrival of Dr. Robin Wood and Winifred Scott Wood in 1965 as Principal and Vice-Principal.



As the Conservatory grew from 40 students in at its beginning to over 1,200 students who attend today, it moved several times. It was first located in the old Union Hall in downtown Victoria near Centennial Square. In 1968 it was given the use of Craigdarroch Castle by the City of Victoria. When the Castle became too crowded, the Conservatory was again re-located, this time to the annex of St. Ann's Academy near Beacon Hill Park.



As rapid growth required moves from union hall to castle to convent annex, the Conservatory's goal was to find a permanent home. In 1997, the Conservatory purchased the century-old Metropolitan United Church and began the process of making this magnificent heritage building into a state-of-the-art music school with two concert halls, studios and other facilities. In December 1999, with most of the construction completed, the Conservatory moved into its new home.