A Canadian roster of classical artists and the debut of a specially commissioned R. Murray Schafer work officially opens the Royal Conservatory of Music's lavish new Koerner Hall in Toronto on Friday evening, but organizers have also programmed a wide-ranging opening concert series in an attempt to "blow the dust off" the historic school.

A key part of the venerable Royal Conservatory's extensive $60-million renovation, the new hall will host the world premiere of Schafer's Spirits of the House — specially commissioned by lead donors Michael and Sonja Koerner.

Schafer described the work as a blend of his own composition with fragments of music from the conservatory's storied past.

"I have often thought … that sounds do not die but continue to echo forever in the dark spaces and starry skies," the composer said in a statement.

"From the rafters and cellars of the old building, I have strung together fragments of pieces written by some of the conservatory's most celebrated composers and teachers over three generations, conjoined with thoughts and reflections of my own."

'What I want to do is bring the best of the best, no matter the genre.'— Mervon Mehta, RCM executive director of performing arts

The opening gala will also feature the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, pianist Anton Kuerti, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and soloist singers Robert Pomakov, Erin Wall, Colin Ainsworth and Wallis Giunta, as well as a tribute to Glenn Gould, who would have celebrated his 77th birthday Friday.

Opening celebrations cross musical genres

Following the classical kick-off for the 1,140-seat Koerner Hall, executive director Mervon Mehta has curated a wide-ranging musical series that will extend the celebrations for the next few weeks.

"Within every genre there's great music and great artistry and people who want to have something to say," Mehta told CBC in a recent interview. "What I want to do is bring the best of the best, no matter the genre."

Pop, jazz and world music artists will join those playing the new hall during the opening concerts. Headliners include jazz great Chick Corea, Toronto singer Sophie Milman, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, blues icon Keb'Mo' and sitarist Ravi Shankar with his daughter, Anoushka Shankar.

In addition to featuring celebrated musical artists from different genres, Mehta wants the new hall to help promote the Royal Conservatory's students and teachers and its variety of offerings.

"We want to make sure that people who are coming to concerts know that they're coming to a conservatory. Not that we’re going to give them an exam when they come out, but this is a learning institution," he said.

"Here, you’re going to come to a concert of let's say Midori or Paquito D'Rivera, and then you'll walk out into the lobby after the show and there'll be a student performance happening at the same time. We're always trying to have a little value added."

In his attempt to "blow the dust off the conservatory," Mehta, a noted arts administrator and member of the Mehta musical dynasty, also wants people to rediscover the Toronto institution.

"No one really knows what we do over here, even people who live in Toronto. There are 5,000 people who take a class here every year and half of them are adults," said the Montreal-raised Mehta, who praised the conservatory's classical program but also pointed out its classes for Flamenco guitar, sitar, tabla and taiko drumming.

"It's not all little kids with violins."

Elements of the Royal Conservatory of Music's opening music series will be recorded for future broadcast on CBC Radio 2.