Gustin House, Recent Years

Gustin House, a musical-cultural centre and a Provincial Heritage Property, was the home and studio of the distinguished piano teacher, Lyell Gustin (1895-1988). For almost seven decades, hundreds of students came to "512" for music lessons; often, professional musicians, artists and visitors gathered with them for performances and other cultural events. The Lyell Gustin Piano Studios became known nationally and internationally for musical excellence. Many of the students Lyell Gustin taught, adjudicated, and mentored went on to professional music careers on the provincial, national and international levels; other Studio graduates assumed leadership roles in the arts, education, and cultural and civic life. Among initiatives in which Dr. Gustin played a key part were the establishment of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers' Association, the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations, and the Young Artist Series, all of which continue to this day.

In 1988, Dr. Gustin’s property was purchased by his former student, Lloyd Rodwell. Mr. Rodwell created the Gustin/Trounce Heritage Committee to oversee Gustin House; he also arranged that the House be a rental residence, as it stayed for some time after his passing in 1996. During the first months of 2005, the Committee, which included several former Gustin students, fully restored the interior and exterior of the House; and on May 31, 2005–the 110th anniversary of Dr. Gustin's birth–the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan inaugurated the House as a centre dedicated to the legacy of Lyell Gustin.

The House is now used for performances and inter-arts events presented by the Committee, for occasional meetings of music groups, and for exhibit of materials that document Lyell Gustin's career and his extraordinary contribution to music and the arts over his lifetime. Gustin House also serves as the centre from which major recitals are organized for larger Saskatoon venues, following the ideal of Dr. Gustin himself, who brought fine performing artists to local audiences.

Another structure of historic significance on the Gustin property is Trounce House, which dates from 1883 and is Saskatoon's oldest building. In summer 2007, the small Trounce structure was raised and placed on a concrete base further into the lot to assist in its stability and preservation. The Gustin and Trounce Houses were designated as Municipal Heritage Property on April 10, 1989 and–under the title Dr. Lyell Gustin Residence–as Provincial Heritage Property on April 24, 2008. 

The Committee conducts ongoing research into the influential career and musical pedagogy of Dr. Gustin. For this purpose, as well as to create a Studio network, the Committee has located many Gustin graduates and friends across the continent and abroad. If you were associated with the Lyell Gustin Piano Studios as a student or colleague, or know others who were, or if you studied with someone of the Gustin circle and are among the many "musical descendants,"please contact us.

Gustin/Trounce Heritage Committee Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization, is a Registered Charity and provides income tax receipts for monetary donations. All contributions, including memorial and estate gifts, help ensure that the high artistic purpose of Dr. Gustin lives on, enriching society today, inspiring new generations. Donations are directed to the principal works of Gustin House: the presentation of musical recitals and inter-arts programs in the tradition and spirit of the Lyell Gustin Piano Studios, support for the musical formation of youth, research and dissemination of information on the Gustin legacy, and the preservation of cultural and built heritage.