With profound sadness we announce the death of Cindy Shuter, who passed away peacefully in her sleep at Mount Sinai Palliative Care Unit, Montréal on Monday morning, June 9, 2025. She leaves behind her dear brother Terry, niece Set and a broad circle of loyal friends. 

Born Cynthia Bianka Shuter to Maria Taflik Shuter and Denis Shuter in Dartford, Kent, England on August 15, 1947, Cindy emigrated with her family to Canada as a young girl. Raised in the musical tradition of her family’s Salvation Army faith, she was a talented flutist and outstanding teacher. Cindy performed in many orchestras, including the Montreal Symphony orchestra, and for many years toured with renowned pianist André Gagnon. She was one of two women who broke the glass ceiling in the wind instrument department at the Faculty of Music, McGill University. She went on to teach flute and chamber music at McGill for 52 uninterrupted years, training a vast number of Canadian and international flutists. 

Cindy made an enormous difference at McGill, influencing and guiding her colleagues as well as her students. She instinctively understood the importance of student-centred teaching long before it became a fashionable buzzword. Her deep knowledge of the instrument and its repertoire, her exacting instruction, her passion for music and her unwavering commitment to the whole person, not just their technical skills, gave her students a solid base for true personal growth and achievement. Cindy’s sense of humour in the studio was legendary: she would go to great lengths to get the best out of each student, often using whacky props to do so - Disco Duck being a favourite. 

Cindy’s hallmark characteristic was determination. She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2019 and endured multiple rounds of chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy since then. The prognosis for survival at the time of diagnosis was twelve months or less, yet she managed to defy the disease for nearly six years. She continued to teach flute students at McGill throughout her treatments, despite increasing fatigue and the strain of COVID -19 with its rigorous isolation and the steep learning curve of digital teaching. She finally retired in December of 2022, as her health became more precarious and she faced increasing hospitalization. She remained determined to live life on her own terms, in her own place, though finally had to accept the need for hospice care. 

Cindy always found time to binge-watch figure-skating competitions and tennis matches. She could give an in-depth account of the strengths and weaknesses of each athlete, including detailed data on all scoring, whether asked for or not. There was always a cup of tea and a biscuit for visitors, and if you were lucky, maybe a sneak peek at the latest edition of Majesty. 

Cindy’s McGill colleagues recognized her excellence, creating the Cindy Shuter Masterclass Fund at the McGill University Schulich School of Music, an endowed fund that will provide the resources to invite distinguished musical guests each year. Cindy has asked that any donations in her honour go to that fund. https://www.alumni.mcgill.ca/give/index.php? new=1&allocations=05753&levels=100-250-500-1000

In accordance with her wishes, she has been cremated and there will be no funeral or visitation. A memorial service will be held at a later date - of course, the details already organized by Cindy. 

Deepest thanks go to Erika, Carolyn, Jennifer, Mim and the many other members of Team Cindy, who supported her with much time and patient attention through the difficult struggles of the past years. She was deeply loved and we will all miss her very much.