Georgian Bay Symphony

Orchestra
Short name| GBS
Founded| 1972
Location| Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Website| www.georgianbaysymphony.ca

The award winning[1] Georgian Bay Symphony (GBS) located in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, was founded in 1972[2] by a small group of dedicated area musicians and became a Canadian Registered Charity in 1982.[3] It is considered a significant cultural institution in Owen Sound and area.[4][5][6] The GBS is a community orchestra with over 60 volunteer musicians and a core group of professionals under Music Director Jeffrey Pollock. The GBS performs five Main Series concerts at the East Ridge Community School in the 761-seat Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Community Auditorium each season. Guest artists have included some of Canada’s best musical talent including Shauna Rolston, Alain Trudel, George Gao, Adrian Anantawan, Richard Raymond, and Jonathan Crow.

## History

[edit]

In 1985, the orchestra played host to a unique on ice live performance with Toller Cranston.[7] In 1990, they hosted a performance of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra on a good will tour of Canada.[8] In 2016, the symphony collaborated with Canadian author Roch Carrier to present an orchestral version of " The Hockey Sweater,[9] by Canadian composer Abigail Richardson-Schulte.

Over the years, the orchestra has also premiered work by several Canadian composers: F. R. C. Clarke's "Saugeenia" March 8, 1981[10] in concert with the Centennial Singers in Port Elgin. Andrew Ager's "Autumn Overture" October 25, 2003.[11] Kevin Lau's "Sea of Blossoms" March 3, 2007 and "The White Horse" February 2009. Luc Martin's "Concerto for Recorder and Double Base" February 7, 2015. Richard Mascall[12] was the composer-in-residence from 2007 until 2010. While holding this position, he created several works that were premiered by the GBS: "Giizhigoong" commissioned as part of the City of Owen Sound’s 150 Anniversary celebrations, "Dream of the Anishnabaek", "Ojibway Songs", "Nanabush and the Giant Beaver",[13] Manitoulin".[14] Many of these works have been performed by many other groups including "Manitoulin" by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

In 2022 the orchestra won the Owen Sound Arts & Culture Award for Outstanding Event [15] In 2017, the orchestra was the recipient of the Vida Peene Award[1] from the Ontario Arts Council and in 2018 won the Outstanding Group category at the Owen Sound Cultural Awards.[16] These are not the first awards for the orchestra. In 2014, the GBS won an Owen Sound Cultural Award in the same category and in 1999, the Symphony was a recipient of the Lieutenant-Governor's Award for the Arts[17][18]

The Symphony participates in many community events including performing the National Anthem before at least one OHL Jr A Owen Sound Attack hockey game each season.

During the pandemic the Georgian Bay Symphony was one of the only community orchestras in Canada to launch a full digital season.

John Barnum retired as Music Director and Conductor of the GBS in 2015, after serving in that role for over two decades. In his final year he was honoured with the Owen Sound Cultural Life Time Achievement Award.[19]

## Conductors

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* Hermon C. Dilmore (1971–1976)[20]
* Eric Woodward (1976–1979)[21]
* Jim White (1979)[22]
* Jerome Summers (1980–1981)[23]
* Erna Van Daele (1981–1983)[24]
* Kerry Stratton (1983–1989)[25]
* Clyde Mitchell (1990[26]–1993)
* John Barnum (1993[27]–May 2015)[28]
* François Koh (June 2015 – December 2022)[29]
* Richard Mascall (January 2023)
* Jeffrey Pollock (2024- )[30]

## See also

[edit]

* List of symphony orchestras
* Canadian classical music

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Vida Peene Fund Laureates". Ontario Arts Council. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
2. ^ "Symphony formed in Grey-Bruce". Kitchener-Waterloo Record. September 20, 1972.
3. ^ "Canadian Registered Charity". Government of Canada. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
4. ^ White, Paul (2000). Owen Sound: The Port City. Toronto: National Heritage. p. 170\. ISBN 1896219233.
5. ^ Langlois, Denis (April 12, 2013). "New video markets Owen Sound". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
6. ^ Bland, Warren (2005). Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada. Chester, New Jersey: Next Decade. p. 60. ISBN 1932919198.
7. ^ Algie, Jim (March 2, 1985). "Cranston...purely unpredictable". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
8. ^ Walker, Bill (February 13, 1990). "City to welcome Moscow orchestra". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
9. ^ nurun.com. "'Hockey Sweater' author, symphony to perform". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
10. ^ "Centennial Singers join with Georgian Bay Orchestra". The Beacon Times. Feb 25, 1981.
11. ^ Henry, Bill (October 2, 2003). "New Music". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
12. ^ "Composer Showcase". Canadian Music Centre. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
13. ^ Carmicheal, Harold (Feb 25, 2013). "Parents rave Nanaabush Spectacular". The Sudbury Star. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
14. ^ Henry, Bill (August 27, 2012). "Georgian Bay Symymphony's 40th Anniversary Concert to premier Richard Mascall's Manitoulin". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
15. ^ "Owen Sound celebrates strong creative scene with Arts and Cultural Awards". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
16. ^ "Owen Sound Sun Times". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. Retrieved 2018-12-27.[failed verification]
17. ^ "COC wins top Lieutenant-Governor's prize". The Globe and Mail. Canada Press. 8 December 1999.
18. ^ Jackson, Johathon (8 December 1999). "Sound foundation earns symphony provincial kudos". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
19. ^ Scott, Dunn (Feb 15, 2015). "Owen Sound honours cultural achievements". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
20. ^ Adams, Ralph (September 7, 1976). "Conductor Leaving Georgian orchestra". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
21. ^ Wilson, Trish (June 24, 1977). "New conductor has music in his blood". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
22. ^ Jim, Algie (September 6, 1979). "Conductor works out with orchestra". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
23. ^ Riddell, Ken (March 23, 1981). "Orchestra split over hiring of better players". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
24. ^ Durichen, Pauline (September 1981). "Conductor getting things done". Kitchener-Waterloo Record.
25. ^ "Stratton leaving". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. May 29, 1989.
26. ^ McNichol, Phil (June 20, 1990). "GBS names new director". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
27. ^ Thorbjornsen, Lise (September 16, 1993). "Far from the madding crowd". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
28. ^ Masters, James (May 8, 2015). "Final directions". The Sun Times. Owen Sound.
29. ^ "Koh to lead symphony". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. April 30, 2015.
30. ^ "The Georgian Bay Symphony Welcomes New Music Director - Jeffrey Pollock". Georgian Bay Symphony. Georgian Bay Symphony.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Portal:

* Classical music