ABBA

He is a conductor born in Toronto, Ontario, who first ventured into music was when he began to learn the trumpet under the tuition of his amateur cornet-playing father when he was 10 years old.

After leaving high school he entered Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music coupled with private tuition and in 1953 he joined the forces and became a musician with the Canadian Guards Band, serving a tour of duty in Korea in 1954. He then got posted to Calgary and went on to perform with the Royal Canadians and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry band.

He became a member of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and began to study conducting, first with a conductor he had worked under in the forces and later with a Professor from the Vienna State Opera.

He accepted an invitation by the Government of Alberta to become their Assistant Supervisor of Music and was recognised by them later when he was given their “Award of Excellence. He was also a member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra with whom he played the trumpet and conducted their pops section. He became a long-time member of the Tommy Banks Orchestra and appeared with them in broadcasts and on recordings for more than thirty years.

In the 1960s he founded the Cosmopolitan Music Society in Edmonton, in 1963 he was a founder member of the Musicians & Actors Club in Calgary, which evolved into Theatre Calgary, and in 1978 he was given the Directors Award and given Honorary Life Membership by the Canadian Band Assistance.

In 1993 the City of Edmonton awarded him the Cultural Achievement Award and in 1997 he was made a life member of the American Bandmasters Association.

When the new millennium came around he was still active as ever and still being honoured by many different groups and associations. In 2001 he was awarded the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic International Award and in 2007 he received the Atco Gas Award for Lifetime Achievement.

After more than 40 years loyal service with the CMS he retired in 2007 and was named their Music Director Emeritus.

Aside from the orchestras listed above he has conducted ensembles such as the Edmonton Wind Ensemble and Alberta’s Symphonic Winds and Chamber Choir.

Edmonton Wind Ensemble recordings

Snake Fence Country (Howard Cable)

CBC Records SMCD 5165

Conductor – Harry Pinchin

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