A Brief History

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Live Classical Music in Grey and Bruce Counties since 1972.

Music You Love, Played By People You Know

 

The Georgian Bay Symphony was founded in 1972 by a small group of dedicated area musicians who had come together to compete in the local Kiwanis Music Festival. Their passion for live classical music was rewarded when the adjudicator, UWO music professor Herman Dilmore, was so impressed he asked the group to form a community orchestra. He became the first Music Director. To this day the Symphony awards a bursary to a high school music student in his name.

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There have been several highlights over the years. In 1985, the orchestra played host to a unique on ice live performance with Toller Cranston. In 1988 a fine Yamaha concert grand piano was purchased with the help of Miss Agnes Brown.  In 1990, they hosted a performance of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra on a good will tour of Canada. In the autumn of 1999 the Symphony moved into their new home at the 761 seat OSCVI Community Auditorium. The Symphony had helped with the major fundraising campaign for this new cultural venue with a donation of $25,000. In fact, auditorium space in the new school was designed to provide a beautiful acoustically excellent theatre for the symphony to perform in for decades to come.

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Over the years the orchestra has also premiered work by several Canadian composers: F. R. C. Clarke's "Saugeenia" March 8, 1981 in concert with the Centennial Singers in Port Elgin. Andrew Ager's "Autumn Overture" October 25, 2003. 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 was the Composer in Residence from 2007-2010. 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”, Manitoulin”. Many of these works have been performed by many other groups including “Manitoulin” by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

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Guest artists have included some of Canada’s best musical talent, including Johathan Crow, Shauna Rolston, Angela Cheng, Nadina Mackie-Jackson, George Gao, Adrian Anantawan, Richard Raymond, and Sharlene Wallace. The iconic Canadian story “The Hockey Sweater” was performed at the 2016 Christmas event, with composer Abigail Richardson-Shute in attendance, and author Roch Carriere reading live for the concert.

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The GBS has grown to an outstanding community orchestra attracting talented musicians from Owen Sound and across Grey and Bruce Counties under the baton of our Musical Director Jeffrey Pollock. The GBS performs five “Main Series” concerts in East Ridge Community School in the OSCVI Auditorium each season. The Symphony participates in many community events including hosting a free family Christmas concert each year. 

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The GBS encourages talented young people with a bursary and scholarship program supported in part by our subscribers. Several of our regular players are now attending university to study their chosen instrument and the Symphony offers them a small ‘bursary’ to come back and play at weekend performances.

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The City of Owen Sound highlights the uniqueness of having a symphony orchestra in the community as part of their tourism and relocation marketing strategy of “Where you want to live”.

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Mission Statement

 

The Sound of Grey Bruce - The Georgian Bay Symphony harnesses music's inspirational power through performances, educational programs, and community engagement, enriching the Grey Bruce region's quality of life with meaningful experiences and connections.

 

Vision Statement

  

A community where live music connects people from all walks of life to inspire a more vibrant and creative region.

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Music Director and Conductor

 

• Hermon C. Dilmore 1971-1976

• Eric Woodward 1976-1979

• Jim White 1979

• Jerome Summers 1980-1981

• Erna Van Daele 1981-1983

• Kerry Stratton 1983-1989

• Clyde Mitchell 1990-1993

• John Barnum 1993-May 2015

• François Koh June 2015-2022

• Richard Mascall (interim) Dec 2022-May 2023

• Jeffrey Pollock June 2024-

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Special Thanks

 

• Archivist : Donna Steinacher

• Digital Archivist : Shirley Dickson

• Assistant Photographer : John Dickson

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