Interim Conductor chosen to finish season.

The December concert was Francois Koh’s last concert with the Symphony as he had resigned a few weeks earlier.

The GBS Board was able to secure Richard Mascall as interim conductor to take up the baton and finish the concert season.

Richard studied composing and conducting at the U of T Faculty of Music. He moved to Leith from Toronto in 2005 and joined the GBS as a violinist and then 'Composer-in-Residence' with Canada Council funding. During this time he was also conductor and music director of the Georgian Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Richard is also a private music teacher in this community, teaching at numerous schools throughout the region and in his home studio in Leith for nearly 18 years now.

From 2006-2016, Richard also had a significant role in the Kincardine Summer Music Festival. He had the opportunity to conduct many performances of combined orchestra and choral works, not only at the summer music festival but also at their annual Christmas performances of Handel's Messiah.

Richard has conducted youth orchestra groups at the Interprovincial Music Camp near Parry Sound and the Music at Port Milford festival in Prince Edward County.

Richard has been fortunate to conduct his own works many times over the years, including at the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound. Richard Mascall's works as a composer are increasingly attracting more attention both here in Canada and internationally. A commissioned piece for Ensemble Made In Canada's celebrated Mosaique Project was part of their 'Mosaique' CD that went on to win a JUNO award for Best Classical Album (small ensemble).

The board is looking forward to the energy, commitment and enthusiasm that Richard can bring to the role of interim conductor.