Role

:

Conductor

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Victor Feldbrill was a renowned Canadian conductor and violinist who made significant contributions to the classical music scene in Canada. He was born on April 4, 1924, in Toronto, Canada, to Jewish immigrant parents from Eastern Europe. His father was a tailor, and his mother was a homemaker. Feldbrill showed an early interest in music and began playing the violin at the age of six. Feldbrill's musical talent was recognized early on, and he was accepted into the Toronto Conservatory of Music at the age of ten. He studied violin under the tutelage of Albert Pratz and later studied conducting with Walter Susskind. He also attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Joseph Fuchs and Ivan Galamian. Feldbrill began his professional career as a violinist, playing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Symphony Orchestra. He also played with the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. However, it was his talent as a conductor that would make him a household name in Canada. In 1952, Feldbrill was appointed the conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, where he served for six years. During his tenure, he transformed the orchestra into a world-class ensemble, earning critical acclaim for his innovative programming and dynamic performances. He also championed Canadian composers, commissioning and premiering works by John Weinzweig, Harry Somers, and Istvan Anhalt. In 1958, Feldbrill returned to Toronto and was appointed the conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's Pops Concerts. He also served as the assistant conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa. In 1968, he was appointed the resident conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1973. Feldbrill's tenure with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was marked by numerous highlights, including performances with renowned soloists such as Glenn Gould, Yo-Yo Ma, and Itzhak Perlman. He also conducted the orchestra on several international tours, including a historic tour of the Soviet Union in 1967, where the orchestra was the first Canadian orchestra to perform in the country. Feldbrill was also a champion of contemporary music, conducting the premieres of works by Canadian composers such as R. Murray Schafer, Alexina Louie, and John Beckwith. He was also a strong advocate for music education, conducting numerous concerts for young audiences and serving as the conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. In addition to his work with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Feldbrill was also a guest conductor with numerous orchestras in Canada and the United States, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Feldbrill's contributions to the Canadian music scene were recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1971, he was awarded the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honors. He was also awarded the Canadian Music Council Medal in 1982 and the Toronto Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1996. Feldbrill continued to conduct well into his 90s, leading the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 2014. He passed away on June 17, 2020, at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy as one of Canada's most beloved and influential conductors.

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