Piano
Ron began piano studies in Toronto at the age of four, studying first with Edna Garlick, then moving to the Royal Conservatory as a scholarship student with Elsie Bennett. In 1970 he was accepted into the University of Toronto Music Performance program, studying with Anton Kuerti, Katherina Wolpe and Patricia Parr. Ron held his first position as a pianist for a large Toronto church from 1965 to 1976, where he developed much of his accompanying and keyboard harmony skills. Absent then from playing the piano as his primary instrument for over a quarter of a century, Ron returned to piano performance in 2003, giving solo recital programs at Yorkminster Park Church in 2004 and 2006 that included works by Bach, Scarlatti, Schubert, Schumann and Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Ravel. In 2011 and 2012, Ron gave solo piano recitals in Florida and Toronto featuring works by Hindemith, Haydn, Debussy, Ravel, Schubert and Scriabin, as well as participating in the Chicago Amateur Piano Competition in May 2012. Ron also continues to perform in shorter Noon Hour recital series at churches such as Metropolitan United Church and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Toronto.Organ
When Ron completed his degree at the University of Toronto, he took up organ study with Catherine Palmer, then organist at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. After completing a post as music director for a church in North York, Ron was offered the newly created position of Assistant Organist in 1980 at Yorkminster Park, returning in 1987 as Associate Organist, a position he held until 1996. Ron earned the Associate and Fellowship Diplomas from the Royal Canadian College of Organists in 1982 and 1983, winning the Willan Scholarship and Rowley prizes. Also in 1983, he completed the Choir Master Certification of the RCCO, winning the John Sidgwick Memorial Prize. From 1978 to 2010, Ron has been a regular participant as an organ recitalist in weekly noon-hour recital programs offered by Yorkminster Park, St. Paul’s Bloor Street, Metropolitan United and St. James Cathedral. Since 2011, he now participates in these recital programs as a pianist. Ron continues to perform as an organ accompanist for many soloists, choirs, and instrumentalists, both in service, concert and recital.
Composition
Ron’s interest in composition goes back as far as 1963 when, at the age of 11, he won his first competition for young composers held in Toronto by Canadian composer and conductor William McCauley. His works for horn and piano and horn and organ were written for his long-time friend, D. Fergus McWilliam (member of the Berlin Philharmonic). Many of the solos and choral works were written for the Yorkminster Park Choir and it’s soloists over the years, as were the organ pieces written with the organ at Yorkminster Park in mind. His latest works are for solo piano, and all of his compositions can be found under the menu item Scores, many of which are available in PDF format for download.
Positions
Calvary Church, Toronto 1965 to 1976 – pianist
Spring Garden Baptist Church, Willowdale 1976 to 1979 – Organist and Director of Music
Branksome Hall School, 1978 to 1982 – Director of Music
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1980 to 1985 – Assistant Organist
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1987 to 1996 – Associate Organist
Calvary Church, Toronto, 2000 to 2002 – Organist
Metropolitan United Church, Toronto, 2002 – Interim Organist and Choir Director
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto, 2003 – Interim Assistant Organist
Grace Church on-the-hill, 2004 to 2010 – Associate Organist
To CONTACT RON, click on the CONTACT MENU ITEM ABOVE.
COMPOSITION NEWS
Over ten years ago
In January 2013, I began writing 26 ACTS - a new set of piano pieces - which later
that year was put on hold so as to write, learn and perform "The Foal Ambles" (see the note below).
The first set of six short pieces was completed
in February 2014.
Numbers 7 and 8 were finished in
May 2014, and numbers 9 to 16 have been completed through to July 2020,
with number 18 finished in July 2021.
With the advent of COVID and other distractions, the completion of numbers 17
and the remaining Numbes 19 to 26 has been on hold. As a better grip on
time is hopefully achieved, writing of these pieces should pick up in September
2023 and continue so as finish number 17 and then carry on with the remaining 8
pieces.
The Foal Ambles (1 piano, 4 hands) is completed.
The new piano duet written for the 100th anniversary of Paul Hahn and Co. of Toronto is now finished.
Edits are done, and the piece was premiered June 1, 2013 at a
performance at the establshment of Paul Hahn & Co. Pianos.
Third performance of "SKETCHES" (written July 2012)
The third and last performance of SKETCHES (numbers 1, 8 and
3) occured June 16, 2013. There were six more planned pieces for the group, but
which continue to wait until another time.
