Our Conductor

James R. McKayProf. McKay maintains an active schedule as a bassoonist, conductor, acoustic researcher, university teacher and adjudicator. He appears on over a dozen commercial recordings with artists including James Campbell, Anton Kuerti and Steven Staryk, and with ensembles including the Festival of the Sound, the Amadeus Ensemble and the Contemporary Chamber Players of Chicago. He is frequently featured as a soloist or conductor in broadcast concerts on the CBC and NPR networks and in many North American, Japanese and European music festivals. His book, The Bassoon Reed Manual, which details Lou Skinner's theories and practice of bassoon reed making, was published by Indiana University Press in 2000.

Formerly the Chair of the Department of Music Performance Studies in the Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario and Director of the Reverberation and Acoustics in Performance Laboratory, a part of the National Centre for Audiology at Western, he carries out research on room acoustics with special attention to the perceptions and needs of musicians in relation to reverberation. Prof. McKay is the Music Director of Symphony on the Bay.

Our Staff

Symphony on the Bay depends on the following group of gifted and devoted individuals to look after many of the day-to-day operations of this organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                             

 

                                       

Barry Matthews, Manager Orchestra Operations

Barry brings to Symphony on the Bay a wide variety of experience in advertising, marketing, sales, administration, and general consulting in the corporate world and retail.

He has been president of his own fully accredited advertising agency, two real estate investment corporations, and a general consulting firm.

As president of three proprietorships, his knowledge was further expanded in a photographic company, a small chain of furniture stores and a distributorship for our Canadian Heritage Artists ‘The Group of Seven.’

Barry is a proven team leader and team player. His combined experience as corporate head office contact and consumer relations specialist in the retail fields of furniture and art completes a totally diversified background.

Barry is now semi-retired and makes Ancaster his home. He is the proud father of two grown daughters and one married son with two children. With his currently available time and skills, Barry looks forward to a successful tenure with Symphony on the Bay.

Charlie Henderson, Personnel Manager

Charlie is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto, having completed an Honours Bachelor of Music degree in Performance and a Bachelor of Education degree. A tubist, trombonist, and pianist, Charlie is a versatile musician who enjoys working on a vast array of projects.


Outside the orchestra hall, Charlie keeps busy in the theatre as a musical director, rehearsal pianist, vocal coach, and pit musician, and has worked with such groups as Theatre Ancaster, Hammer Entertainment, and Hamilton Theatre Inc. Between his experiences coordinating musicians as a musical director, and serving on Hamilton Theatre Inc.’s board of directors, Charlie brings a wealth of experience to the table as Symphony on the Bay’s Personnel Manager.
Graham Young

Graham Young, Librarian

Graham Young maintains an active schedule as a performer, volunteer and businessman. Completing a Bachelor of Music at McMaster University in 1974, he went on to graduate studies at the University of Victoria and earned a B.Ed. at the University of Western Ontario. Graham is the principal trumpet of Symphony on the Bay and the McMaster University Chamber Orchestra where he is also the personnel manager. He is the leader and founder of the Celebration Brass quintet and plays soprano cornet with the Weston Silver Band. He is also in demand as a soloist with choirs and churches in the Hamilton area.