DIRECTORS

OUR DIRECTORS

Boris Brott, O.C., O.Q., O.Ont. D.Mus., LL.D., F.R.S.A.

Is one of the most internationally recognized Canadian conductors, holding major positions as Music Director in Canada and the United States. He enjoys an international career as guest conductor, educator, motivational speaker and cultural ambassador.

In Canada, Maestro Brott has contributed to the development of no less than six orchestras for which he was awarded, in 1987, Canada’s highest civic honour, Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2006, he was also made a member of the Order of Ontario. In 2013, maestro Brott was given an honorary doctorate from McGill’s Schulich School of Music. In June of 2014, he was made an Officer of the Order of Quebec.

Internationally, Maestro Brott has served as Assistant Conductor to the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, as Music Director and Conductor for the Royal Ballet (Covent Garden), the Northern Sinfonia and the BBC Welsh Symphony. He was the founding Music Director of the New West Symphony in Los Angeles from 1995 to 2011. In 2011, he was named Principal Guest Conductor of the historic Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari, Italy.

On top of his duties as Artistic Director of the MCO, Maestro Brott is currently the founding Artistic Director of the Brott Music Festival in Hamilton, and the National Academy Orchestra, Canada’s only professional training orchestra for young musicians.

A message from our artistic director, Boris Brott

Dear Friends,

The 79th season of the McGill Chamber Orchestra (MCO) contains musical delights for every taste. This season, we celebrate Quebec and the multitude of great artists the province has fostered, both young and established. At the core of the MCO is our orchestra, which is made up of the best highly skilled professional Quebec musicians who play with passion and perfection.

Every one of our performances is an event. There are so many highlights – I cannot resist a peek. The superb movie music of Quebec film legend François Dompièrre. Celebrating First Nations, a world premiere of Odawa composer Barbara Croall’s new multimedia work celebrating Saint Kateri, featuring Canadian-Mohawk Violinist Tara-Louise Montour. Julie Boulianne sings Bach and Vivaldi along with OSM Principal Flutist Tim Hutchins and Oboist Theodore Baskin. Tchaikovsky with Quebec superstar cellist Stéphane Tétreault. Alexandre Da Costa debuts a program devoted to opera themes for violin and strings. Berlioz’ Les Nuits d’Été sung by Sharon Azrieli, and my new arrangement of the Debussy String Quartet. To end our season, we present two stars discovered by Gregory Charles and Marc Hervieux on their celebrated TV program, who will without a doubt wow you.

I look forward to welcoming you in great numbers for this eclectic and passionate season featuring our home-grown talent.

Boris Brott
Artistic Director & Conductor

Taras Kulish, Executive Director

Native of Montreal, Taras speaks five languages and has over 25 years of experience in the music industry. For 18 years, he was a professional opera singer who performed with opera companies all over North America and Europe. Since 2005, Taras is passionately focused on a strong career in arts management.

Taras was the Interim Artistic Director at Calgary Opera from 2016 to 2018. Previously, from 2013 to 2016, Taras was the Executive Director of the McGill Chamber Orchestra when the organization doubled its budget in less than three years and erased its deficit. It is with great pleasure that he is taking back is position with the orchestra.

From 2005 to 2012, Taras was the founding Artistic Director of the Green Mountain Opera Festival, a successful regional opera festival based in Central Vermont. He built this festival from the ground up, acquiring a strong hands-on approach to producing opera at the highest possible level. He quickly built an excellent reputation in the industry by presenting quality productions of the most popular works featuring renowned artists. Under Taras’ leadership, this successful organization tripled its budget while remaining fiscally prudent.

Taras studied Economics at Concordia University in Montreal, music at McGill’s Schulich School of Music and opera at the University of Toronto.

Board of Directors

Sharon Azrieli
Chair
D. Mus.

Jean de Brabant
Director

Boris Brott
Director
O.C., O.Q. Ont., D. Mus. LL.D., F.R.S.A.,Kt.St.J

Bernard Stotland
Director
F.C.P.A., F.C.A.

Joseph Rouleau
Director
C.C., G.O.Q., Dr.h.c.

Renée Rouleau
Director

Annette Lefebvre
Director
R.N. B.A. LL. B B.C.L.

Sheldon Magder
Director

The honourable Barbara Seal
Director
C.M., Dr.h.c.

Deborah Corber
Director
B.Mus., LL.B., LL.M.