Georgian Bay Symphony
The Georgian Bay Symphony (GBS), a Canadian nonprofit registered charity (Business No. 118937275RR0001), was established in 1972 by a group of musicians in Owen Sound, Ontario. Recognized as a significant cultural institution, the orchestra operates as a mixed ensemble of volunteer and professional musicians, performing classical and contemporary repertoire.

History

Founded to promote regional musical development, the GBS became a registered charity in 1982. Over its 50-year history, it has grown into a prominent community orchestra, regularly featuring guest artists such as cellist Shauna Rolston, violinist Jonathan Crow, and erhu virtuoso George Gao.

Conductors

Leadership has included:

• Hermon C. Dilmore (1971–1976)
• Eric Woodward (1976–1979)
• Jim White (1979)
• Jerome Summers (1980–1981)
• Erna Van Daele (1981–1983)
• Kerry Stratton (1983–1989)
• Clyde Mitchell (1990–1993)
• John Barnum (1993–2015)
• François Koh (2015–2022)
• Richard Mascall (2023)
• Jeffrey Pollock (2024–present)

Activities

The GBS performs five annual main concerts at the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Community Auditorium. Recent thematic programs include "Movie Music Madness" and "Last Night at the Proms, Eh?", alongside collaborations with emerging artists. The organization awards bursaries to young musicians and engages in innovative fundraising, including cryptocurrency donations (Bitcoin and Ethereum).

Governance

As a registered charity, the GBS focuses on music education and community enrichment. Its structure includes a volunteer board and professional artistic leadership, with funding derived from donations, grants, and ticket sales.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Bay_Symphony [2] https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/georgian-bay-symphony/ [3] https://www.georgianbaysymphony.ca [4] https://www.georgianbaysymphony.ca/support-the-gbs [5] https://owensoundriverdistrict.ca/en/about-the-river-district/business-directory/show/georgian-bay-symphony