After a five-year battle with ALS, conductor, composer and musician Errol Gay has died, Friday, December 13, 2019.
Gay was an important figure in Canada’s tight-knit classical music community, and was particularly known for his children’s operas with the Canadian Children’s Opera Company (CCOC), including A Dickens of a Christmas, Alice in Wonderland, and Laura’s Cow.
Between 1970-76, Gay served as conductor and chorus master with the Canadian Opera Company. He was also a popular guest conductor throughout Canada, including the Charlottetown Festival, and the Hart House Orchestra at the University of Toronto.
In 2002, Gay began his tenure as conductor of Orchestra Toronto until conductor Danielle Lisboa replaced him in 2007-8. He also served as librarian of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for 24 years.
Errol Gay was married to Ann Cooper Gay (opera singer, conductor, musician and formerly the Artistic Director of the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, 2000-2015), and leaves behind two daughters.
[Update: Dec .20, 2019. A previous version incorrectly stated Errol Gay died Saturday, December 14.]
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