Canadian Conductor Boris Brott has Died, Aged 78

Boris Brott was an acclaimed conductor, motivational speaker, and the artistic director of Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM). He died on Tuesday after a hit and run in Hamilton, Ontario, which also injured a 33-year-old suspect and three police officers. The driver of the vehicle was shortly arrested, according to CBC News.

Police have stated that someone called 911 at 10 AM ET to report a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road. Though an all-car broadcast was issued and patrol officers were dispatched, Brott was tragically hit and rushed to hospital.

The collision occurred in Hamilton’s Durand neighborhood and became the first of two crash scenes now being investigated by Hamilton police and the Special Investigations Unit, as reported by The Hamilton Spectator.

“The entire OCM family is in a state of disbelief,” the orchestra wrote in a statement. “Boris Brott was the beating heart of the Orchestre classique de Montréal, a renowned leader in the world of classical music in North America and beyond, a mentor to countless young musicians, and a very dear friend to so many. His sudden passing thus leaves a deep void in our musical community, and a profound sadness in our personal lives.”

According to the Montreal Gazette, Brott was set to conduct the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in a tribute concert and fundraiser for Ukraine on April 20.

Born in Montreal in 1944, Brott was the son of Alexander Brott, who founded the OCM in 1939 (then known as the McGill Chamber Orchestra). Boris Brott studied at McGill University and had an illustrious conducting career with several orchestras.

He developed six Canadian orchestras, including the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, of which he was music director for 23 years. 

Brott was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1986, a Knight of the Order of Quebec in 1999, and Member of the Order of Ontario in 2006. Additionally, he was voted one of the top five Hamiltonians of all time by the Spectator. 

In 1988, Brott founded the Brott Music Festival in Hamilton with his wife, Ardyth, who serves as its executive director. One of the largest orchestral summer music festival in Canada, the event celebrates music with various disciplines such as painting, politics, ballet, acrobatics, blues bands, and authorship.

 

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“Boris was not only a giant in the classical music world, he was also a giant for promoting and building Hamilton and his efforts over decades helped lift our community to new heights,” wrote Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger in a statement.

“Above all Boris was a Hamiltonian and a man of the people through and through,” Eisenberger continued. “Who can forget when he brought classical music directly to the working people of Hamilton with an orchestral performance in the Dofasco steel making plant? He also brought thousands of school children to his annual concert with performances planned just for them. He literally brought music to the people.”

Mr. Brott is survived by his wife, Ardyth, and three children. Our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.