Barrie Concerts & Georgian Music

We are sad to announce the passing of Esteemed Maestro Kerry Stratton on August 27, 2019

His Music Brought Such Joy.

Internationally celebrated conductor and music director Kerry Stratton died on August 27, 2019, age 66, of complications from ALS.

Kerry Stratton was Music Director of the Toronto Concert Orchestra. In the course of his international career, Stratton conducted orchestras in Europe, North America and Asia. Having earned a degree in conducting from McGill University, Stratton later completed graduate studies at the Vienna Conservatory under Sir Charles Mackerras, Academia Chigiana in Siena, Italy, and L’Ecole Pierre Monteux with Charles Bruck.

Stratton’s engagements have included, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, The Czech Philharmonic, Budapest Concert Orchestra, Hungarian Chamber Soloists, Prague Chamber Philharmonic, Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic, Slovak Radio Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Prague Radio Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic, Janacek Philharmonic. In January 2001, he became the first Canadian to conduct the St. Petersburg Camerata in the Hermitage Theatre at the Winter Palace. In December of 2004 he made his debut with the Beijing Symphony in a concert at the Forbidden City.

He conducted concert tours for renowned orchestras, such as the George Solti Orchestra, Budapest; the Vienna Concert-Verein, Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia and, most recently, the Slovak Sinfonietta.

For almost three decades Toronto has tuned in to listen to Kerry Stratton six days a week on The New Classical FM (found on the dial at 96.3). They have also flocked to Casa Loma’s summer music series, Symphony in the Gardens, to see Kerry conduct the Toronto Concert Orchestra for sold-out crowds week after week. In high demand, Kerry regularly tours and guest conducts for orchestras internationally, and is often invited to speak to wall-to-wall crowds of hundreds because he has been gifted with the delightful ability to make the stories behind the music you love as entertaining as the music itself

For over 25 years Kerry conducted wonderful programmes for the Barrie Concerts. Subscribers have enjoyed Kerry’s humorous and insightful commentaries as well as his musical talents. Members of our audience welcomed the opportunity to offer financial donations expressing gratitude for so many enjoyable musical evenings for so many years.

He will certainly be missed by all.

International opera singer Sara Papini has graced stages around Canada, the United States, Italy, France, and Israel.

Most recently, Ms. Papini made her Russian debut with the Primorsky Krai Philharmonic Orchestra in the Primorsky Krai Regional Hall, under the baton of Anatoliy Smirnov.

Her operatic roles include Musetta La Boheme, Adina L'Elisir d'Amore, Norina Don Pasquale, Gilda Rigoletto, Contessa Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna Don Giovanni, Princess L'enfant et les sortilèges and Silvia in Zanetto by Mascagni. She made her New York city debut in the role of Tina in Jonathan Dove's Flight, a New York city premier, with Mannes College conducted by Metropolitan Opera conductor Joseph Colaneri.

She has performed under the baton of Metropolitan Opera conductor Paul Nadler in New York, Montreal, Virgina and in Tel Aviv, Israel with the Israeli Chamber Orchestra.

Alongside her operatic success, Ms. Papini has had the opportunity to branch into the crossover industry. She is a JUNO nominee for her operatic vocal contribution to the EP Track entitled "Black Tuxedo" by rapper Maestro Fresh Wes.

She has also performed alongside Italian singer and artist Albano Carrisi in Toronto Canada, Pistrino Italy, and was invited to perform on the television show, I Raccomandati, in Rome Italy broadcasted on RAI UNO for over 50 million viewers.

Ms. Papini is a graduate of the prestigious Mannes College of Music in New York City. She has performed for numerous galas, fundraisers and private events in both New York City, Toronto and surrounding areas. She has also performed for such dignitaries as former Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper, former Prime Minister of Italy Enrico Letta, Princess Marconi, Her Royal Highness Prof. Li of Manchurian Empire China.

Romulo Delgado is a classically trained tenor and a world music multi-­‐ instrumentalist. He was a region finalist at the Hans Gabor Belvedere International Opera competition in Vienna, Austria. He trained in Toronto at the Royal Conservatory Music and the Glenn Gould School. His versatility as a performer has enchanted audiences all over North America and Europe. His operatic roles currently include Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata, Don Jose in Bizet’s Carmen, The Duke of Mantua in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Idomeneo in Mozart’s Idomeneo, Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca, Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth, Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme and Riccardo in the Canadian premiere of Verdi’s Oberto.

Also in demand as a classical concert tenor soloist, his concert repertoire includes Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass, Dubois’ the seven last words of Christ, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Handel’s Samson, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Verdi’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.

Ultimately, what distinguishes Romulo’s singing is that “striking, powerful and ingratiating lyric tenor sound with all the money notes!” (Opera Canada) As a world music performer, Romulo has also toured and recorded with many international and local recording artists and been engaged by several of the fortune 500 corporations. Whether on the opera stage, or enchanting audiences with his world music passion,

“Romulo Delgado’s free, vigorous & lustrous tenor voice makes him one of Canada’s most unique performing artists.” (The Globe and Mail)