Montreal – my home now for 20 years – is one of Canada’s gems. It is a marvelous place to encounter music and make friends and be involved in the arts on many levels. I’ve been very happy to live here this long – and I thought to share just a few snippits of what life was like in my first decade here.
Montreal 20 years ago was completely different than it is now. There was a residual memory of what life had been like before 1980 in the form of many landmarks that have disappeared. The prices on housing were remarkably low – you could get a condo then for around 60k – and it was completely possible to make a good living singing part time. In many ways it was just perfect for me because I didn’t have much of a sense of how to build a career, and I needed some time to grow into those understandings in a relaxed economic environment.
It was my third year which truly defined what was to come for me, career-wise. I sang in SMAM for Christopher, at Christ Church Cathedral for Patrick, was hired at the Music Librarian at the McGill Chamber Orchestra for Alexander, sang my first opera solos at McGill, got into Song Interpretation with Jan and Michael, and still somehow found time to study academics – and I have no idea how! That it only took three years to be put in front of some world class musicians was a real stroke of luck. I did my best with it and loved every moment.
Everything about that year was supercharged with activity and when I look back at my course load I was stunned by how heavy it was, and how many jobs I had. I was even teaching athletics at the McGill Gymnasium.
And I was so, so lucky. People were so generous with their time and their knowledge – I got to hang out with and sing for people who were so far ahead of my own work, because they were just so nice. That mentorship made a huge difference to me, and helped me learn life lessons unavailable in the classroom. A few world class singers gave me coachings just because they had the time and thought well of me. I learned about what generosity was that year, and how to be generous whenever possible.
In my fifth year I was working so much I took a year off school. I sang everywhere I could and made a living as a freelancer, and music was my whole life from that moment onwards. I sang solos in Oratorio, and continued a very busy life as a chorister. I was doing alright, but just alright. I was struggling a bit vocally from some uncertain technique, and after a few years of ill health my voice was beginning to wear down. I began a masters the following year in voice, but it didn’t help. I was too busy and too ill.
My seventh year was when I walked away for a while. I quit the masters and instead spent four months in Belgium with my first wife. The Masters had been the beginning of two very difficult years. I had been sick from tonsilitis nearly every month for a year, and was feeling an enormous amount of pressure to succeed in a field that I didn’t absolutely love. It was dawning on me that I needed a change, but I had no idea as to what.
Belgium was a great place to recover. They were very open to me as a musician there. I got my first conducting gigs there, and I was coaching and teaching and having a great time learning about true joie de vivre. The Belgians really understand how to pass through life with a genuine smile. Many of my favorites stories come from those four months, and I encountered Brel and Tintin and all sorts of popular culture that gave me a chance to just relax and reset. We lived in the tiniest one room apartment – and rarely ate meat – but there were so many cultural activities and the bakeries were so good that we hardly noticed.
My eight and ninth years were very quiet. I was back and forth to Belgium a bit doing some trips and teaching, but everyone in Montreal had expected me to come back to singing full time. In truth, my voice had not improved much, and I was contemplating what else I would do. I was fortunate that a new future was dropped in my lap quite quite suddenly, and I began conducting in the ninth year as my profession. I had always loved conducting, and always wanted to do it, but a few very dishonest people turned me off that path when I had been ready for it earlier. I got a reprieve thanks to some very kind souls at St. Matthias Anglican Church and I resolved to make the most of it.
Next post – part two
John Wiens, Conductor 