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Former conductor
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Former CBC Radio and TV Music Producer Armand Baril passed away peacefully after a brief illness April 14, 2017. He was known for his life-long interest and active participation in musical activities in our community. He looked back fondly at his 25 years as a band member (bass-clarinetist and percussionist) of the Cosmopolitan Music Society, as well as his 10 years ('85 to '95) as conductor of the Cosmopolitan Chorus. He was a gifted pianist, often engaged as accompanist for young aspiring singers and instrumentalists. He and his spouse Lucie were committed "Opera Nuts", and were regular attendees of local musical performances, professional and amateur. He was engaged by the Edmonton Schoolboys' Alumni Band as Music Director in 2000, the membership since then having grown from a committed 26 players to the now 52 music-makers. Armand and Lucie (who plays French horn in the band) were proud parents of two children and six grandchildren. Their son Raymond is head of Winds and Brass at Grant MacEwan University, conductor of the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia, and an active professional reed player, and their daughter Gianetta is harpist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and teacher of harp at Mount Royal University. |
