One of Canada’s most respected conductors, Uri Mayer, says The University of Western Ontario’s most recent graduates are in store for “a fantastic voyage” as they begin their respective careers.
“The road I took was often difficult, but also fun and full of surprises along the way,” says Mayer.
Uri Mayer
He who spoke to about 600 graduates from the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Richard Ivey School of Business, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the faculties of Education, Engineering, Health Sciences and Law at the Oct. 22 afternoon session of Western’s 294th Convocation.
“From this day forth, your lives will surely change. A great adventure awaits you on this fantastic voyage.”
Mayer received a Doctor of Music, honoris causa (D.Mus.), in recognition of his leadership role with three major Canadian orchestras, including being principal conductor of Orchestra London, where his musical vision enhanced the reputation of the orchestra across the country.
Mayer has conducted in the past several years the philharmonic orchestras of Hungary, Israel, Slovakia, Belgrade, Brabants, Sofia and the Northern German Radio in Hannover, the Budapest, Maastricht, Odense, Montreal, Utah, Honolulu, SABC Johannesburg, NHK Tokyo and Osaka Symphonies, the London Mozart Players and English Symphony Orchestra.
A resident of Toronto, Mayer appeared regularly from 1996 to 2003 as guest conductor for the National Ballet of Canada and led many productions including Tales of Arabian Nights, Swan Lake and Nutcracker.
In his citation, Faculty of Music professor Jeffrey Stokes spoke of Mayer as a “deeply respected musician” – whether as a player or as a leader – an inspirer and teacher of players, and one who’s still “crescendo-ing career on stage and in the academy” is to be admired.
He notes this honour for Mayer goes to “a great viola player and conductor; for one whose truly awesome accumulation of Air Miles bespeaks decades-long international demand and profile; for one who has become one of Canada’s senior artistic statesmen; and for a valued friend and colleague to many here in London as well as around the globe.”
Mayer, now director of The Glenn Gould School Orchestral Programme and Resident Conductor at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, says he continues to have many friends in London and, in particular, at Western.
He tells students when he first began his career, it was as if he were “in the captain’s seat of a jumbo jet and who’s only previous experience was flying a Cessna.”
While he emphasized the importance of his teachers and mentors while growing up, Mayer adds it’s important to “work as a team” in whatever field you choose.
“Like a conductor, you need to find the time to listen to your co-workers and tap into their knowledge,” he says. “Look beyond the obvious and open yourself up to new ideas.”
