Vancouver Symphony Orchestra announces celebration of life for Bramwell Tovey, January 15

The afternoon concert features Christopher Gaze, Tania Miller, James Ehnes, and Tracy Dahl

Former VSO conductor Bramwell Tovey died on July 12 after a battle with cancer.

FRIENDS AND MUSICIANS will join the VSO for a special concert to celebrate the life, music, and legacy of Maestro Bramwell Tovey, January 15 at 2 pm at the Orpheum.

Tovey’s close friend Christopher Gaze and conductor Tania Miller will host the concert, which features musical tributes from guest artists: soprano Tracy Dahl and violin star James Ehnes. The VSO has announced that the afternoon event will be filled with memories, stories, and music by some of the Tovey’s favourite composers, including Beethoven, Elgar, Mahler, Vaughan Williams, and more.

The celebrated and charismatic conductor and composer passed away on July 12 in Barrington, Rhode Island at 69. Tovey is survived by his children Ben, Jessica and Emmeline, his partner Verena De Neovel, his sisters, grandchildren, nieces and nephew.

Diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma in May 2019, Tovey underwent surgery at Dana Farber in Boston in June 2021 that left him briefly cancer free. In January 2022, scans showed the cancer had returned.

Tovey was musical director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for 18 years, stepping down from the position in 2018. In that time, he helped launch the VSO’s School of Music, which opened in 2011, and oversaw the opening of two attractive chamber-music spaces, Pyatt Hall and the Annex.

In 2017, as the VSO’s outgoing music director, he was named director of orchestral activities for the prestigious Boston University School of Music. Tovey was the Principal Conductor of the B.B.C. Concert Orchestra, based in London, U.K., and since September 2018 he had also been artistic advisor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Prior to his death, Tania Miller was named the philharmonic's interim principal conductor. The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2022-23 season has been dedicated to Tovey's memory.

Donations are being collected in memoriam of Tovey to continue the work he established and grew at the VSO and the VSO School of Music.

Gifts made to the Bramwell Tovey Memorial Fund benefit the VSO and VSO School of Music’s education and community engagement programs.

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