Friends of Chamber Music mourns the loss of Eric Wilson
The volunteer board president was 97 years old
Eric Wilson.
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER Music is mourning the death of its volunteer board president, Eric Wilson. He died on January 9 just shy of his 98th birthday.
Wilson had played an integral role in the organization’s programming and had helped build its stellar reputation for touring ensembles.
Originally from Doncaster, England, Wilson came to Vancouver from Ontario in the late 1950s. He joined the Friends of Chamber Music Society as a volunteer on the board of directors in 1961 and had been involved with the group ever since. He served continuously on the board, taking on critical positions, such as president, treasurer, and programme committee chair, donating a great amount of time and expertise.
“His figurative shoes were large and will be hard to fill,” the organization stated. “He has been a leader, a mentor, an inspiration, and a beloved friend to many, including many internationally celebrated music artists.
“As Programme Committee Chair for the Friends, Eric built warm relationships with world-renowned chamber music ensembles and their agents going back many decades,” the statement added. “Over the years, with his guidance, we have all become friends.”
Wilson was a generous donor and supporter of many other artistic and cultural organizations in Vancouver, regularly attending performances. He had a long-standing relationship with the Vancouver Academy of Music. He also enjoyed going to music and theatre performances during visits to London, England, as part of his regular trips to Europe.
One of the key highlights of Friends of Chamber Music’s programming over the years was the decision around 1980 to sponsor both the Emerson Quartet and Takács Quartet when they were just starting their careers. Both have turned out to be among the greatest quartets of our time. In a 2010 interview with Vancouver Classical Music, Wilson said: “Chamber musicians are very loyal to those who gave them their careers, but you must also remember that Vancouver is a place that top ensembles want to come. We have the highest reputation and our audiences are warm and knowledgeable. The audience is very important to an ensemble: just as we respond to the players, so they respond to us.”
In the same interview, Wilson commented on the challenge of attracting younger audiences to chamber music. “Chamber music must always be an acquired taste since it usually reflects a composer’s deepest and most intimate experience, from great joy to all-consuming sadness,” he said. “While ultimately a sublime experience, it may be challenging on first hearing. We are fully committed to new ‘friends’. And especially the young! Our older subscribers are so delighted when they see young people at the concerts.”
Among the esteemed ensembles that are performing as part of Friends of Chamber Music’s 2024-25 season are the Han Finckel Setzer Trio, Pavel Haas Quartet, and Isidore Quartet. 
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