Desmond Gaspar

Desmond Gaspar is a Canadian organist, pianist, conductor, composer and songwriter who is currently working as a free lance concert artist^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} and ballet pianist.

Gaspar studied under Earle Moss (piano), Molly Sclater (theory), Roman Toi (composition) and Heather Spry^[8] (organ and church music) from the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, during which time he received numerous performance and competition awards.

His eclectic career in liturgical music, dance accompaniment, choir-directing and other disciplines has taken him to various venues in Canada, the United States of America and Europe.

A Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (winning the Associateship and Fellowship Diplomas in consecutive years as well as the Charles Peaker and the Healey Willan Prizes respectively with those attempts, scoring the highest mark in Canada for the latter), Gaspar was one of a very small number of Canadians who won that professional designation under the age of thirty at the time of his receiving it. He has also conducted chamber orchestras, massed choirs and jazz combos in addition to writing a number of uniquely-crafted classical songs (based on T.S. Eliot's cycle "Prufrock and Other Observations). In 2007 he appeared in Los Angeles at the "TAXI" convention in a gala promo event featuring some original songs from his collection, entitled, "The Dancer and I."

From 2005-2007 Gaspar stepped in as Associate Organist at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, London, Ontario, where he performed in the Cathedral concert series as organ accompanist which often featured members of Orchestra London - and where he was publicly declared "A World Class Musician" on two occasions by the Cathedral Dean, now Bishop, Terry Dance.

Gaspar also works as a ballet accompanist at the prestigious Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance,^[9] one of Canada's foremost ballet schools featuring many world-class dancers and artists. He was accompanist for Glenn Gilmour of the National Ballet School and currently plays for Tara Butler, a principal dancer with Ballet Jorgan.

Personal life

Gaspar, born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, began his music studies at a young age with trumpet and demonstrated very considerable musical ability at an early age. His teacher, Ben Rose, observed a good ear in him when he could tell how the notes of the trumpet differed from those on the piano (the trumpet being a transposing instrument.). By age thirteen, after having learned the Haydn trumpet concerto and the challenging Puedert Studies, he began to show more interest in the piano and abandoned the trumpet altogether for some twenty five years. After having finished with his piano and then later, organ studies, he resumed playing jazz trumpet with Jack Hayter and the Con Brio Band in Stratford as well as with the dance band "The Royal Aires".

In 2002, he took a long working sabbatical to focus on composition, song writing, jazz and other disciplines and has worked intermittently as a church musician including his short stint at the London Cathedral. He performed two full length recitals in 2010 in addition to some other guest solo appearances and continues his work as a Ballet accompanist^[10] on a regular basis in Toronto.

List of compositions

Lieder (Art Songs - Voice and Piano): Prufrock (Song Cycle based upon poems by T.S. Eliot): Lovesong, Portrait, Prelude #1, Prelude #2, Prelude #3;
Lo and Behold

Choral: Agnus Dei (setting for SATB choir, divided passages and solo-soprano passage included)

Pop-Songs (Voice and Piano): Dancer and I (Collection): Dancing 'round the Fire, Dancing Alone, Happy and Free, Dreams For Two, Dancing with you, Beautiful Dancer, Mystic Dreams, The Dancer and I, Playful Colours, Lovesong, Magick

Lovers (Collection): Crazy 'bout you, Coming Home, Penny Love

Discography

• Lovers
• The Dancer and I
• For the Father and the Son^[11]

References

1. ^ York Region Website - article on Desmond Gaspar as music director of Trinity United Church, Newmarket, Ontario
2. ^ Organ Alternatives Journal, Fall 2004
3. ^ Simcoe County events re. Collingwood, Ontario - concert announcement for 2010/12/04
4. ^ Town of Collingwood website, Collingwood, Ontario - announcement of concert on 2010/12/04
5. ^ Town of Newmarket - What's On (November and December 2009), Newmarket, Ontario
6. ^ Organ Alternatives Journal, Summer 2000
7. ^ The Stratford Gazette, Stratford, Ontario
8. ^ Obituary of Heather Spry's mother mentioning her daughter's prior decease
9. ^ Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance, Toronto, Ontario - List of Instructors
10. ^ Piano Accompanists Online Directory, Based in London, UK (Europe)
11. ^ CD by Glenn & Robin Wilhelm FOR THE FATHER AND THE SON

External links

• [1] York Region Website
• [2] Organ Alternatives Journal
• [3] Simcoe County website
• [4] Town of Collingwood website, Collingwood, Ontario
• [5] Town of Newmarket website, Newmarket, Ontario
• [6] Stratford Gazette Newspaper, Stratford, Ontario
• [7] Obituary of Heather Spry's mother mentioning her daughter's prior decease, Toronto, Ontario
• [8] Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance, Toronto, Ontario
• [9] Piano Accompanists Online Directory, Based in London, UK (Europe)
• [10] CD by Glenn & Robin Wilhelm FOR THE FATHER AND THE SON

Persondata
Name	Gaspar, Desmond
Alternative names
Short description	Organist, pianist, conductor and composer
Date of birth	1960
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death