John Barnum

John Barnum is now in his 34th season with Orchestras Mississauga. In 2007 he received the Laurie Pallett Patron of the Arts Award in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the community. In addition to his contribution within his base in Mississauga, Maestro Barnum has maintained a presence in southern Ontario as Music Director of the Georgian Bay Symphony (Owen Sound), and until recently, the Huronia Symphony (Barrie) and the Scarborough Philharmonic. From his earliest days as a violist at the University of Toronto, he went on to post-graduate studies in Europe, returning to Canada to perform with orchestras in Edmonton, Hamilton, Banff and Thunder Bay. Maestro Barnum’s transition to conductor began with assistant conductor positions with both the Thunder Bay and Edmonton Orchestras. Maestro Barnum has been a guest conductor for most of the major orchestras in Canada, and has held a number of chorus, opera and youth orchestra music directorships, most recently with the Mississauga Youth Orchestra where he is the Music Director Emeritus. As well as his ongoing activities as a music director/conductor, John Barnum has held a number of music administration roles, including Director of the Orchestral Training Program at the Royal Conservatory where he also taught conducting classes. Until relocating to Guelph in 2010, he maintained an active role in the Mississauga community as a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Mississauga.