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Gaspare Chiarelli, MusBac, MM, ARCM, LRAM
Gaspare was born in Hamilton, Ontario to Gaetano and Emanuela (Agro) Chiarelli on August 24, 1932.
After graduation from the University of Toronto, he taught violin & directed choirs in Toronto & Hamilton, followed by two years in Rome studying at the Rome Conservatory and the Vatican Choir School.
In 1957 he moved to London, England, where his mentors included Cecil Aronowitz, Frederick Riddle and Sir Eugene Goossens. He spent 12 years in London as violist, playing principally with the London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic & Sadlers Wells Opera orchestras. He also attended conducting master classes in Italy with Sir John Barbirolli and Carlo Zecchi, and he was a competitor in the Times of London conducting competition.
In North America, he played in the Cincinnati Symphony, and held conducting posts with the Hamilton (Ohio) Philharmonic, at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon and at Bloomsberg University in Pennsylvania.
Gaspare became Canada’s first full-time youth orchestra conductor in 1973 when all 3 Vancouver Youth Orchestras were put under his direction. In 1975 Gaspare returned to London, where conducted the world-premiere recording of Eugene Goossens’ “Divertissement for Orchestra.”
Gaspare and his wife Nancy established the Chiarelli Music Studios in North Vancouver in 1980, where he created the Joy of Music Performance Workshops. In 2002 Gaspare and Nancy moved to Abbotsford, where they performed and lectured for civic and private groups. Gaspare gave his last violin performance at the age of 82 shortly before being diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
He died on April 27 with his wife Nancy at his side.
“Peace, my heart, let the time for parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.” (Tagore)
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Gaspare Chiarelli August 24 1932
April 27 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique