{"id":2790,"date":"2021-06-29T06:09:36","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T06:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kars4kids.org\/hub\/?p=2790"},"modified":"2025-09-03T10:38:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T10:38:19","slug":"donor-spotlight-boris-brott-canadian-conductor-and-motivational-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kars4kids.org\/hub\/donor-spotlight-boris-brott-canadian-conductor-and-motivational-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"From Podium to Purpose: Conductor Boris Brott\u2019s Path to Giving Back"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Boris Brott<\/a> brings a fabulous energy to everything he does, whether it\u2019s introducing the multitudes to music, or speaking at a Glenfiddich corporate event. Watching him onstage, you find yourself swept up in the magic of the music and the moment, and smiling, with goosebumps all up and down your arms, you want more, always more. Imagine how thrilled we were, when such an august personage as Boris Brott, honored us by donating<\/a> his car to us, here at Kars4Kids.<\/p>

We gathered our courage to approach this famous Canadian and reached out for an interview. And what do you know? Brott turned out to be as generous with his time as he was with his car, answering all our many questions in full:<\/p>

Kars4Kids: What did you play at your first concert at the age of five?<\/strong><\/p>

Boris Brott: It was a concerto written by my father, violinist\/composer\/conductor Alexander Brott. Wilfrid Pelletier<\/a> was once asked in an onstage interview, \u201cWhat was it like to play the premiere of a work by your father?\u201d<\/p>

My reply to the same question: \u201cNot easy, as the moment I learned something, he\u2019d change the notes.\u201d<\/p>

\"Boris
“This is a photo of me at age 5 ready to play my dad\u2019s violin concerto. The man standing on the left in front of the mic is Wilfrid Pelletier. The man standing on the right is my father Alexander Brott.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Kars4Kids: You started out as a violinist and ended up conducting. What made you decide to become a conductor? What is it about conducting that spoke to you?<\/strong><\/p>

Boris Brott: I grew up at rehearsals of the Montreal Orchestra where Dad was the concertmaster and my mother sat on the first desk of cellos. I played with dinky toys<\/a> in the concert hall aisles! I observed the alchemy of a conductor\u2019s role from close by.<\/p>

It was Igor Markevitch<\/a>, a Russian-French conductor, who introduced the idea, and invited me to study with him in Mexico. I was a mere 14 years-old. I spent a year at the Instituto de Bellas Artes<\/a> and from there on, the die was cast.<\/p>

Kars4Kids: You\u2019ve worked in Europe, the UK, and the US, yet you came back to Canada. What do you love about Canada?<\/strong><\/p>

Boris Brott: Throughout my career, I had one foot in Canada. I had a hand in the development of seven orchestras here, in Hamilton, Regina, Thunder Bay, Kitchener Waterloo, Symphony Nova Scotia, CBC Winnipeg, and the McGill Chamber Orchestra, and now the Orchestre Classique de Montreal<\/a>, where I have taken over from my father, who founded the orchestra. I also served as assistant conductor of the Toronto Symphony and was principal youth and family conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.<\/p>

I love Canada first for its appreciation and support of the arts through a combination of private, business sponsorship, and government support. This is unique in the world. I also love its optimism, its vast geography, and the honesty of its people. I have lived in many parts of the world but home will always be Canada.<\/p>

Kars4Kids: As an organization involved in mentoring children, we are especially intrigued that you created the<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>National Academy Orchestra of Canada<\/strong><\/a> in which music graduates are mentored by professional musicians. Can you tell us a bit about the academy and why mentoring is so important for young musicians?<\/strong><\/p>

Boris Brott: I have a personal devotion to mentoring which I believe is the most effective way of transmitting skills and inspiring students. It is interesting to me that in German, \u201cLehren\u201d means both \u201cto teach\u201d and \u201cto learn.\u201d This is significant, as I feel I have learned most while teaching. The National Academy Orchestra has enjoyed a very special year because of the pandemic, in that we have attracted principal players from the world\u2019s finest orchestras.<\/p>

We\u2019ve had concertmasters and principal players from Berlin, Vienna, and Los Angeles, as well as the principal orchestras in Canada. We have had soloists of note, e.g. Jame Ehnes<\/a>, Pinchas Zukerman, Jonathan Crow, Steven Isserlis<\/a>, to present masterclasses online to our participants. Of course, one of the unique abilities orchestral musicians have to learn is to listen to others while performing themselves. For that, we need to be playing in person and thankfully, we will be getting back to that this summer, see: www.brottmusic.com<\/a>. Please join us in the safety of your own car.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Kars4Kids: You have won countless awards: you are an Officer of the\u00a0<\/strong>Order of Canada<\/strong><\/a> (OC), and a member of the\u00a0Order of Ontario (OOnt). As an organization whose proceeds support child education, however, the one we like best is the National Child Day award you received in Ottawa for introducing classical music to over a million schoolchildren over the course of your career.<\/strong> You are famous for your innovative methods in introducing audiences to music.<\/strong> Do you have any tips for parents on introducing their children to music, or on how to cultivate a love of music in children?<\/strong><\/p>

Boris Brott: I am glad you brought this up. First, introduction while very young is as vital for music as it is for hockey. Second, make it fun; practicing should be a game. This is why I like the idea of parents and children learning together. Third, practice for very short amounts of time and every day\u2014like tooth brushing. 5-10 minutes is plenty.<\/p>

Kars4Kids: What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?<\/strong><\/p>

Boris Brott: Enjoy making music together and listen to all kinds of music. Involve your friends.<\/p>