About the HSO

---

 A small baroque orchestra performing in Collier Street United Church was the genesis of the present day  Huronia Symphony Orchestra. Now celebrating its 57th season, the HSO is  the sole community orchestra in Barrie and Simcoe County. The orchestra  is comprised of 42 talented and dedicated volunteer musicians from the community and six professionals who lead the major sections. Members  are drawn from all walks of life and reflect the diverse social fabric  of this dynamic region. 

Our mission is:

1. To sustain a high-quality, community symphony orchestra based in Barrie that will provide a regular series of concerts that appeal to the ever-expanding population of this region. 

2. To provide by means of a competent and innovative Board of Directors the resources required to sustain the orchestra, which is comprised mainly of non-professional musicians. Such resources shall include a well-qualified and challenging music Director/Conductor and such other professional musicians as deemed necessary by the Board. 

3. To develop and nurture a Youth Orchestra by providing the leadership so that young instrumentalists may become members of the Huronia Symphony Orchestra.

We provide an opportunity for amateur musicians to play the orchestral repertoire, while offering the Barrie community the joy of experiencing live, engaging orchestral performances. 

Our Youth Orchestra program provides a training platform for the less accomplished members of our community, offering them valuable opportunities to develop their musical talents. This program has recently become popular with seniors who also wish to learn to play this repertoire.

We rehearse Sunday evenings from 7-9:30 pm. Our  rehearsals are located at the Collier Street United Church, at 112 Collier  St. Barrie, Ontario There are additional sectional rehearsals as necessary and scheduled in advance.

Maestro Rafael Luz is a conductor who strives to captivate audiences. He is a rising star in the world of classical music, known for his electrifying stage presence and dynamic approach to conducting. 

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Rafael began his musical journey on the piano as well as the violin before discovering his passion for conducting while leading various choirs. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Faculdade de Artes Alcântara Machado, Brazil’s largest and one of its top universities, a Master of Arts in conducting from the Aaron Copland School of Music, NY, studying under Maurice Peress (Leonard Bernstein’s assistant at the NY Phil), and a doctoral degree (DMA) in conducting from the University of Toronto, where he was recognized for both his exceptional talent and dedication to the craft.

In addition to his role as a conductor, Rafael has gained significant expertise in music management and development. He has served as Assistant Librarian for the National Ballet of Canada and as a Technical Revisor for EdUSP, one of Brazil’s largest university publishers. He also taught at the Festival Eleazar de Carvalho for several years and the Projeto Guri, a Sistema-like program teaching music in lower-income areas in São Paulo, inspiring and mentoring countless young musicians.

In 2014, Maestro Luz became the Music Director and Conductor of the North York Concert Orchestra, receiving critical acclaim for his energetic and powerful performances. Among his many projects is the introduction of a newly created Summer Opera Series with a full production of Candide, as well as collaborations with renowned soloists and premieres of new works by contemporary composers. 

With a deep commitment to music education and an unwavering passion for conducting, Rafael Luz is dedicated to creating memorable experiences for both orchestra members and audiences alike. In the years to come, he hopes to continue pushing the boundaries of classical music and

inspiring future generations of musicians.

Mr. McFadden studied violin at the Royal Conservatory of Music receiving his ARCT diploma with First Class Honours. He continued his studies at the University of Toronto and the Utrecht’s Conservatorium in Holland. 

He performed regularly with the Toronto Symphony for 16 seasons as well as being active in the recording studio and freelance music scene of Toronto. The long list of affiliations includes the Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet, Kitchener Symphony, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Symphony Nova Scotia. His varied career has taken him from chamber music to musical theatre where he was Concertmaster for shows like Ragtime, ShowBoat and Sunset Blvd. Other shows include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast.

Other ventures have included recordings and concerts with a wide range of musical styles and performers such as Ray Charles, Liza Minelli, Bobby Vinton, Peter Gabriel, Donny Osmond, Andrea Bocelli, Blue Rodeo, and Josh Groban to name a few. 

Mr. McFadden is actively involved in music ministry with his wife Julie in the local church and beyond. They are the Directors of Music at the Muskoka Bible Centre since 2019. He is the Concertmaster of the Huronia Symphony and teaches Strings privately out of his Music Studio in Midhurst. Mr. McFadden also runs Bravura House, maker of all levels of stringed instruments and accessories, providing sales and rentals to string players across North America. David continues study in advanced violin repair, bow making, and bow rehairing & repair at the University of New Hampshire’s Violin Craftsmanship Institute.