Lloyd Blackman (musician)
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Edgar Blackman is a Canadian violin
ist, conductor
, composer
, and music educator.
, Blackman studied the violin in his native city with John Waterhouse
and George Bornoff
and music theory with W.H. Anderson
. He earned a Licenciate from The Royal Conservatory of Music in 1944 at the age of 16. He later studued the violin privately in New York City with Theodor Pashkus and with Ottokar Čadek at the University of Michigan
from 1948–1949 and 1959-1960. He also studied conducting with Allard de Ridder
.
Blackman began his performance career playing in several different orchestras for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
when he was just 15 years old. He quickly began performing in a variety of other ensembles, including travelling shows and ballet orchestras. In 1947 he was appointed principal violinist of the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra
, a post he held for two years. He served in the same position for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
in 1948-1949, during which time he was also an instrumental instructor in the Winnipeg schools. From 1955-1975 he was concert master and associate conductor of the Regina Symphony Orchestra
. He also worked as a conductor for CBC Radio
concerts out of Regina.
In 1950 Blackman was appointed music director at Regina Central Collegiate Institute
, later becoming supervisor of music for the Regina high schools in 1961. In 1954-1955 he conducted the Saskatchewan Golden Jubilee Chorus and in 1959 his musical, Prairie Pastel (for which his wife Elisabeth Blackman wrote the libretto), was presented for Regina school's 50th anniversary. In 1962 he founded the Regina Inter-Collegiate Choir and Orchestra, ensembles with which he notably led performances at Expo 67
and on tours to Vancouver, Calgary, London (1972), and Minneapolis and St. Paul (1974). From 1963-1980 he was co-ordinator of fine arts for the Regina Board of Education. He also taught courses in music education at the University of Regina
and the University of Saskatchewan
and worked periodically in the summers as the orchestra conductor for the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts.
In 1980 Blackman relocated to British Columbia to assume the post of conductor and music director of the Nanaimo Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble with which he has appeared several times as a soloist. In 1985 he became director of the Delta Youth Orchestra
, a post he held through 1990.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and music educator.
Life and career
Born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Blackman studied the violin in his native city with John Waterhouse
John Waterhouse (violinist)
John Fereday Preston Waterhouse was a Canadian violinist, conductor, and music educator of English birth. Born in Bilston, West Midlands, he was educated at the Royal Academy of Music where he was a pupil of Émile Sauret , Ebenezer Prout , and Stewart Macpherson . He was later named a Fellow of...
and George Bornoff
George Bornoff
George Bornoff was a Canadian violinist and string teacher. He notably developed the method of string teaching bearing his name, the Bornoff Method, which emphasizes an early focus on five patterns of half- and whole-steps formed by the fingers of the left hand. His book on violin instruction,...
and music theory with W.H. Anderson
W.H. Anderson
William Henry Anderson was a Canadian composer, choir director, tenor, and voice teacher of English birth. He produced a large amount of vocal music, including more than 150 songs and 40 anthems as well as a significant amount of carols and other choral works...
. He earned a Licenciate from The Royal Conservatory of Music in 1944 at the age of 16. He later studued the violin privately in New York City with Theodor Pashkus and with Ottokar Čadek at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1948–1949 and 1959-1960. He also studied conducting with Allard de Ridder
Allard de Ridder
Allard de Ridder was a Canadian conductor, violist, and composer of Dutch birth. He was notably the first conductor of both the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the latter of which he founded in 1944...
.
Blackman began his performance career playing in several different orchestras for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
when he was just 15 years old. He quickly began performing in a variety of other ensembles, including travelling shows and ballet orchestras. In 1947 he was appointed principal violinist of the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra
CBC Winnipeg Orchestra
The CBC Winnipeg Orchestra was a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that was operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for 37 years. The orchestra mainly performed on CBC Radio, but also occasionally performed live concerts in Winnipeg. It was established in 1947 under the...
, a post he held for two years. He served in the same position for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
in 1948-1949, during which time he was also an instrumental instructor in the Winnipeg schools. From 1955-1975 he was concert master and associate conductor of the Regina Symphony Orchestra
Regina Symphony Orchestra
The Regina Symphony Orchestra was founded by Frank Laubach, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as the Regina Orchestral Society in 1908, giving its inaugural concert December 3 of that same year...
. He also worked as a conductor for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
concerts out of Regina.
In 1950 Blackman was appointed music director at Regina Central Collegiate Institute
Scott Collegiate
Scott Collegiate is a public high school located in the North Central neighbourhood of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is named for Sir Walter Scott, the first premier of Saskatchewan...
, later becoming supervisor of music for the Regina high schools in 1961. In 1954-1955 he conducted the Saskatchewan Golden Jubilee Chorus and in 1959 his musical, Prairie Pastel (for which his wife Elisabeth Blackman wrote the libretto), was presented for Regina school's 50th anniversary. In 1962 he founded the Regina Inter-Collegiate Choir and Orchestra, ensembles with which he notably led performances at Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
and on tours to Vancouver, Calgary, London (1972), and Minneapolis and St. Paul (1974). From 1963-1980 he was co-ordinator of fine arts for the Regina Board of Education. He also taught courses in music education at the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
and the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
and worked periodically in the summers as the orchestra conductor for the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts.
In 1980 Blackman relocated to British Columbia to assume the post of conductor and music director of the Nanaimo Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble with which he has appeared several times as a soloist. In 1985 he became director of the Delta Youth Orchestra
Delta Youth Orchestra
The Delta Youth Orchestra or DYO is a high-calibre orchestral training program for young musicians located in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. The DYO operates out of the Ladner Community Centre, 4734 - 51st Street, Delta, British Columbia...
, a post he held through 1990.