Conducting 30 years of music in Hamilton: Boris Brott on the history of the Brott Music Festival

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Contact: Aaron Hols-VanHumbeck

Phone: 519-869-8846

Aaron.hols-vanhumbeck@mohawkcollege.ca

Conducting 30 years of music in Hamilton: Boris Brott on the history of the Brott Music Festival

Hamilton, Ontario – March 23 -  In 1987 Boris Brott started the Brott Music Festival which is now a cultural staple in Hamilton.  But it was not always so.  The festival began at the request of the mayor of Hamilton to fill the void of entertainment during the summer.  The success they found from this initial festival led to Boris settling down in Hamilton.  I sat down with Boris as he explained the progression of the Brott Music Festival from an 11 day affair to this years nine week Festival.  His answers bring insight into what goes on off the stage. 

Why did you start the Brott Music Festival?

“My wife and I had been organizing Ontario place pops, a series of programs at Ontario place.  Using the Hamilton Philharmonic (orchestra).  I was asked by then mayor Robert Morrow to do something to liven the city.  We did and it was successful and we thought why don’t we augment that and do more in the summer because there was nothing going on.”

Did you see the Brott Music Festival lasting 30 years when you first started?

“I didn’t see myself lasting 30 years here.  I had a goal to develop an orchestra using chamber musicians.  At that point, we didn’t know what we were doing with any longevity.  The catalyst was the idea of the National Academy Orchestra.  I put together a conglomeration of experienced and young musicians which worked really well.  There was nothing available for retraining in the arts in Hamilton so I called up Barbara Macdoogal and got an appointment.  I said to look up how much your spending on unemployment for musicians.  She came back and said ‘you’re right, we want to help you.’  She gave money from a discretionary fund to train professional musicians the practical aspects of the profession.  This solidified the festival.”

You talked about your vision when you came up with the festival, has it gone the way you hoped 30 years later?

“Inevitably there are moments of concern, it is not one steady progress.  We do not program for what we don’t have the money for we have to have the resources.  The financial burden is on our shoulder not on a board, we like it that way.  Our festival this year is 9 weeks, I want it to be 12 months all year round.  I have to be realistic and do what we can afford.”

Whenever someone sees an orchestra they think classical music or opera, how has the Brott Music Festival challenged these preconceptions?

“We’ve challenged this by presenting odd combinations of music and composers and given an opportunity for musicians to interact with other art forms by inventing crazy ideas that force a collaboration of people that don normally work together.  Whether it be: poets, cartoonists, beat-boxers, rock musicians.  It opens the door that anything is possible and in that sense, you can create something new.”

When the festival started, it was 11 days and this year its lasting 9 weeks, how did that happen?

“It happened to some extant because of the national academy orchestra.  There had to be performances and there had to be so many concerts for these young people to get real experience in the world.  That drove the festival into existence.  Then that was met with a public that was willing to come and listen.”

What is your favourite part?

“I get to work with the young people in the orchestra and see the joy on their faces when they do what they love.  As well as the audience watching them leave with a look of joy on their faces.  I think the most joy comes from the children’s concert.  Half those kids show up and think this is a chore, its wonderful seeing those children’s faces turn to joy and excitement.”

For the festival, what would you say is your favourite place to perform?

“I would have to say Hamilton place.  It was built as an orchestral concert hall.  I think we are so lucky to have Mohawk, how many schools have a concert hall like that?  Toronto doesn’t have one.  It has an amazing facility.  The other facility I really liked a lot is St. Thomas Church in Waterdown.”

Do you get nervous before a performance?

“Yes, I do, I get nerves when playing in front of small groups.  Give me tens of thousands and I am fine.   The pre-concert nerves are something I actually like.  It sounds weird but I like the feelings of standing in the wings.”

What do you think is the most important moment in the festival?

“There are so many wonderful moments it’s like choosing between your children.  Creating new music is a significant milestone.”

What are your thoughts and impressions on the upcoming thirtieth season?

“To me it’s a season like any other season.  I think it’s marvelous that Hamilton has sustained us.  I’m grateful for the audiences.  I’m grateful for the marvelous group of people we have assembled that make this function.”

Well, here we are.  After a long journey of love and adventure the citizens of Hamilton and the surrounding areas look forward to the annual Brott Music Festival.  While there is still a long way to go in fulfilling Boris’ dream the Brott Music Festival has come a long way from the short 11-day festival to the 9-week festival that music lovers will enjoy this year.  So, mark your calendars and get settled in because the best is yet to come.