Gordon Macpherson

Macpherson, Gordon

Gordon (Clarke) Macpherson. Pianist, conductor, b Moose Jaw, Sask, 14 Nov 1924; LRCT 1949, Artist Diploma (Toronto) 1953, M MUS (Indiana) 1974. His teachers were Cyril Hampshire 1942-3 at the Hamilton Cons (RHCM) and Margaret Miller Brown and Bela Böszörmenyi-Nagy 1946-53 at the RCMT, where Macpherson also received chamber music coaching from Boris Roubakine and himself taught piano 1948-50. He moved to Halifax in 1953 and was music adviser to the CBC's Maritime region 1955-66, conducted the CBC Halifax Strings 1961-6 and the CBC Halifax Orchestra 1965-6, and was conductor for the CBC TV program 'Reflections' 1960-2. He also wrote and conducted music for many CBC radio dramas, including some in the 'Stage' series. Macpherson was head 1964-6 of the piano department at the Halifax (later Maritime) Conservatory. During his Halifax period he took advanced training as a conductor at the Monteux School of Conducting, Hancock, Me, and with Hugo Rignold, and as a pianist with Kendall Taylor. He founded the Halifax Trio in 1955 and moved with his trio partners to Brandon University in 1966 to become artists-in-residence (Brandon University Trio). He joined the teaching faculty there in 1967, served as dean of the School of Music 1982-7 and continued in 1991 to teach piano and chamber music. In 1988 and 1990 he was visiting professor at the Université canadienne en France at Villefranche-sur-mer. Macpherson took doctoral studies with Menahem Pressler (piano) and in pedagogy and conducting at the University of Indiana 1975-7.