David Warrack

2021 TMA149 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

I realized when I started this article, that the first time I heard David Warrack was on Morningside with Peter Gzowsky as a young teenager driving around the far north of Ontario close to 40 years ago. The more I dug into his story, the more I realized just how incredibly profound an influence David has had on my career and that of so many other musicians, artists, singers, dancers, composers, producers, audience members and left wingers (he is a hockey coach too). To say David Warrick is prolific in his output over 50 plus years would be an understatement. His career has been astonishing. Literally dozens of professional theatre productions happened because of his input in any number or ways such as producing and composing and writing and Music Directing of over 250 productions. he has composed hundreds of works from solo voice, to mass choir, to theatre musicals to Big Band arrangements. He has graced the stage as a performer across the globe and notable in performances at Roy Thomson Hall, and residencies at the Montreal Bistro or with the Canadian Pops orchestra which he co-founded. The depth of his contribution to Canadian Music is so incredible, we cannot do it justice in the limited space herein. I do encourage you to visit www.davidwarrack.ca to get a glimpse of the scope I am describing. What we can do is honour the example. I am humbled by people like David, his commitment to his art, to the people around him, literally creating joy and beauty for audiences and performers but also creating livelihoods. Canada is a place where we should celebrate those amongst our peers who are the catalysts, the creators and composers and band leaders who quite literally create space for members like myself, maybe the rest of us mere mortals to thrive and make a living by pursuing and honing our craft and contributing in our own way.

Most of us will never be able to match the sort of contribution David Warrack has made. David created a musical ecosystem in which we thrive. We can honour him and say thank you. Thank you David for the profound joy and commitment you find in creating musical performances and in so doing you make space for our participation and grow a garden full of experiences and works and talent for which you should be undeniably proud. We are honoured to celebrate your achievement and membership in the Toronto musicians association with a lifetime achievement award.

Andy Morris