Gary D. Morton
gdmorton@magma.ca

In my first Band.. High School. The Trombone player just by the Bass Drum

At Viennesse Winter Ball 2004

Background Synopsis
Born in London, Ontario, Gary Morton attended Boston's Berklee College Of Music and graduated with a Bachelor of Music, Major in Composition. Before going to Boston Gary served with the R.C.R. Band as an arranger and instrumentalist. Having completed his education he moved back to London to begin a successful music school while continuing to freelance as a composer/arranger and instrumentalist. During his short stay in London, he was associated with Theatre London and Stratford's Avon Theatre as well as public concerts of his own works. In 1972, Gary moved to Ottawa to accept a staff arranging position with the R.C.M.P. Concert Band and was its Chief Arranger from 1974 to 1988. In 1988 Gary assumed the duties of Assistant Director of Music/Event Producer for the RCMP. Gary served with the Band until it was terminated in 1994. Since then Gary has been the Managing Director of the Kiwanis Music Festival, National Capital Region (Ottawa, Canada). Gary also keeps busy as Event Producer for The Entertainment Page and as Musical Director for the Stevens & Kennedy Band. The Stevens & Kennedy Band, of which Gary is a founding partner, is now in its 19th year and still a vibrant part of the musicial scene in Ottawa. S&K released a CD last year entitled "Souvenirs".

Professional Summary
Over thirty years of working in the professional music community. Demonstrated skills in management, composition, arranging, orchestration, conducting, event producing and budget planning.

Degree
Bachelor of Music, Major in Composition, May 1971 Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass., USA

Employment History
Part-time jobs since age of 8.
Joined Armed Forces, R.C.R. Band, after completion of Secondary School.
Attended Berklee College of Music College in Boston, Mass., and completed a Degree course.
Returned to London, Ontario and was self-employed for 18 months.
Joined RCMP, October 27, 1972.
Achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Retired from the RCMP, April 5, 1994.
Appointed Managing Director, Kiwanis Music Festival - May 1994
Various independent contract for Film Scoring, Contracting and Event Co-ordination

Supervisory experience
Have supervised as little as 5 subordinates up to 500 employee/volunteers

Production and Musical Responsibility
Produced RCMP Charity Balls for various charities featuring guest performers and orginal compositions
Ex. "A Celebration of the 120th Anniversary of the RCMP".
Composed "Maintien le Droit" for multi-media presentation at the 1993 Ball featuring RCMP Band, volunteer chorus and multi-screen slide show
Successfully negotiated contracts for the appearance of various Canadian stars
Contracted lighting and sound for the RCMP Charity Ball
Contracted/co-ordinated/directed civilian technicians for the Charity Ball and "A Canadian Sunset"
Designed, produced and scripted joint RCMP Band and Musical Ride show "A Canadian Sunset" (200 participants)
Contracted civilian musicians' services (instrumentalists and arrangers) for the RCMP Band
Member of the selection board for the downsized RCMP Band
Directed RCMP Band tours
Co-ordinator for music copyright concerns within the RCMP
RCMP producer/contact for "Telethon of Stars" a CFCF TV, Montreal Production
Assumed the duties of Director of Music for all activities of the RCMP Band in the absence of the Director of Music
Composed music using computer based synthesis program for various specials Ex. "A Canadian Sunset"
Produced entire entertainment for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association 67th Annual Convention and Exhibition at the Congress Centre, January 24 - January 27, 1992
Appointed Music Director/Conductor of the Canadian Symphonic Pops of Gloucester - 1990
RCMP producer/liaison for "Sixty-Five Roses" a CTV Special Mila Mulroney-Executive Producer
Produced PC500 reception at Chateau Laurier "Everything Old Is New Again"
Produced a "Valley Night" for the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy AGM featuring Stevens & Kennedy, Wayne Rostad, MacCuloch Dancers, Schryer Triplets
Composer of "Land of Shinning Waters", a major composition for the City of Peterbrough Concert Band and Choir - 1989
Produced sound track for NCC tourism film involving RCMP Concert Band and children's chorus
Produced and contracted all entertainment for the PC Family Picnic on Victoria Island - 120 performers - all at the same time
Produced "Spring Fling" for Ottawa Symphony Orchestra at Civic Centre 1988
Received Honorary Arts Canterbury Certificate for my contribution to the arts program at Canterbury Secondary School
Musical Director/Conductor for Orpheus Society "West Side Story" - 1986
Producer for the major arena show "Sounds & Saddles-1986/83" at the Civic Centre, Ottawa (400 participants)
Composer/Arranger/Producer of the soundtrack "Babar and Father Christmas"
Composer/Arranger/Producer of the soundtrack for Atkinson Film Arts production of "The Tin Soldier".
Musical Director/Conductor for Orpheus Society "Barnum" - 1985
Conductor/Arranger for CBC Telethon "Miracle Network" - 1985
Composer/Arranger/Producer of the soundtrack of Lynn Johnson's Animated TV Special For Better or For Worse "The Bestest Present"
Composer/Arranger/Producer of the soundtrack for"Care Bears Battle The Freeze Machine"
Produced arrangements and music book for Royal Canadian Legion touring show "We'll Meet Again"
Producer/Arranger of "O Canada" for the Canadian Government featuring RCMP Band and Children's Chorus
Arranger of "O Canada" for the CBC sign-off featuring RCMP Band and a Children's Chorus
Musical Director/Conductor for "Minto Follies"
Arranger for Orpheus Society musical "Opening Night - The First Seventy-Five Years"
Musical Director/Conductor for Orpheus Society "Hans Christian Andersen"
Extended composition for the Youth Band and Singers of Ontario
Arrangements for the Saskatchewan Arts Board "Celebration"
Produced RCMP Band Concert Band LP and RCMP Show Band LP
Arranged and Produced LP for the Ottawa Police Male Chorus
Arrangement on the Juno Award winning LP "Tommy Banks Big Band"
Compositions for the McGill Faculty of Music Concert Band

Administrative and Fiscal Responsibility
Assembled and managed a creative team of volunteers for the RCMP Charity Balls.
Produced joint RCMP Band and Musical Ride show "A Canadian Sunset" within RCMP budgetary restraints
Administrator and co-ordinator of contract and civilian employees
Assembled and managed volunteers/musicians for the Canadian Symphonic Pops of Gloucester
Assembled and managed 400 volunteers for "Sounds & Saddles"

Hobbies
Music, Computer Applications, Photography, Volunteer Activities

Gary D. Morton

To contact The Entertainment Page or The Stevens & Kennedy Band
call (613) 837-0626 or Click here to send me email