Alumni Wall of Fame 2012
Elaine Adair, BMus’73, MA (Music)‘78
The Honourable Madam Justice Elaine Adair was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2008. Before joining the Court, Madam Justice Adair practiced law in Vancouver for more than 25 years, and was a partner with McCarthy Tétrault LLP and with Clark Wilson LLP. She developed an expertise in complex civil litigation, in particular class action defence and corporate-commercial disputes.
Elaine completed her degrees in music history under the direction of her mentor and dear friend Professor Emeritus Dr. Philip Downs. She has remained passionate about music. Through the Vancouver Recital Society, Elaine has sponsored recitals given by Paul Lewis, as well as a lecture given by Alfred Brendel. Elaine is also a long-time supporter of Early Music Vancouver and particularly, in recent years, its summer Mediaeval Programme led by Benjamin Bagby and members of the ensemble Sequentia. She has also been actively involved with the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
Gerald Fagan, BA (Music)’61 & Marlene Fagan
The unique partnership in music and family commitment continues in the lives of Marlene and Gerald Fagan. From the legendary high school choral program in Listowel, Ont. in the 1960s to this day, they remain on a joyous musical journey. In the 1970s, the Fagans were inaugural accompanist and conductor of provincial youth choirs in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Twice selected as the leadership team for the Ontario Youth choir, they founded the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth choir.
Marlene studied piano with Clifford von Kuster starting when she was in high school, then attended Western Music where she met fellow student Gerald, beginning a lifelong journey together. In 1977, they embarked on a 35-year tenure as accompanist/general manager and artistic director of Fanshawe Chorus London, Gerald Fagan Singers and Concert Players Orchestra. These three ensembles have become one of the largest adult performing organizations in Canada, specializing in advance repertoire for chamber choir and performance of the major works in the orchestral/choral repertoire.
Maintaining an international presence, the organization has performed in England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Spain, Monaco and France promoting Canadian repertoire. Retired from London performances in 2012, Marlene has begun editing more than 200 of her popular music scores, while Gerald continues as artistic director of the Bach Music Festival of Canada. Recently, Marlene received the ‘Woman of Distinction’ for the City of London and Gerald was awarded the Order of Ontario.
Ruth Morawetz, BA (Music)‘52
Ruth Morawetz is a multi-talented pianist experienced in opera, classical music and musical theatre repertoire. In 1980 she founded CANADIAN CABARET, an eclectic mix of programs showcasing Canadian singers, composers, lyricists, and instrumentalists. Ruth’s commitment to the development of young Canadian talent has provided a platform for both established and emerging Canadian talent. She has showcased more than 250 artists in venues throughout Toronto and on tour, including EXPO’86, Shaw Festival, Elora Festival, Quinte Summer Music, Opera Lyra, Huntsville Festival of the Arts and various remote regions of Ontario. She has collaborated with great Canadian performers such as Maureen Forester, Ben Heppner, Adrianne Pieczonka, Louise Pitre, Rosemarie Landry, Frances Ginzer and Karen Kain.
In addition, Ruth has served as music director and collaborative pianist with Théâtre Français de Toronto, accompanist at the National Ballet of Canada, coach/teacher at the Banff Centre, and remains active as a consultant member with the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, Opera Canada Magazine and Toronto’s Arts & Letters Club.
John W. Vandertuin, BMus’82, MMus’88
Canadian organ recitalist, composer (and member of SOCAN), teacher and music critic, John Vandertuin was made a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, (honoris causa) in 2004 in recognition of his exceptional abilities as an organ recitalist. He commenced his formal study in piano and music Braille at the Ontario School for the Blind in Brantford, Ont. and made his recital debut in Paris, France at age 14.
He obtained many organ and piano degrees, including an A.R.C.T. (Gold Medal) in organ performance, and an A.R.C.T. in piano performance, from the Royal Conservatory of Music, an AMus from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music, London, Ont., an Honours Bachelor (Gold Medal) and Master of Music in organ performance from Western University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree with Highest Honors from the University of Michigan where he studied with Dr. Robert Glasgow.
John has twice been invited to compete in the International Improvisation Competition in Haarlem, the Netherlands (only the second Canadian to be so honoured), and is the recipient of a number of scholarships, prizes and awards including the Prix Conrad Letendre in Montreal, Que. in 1979, and First Prize in the Improvisation Category of the National Healey Willan Organ Competition in 1980. His biography is included in Encyclopedia of Music in Canada.
