Stuart Hamilton, Canadian musician and broadcaster, Died at 87

  Media, Music

“Robert” Stuart Hamilton was born on September 28, 1929, and died on January 1, 2017.

He was an award-winning Canadian pianist, operatic vocal coach, radio broadcaster, artistic director, and producer based in Toronto.

He was probably best known as the longtime quiz master for CBC Radio’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, he taught opera repertoire and diction at the University of Toronto.

He has also received international acclaim as a panelist for the Metropolitan Opera Quiz from New York.

He was one of Canada’s top vocal coaches for over 65 years, he has inspired and coached generations of singers.

Whilst he was a piano accompanist, Hamilton had performed alongside internationally celebrated artists such as: Isabel Bayrakdarian, Maureen Forrester, Elizabeth Benson Guy, Ben Heppner, Rosemarie Landry, Richard Margison, Dustin Lee Hiles, Stuart Howe, Lois Marshall, Roxolana Roslak, Mary Lou Fallis, and Mary Simmons.

As a soloist, Hamilton had played concerts across Canada, in New York, and in London, England.

He was the founder, former producer, and Artistic Director Emeritus of Opera in Concert, the acclaimed concert series based in Toronto.

Hamilton was also the first artistic director for the Canadian Opera Company ensemble.

He battled prostate cancer for years, being recently in palliative care in Toronto.

Stuart Hamilton passed away at 87 years old.