Adam Mc Lean, Staff Writer

A young student at the time, Mr. Stratton discovered a love for classical music at the community concert and was inspired to pursue a career in the arts.

As he and his love of the music matured, he became a conductor, working with international orchestras and also acting as music director of The Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra since 1988.

But, more than being simply a classical conductor, the Thornhill resident became a conductor with a vision to provide communities that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity, a chance to experience some of the world’s greatest symphonies and orchestras.

“I remember sitting in the school gym as a boy and what it felt like to hear this kind of music and feel like you are the only person in the audience.

“Experiencing this music live, it was as if I was lifted out my seat and I was floating in air,” Mr. Stratton said.

“We consume so much music electronically, but it is important and I am trying to keep the dynamic of live music available to as many people the best way that I can. You have to be bitten by the bug to scratch the itch,” he added.

And it is a bug that has caused Mr. Stratton to perform with and conduct some of the world’s greatest orchestras in more than two dozen countries.

On Nov. 9 he will bring some of the world’s best to Richmond Hill for a performance at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.

During this performance Mr. Stratton will conduct The Orchestra Internazionale D’Italia — Italy’s flagship ensemble — in a concert called Gala Italia.

The performance will feature operatic aria of orchestral masterworks mainly celebrating the 150th anniversary of Italian opera composer, Giacomo Puccini.

In addition to the performance in Richmond Hill, Gala Italia will play at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto and in keeping with providing world-class symphonies to smaller town audiences,
Gala Italia will also visit Port Hope, Orillia and Welland on their Canadian debut tour.

The Richmond Hill stop on the tour was originally scheduled to be held at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, but the opening of the theatre was postponed.

The postponement re–sulted in a venue change to St. Mary’s, which Mr. Stratton and his musical crusader mentality inevitably viewed as a great opportunity for the audience to experience the show in a unique setting.

It is this positive outlook and the undeniable desire to share his performance with as many ears as possible that stokes Mr. Stratton’s passion.

A passion he has orchestrated with his company International Touring Productions, where Mr. Stratton and different artists have performed in many unique venues from European castles to Toronto heavy metal bar The Bovine Sex Club, where Mr. Stratton brought a pianist to play Chopin to a crowd of punk rockers; in Mr. Stratton’s words, “We took the mountain to Mohammed”.

According to Mr. Stratton, a little tickling of the ivories was well received by the crowd that may be more accustomed to the wailing of guitar strings.

But, it is just that display of daring that epitomizes Mr. Stratton and his pursuit as an ambassador to his sweet craft of conducting.

“I dare you to come to my concert and be bored. It vaporizes your emotions,” he said.

“I try to give everything I have and put it all in to each performance and have that translate through the music and feed directly to the audience. It can be mentally and physically exhausting hold together these massive forces of music and emotion, but I guess if you aren’t exhausted after conducting a performance, maybe you didn’t do it right,” he added.

And according to some of his peers, he has worked with and those that know him best, there is very little he does wrong when he is on stage before an audience.

“He is a rare breed in this industry; he is really good at what he does and he is a really nice guy,” said Michael Grit, theatre manager for the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

“He is extremely approachable and he is open to new ideas. When we thought about St. Mary’s as a possible location, Kerry’s attitude was ‘we are going to make this work’. He has a remarkable passion wanting people to connect with the performance,” Mr. Grit added.

And with a wife and three kids at home, you would figure that things at the Stratton home would be all music, all the time, but according to Elizabeth Stratton; Kerry’s wife, the whirlwind of music stays on stage.

“I am not a music expert at all, not even slightly. After a show, Kerry will ask what my favorite part is, but I can’t really pick out particulars to a performance,” Mrs. Stratton said laughing.

“That is what makes us so great.

“After a day filled with music, he gets to hear me talk about my work day and music doesn’t necessarily come up,” she added.

The Gala Italia tour runs from Nov. 3 with the first show in Toronto and ends Nov. 10 in Montreal.

An intense week of performing surely, but for Mr. Stratton it will be an opportunity to open some new eyes and ears the same way he was many years ago.

“Irish poet Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy wrote, ‘We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.’ How fortunate to be able to work in this field and be in a position to help other people dream their dreams.”

Tickets for the Nov. 9, 8 p.m. show can be purchased by calling 905-787-8811 or online visit  www.richmondhill.ticketwindow.ca.

Ticket prices are $52 for adults and seniors and students pay $46.80.

For more information on Maestro Kerry Stratton visit  www.kerrystratton.com