Gerald Bales

Gerald Bales was born in Toronto on May 12, 1919. He studied piano, organ, composition and conducting at the Toronto Conservatory of Music from 1936 to 1940. His teachers there included Albert Procter, Leo Smith, Healey Willan and Herbert A. Fricker. In 1937 he made his professional debut at Toronto’s Eaton Auditorium as pianist, organist and composer.

He was organist and choirmaster at St. Anne’s Anglican Church in Toronto from 1937 to 1941 and at Rosedale United Church from 1941 to 1943, and gave weekly organ recitals in both posts. He then served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1945 he was organist and choirmaster at Brant Avenue United Church in Brantford, Ontario.

From 1946 to 1956 he held the same post at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Toronto. There he gave weekly organ recitals, conducted weekly cantata performances and led many of Handel’s lesser-known oratorios. In 1953 he formed the St. Andrew’s Singers, a chamber choir that often sang with orchestra on CBC radio. He also gave many organ broadcasts for the CBC. In 1948 he played his Fantasy for piano and orchestra with the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1956 he moved to Calgary as organist and choirmaster of the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer. He founded the Calgary Orchestra and Chorus Association and conducted it in Bach passions and cantatas and in major orchestral works. In 1957 he represented Canada as a recitalist at the first International Congress of Organists in London, England.

From 1959 to 1971 he was organist and choirmaster at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Minneapolis. He started the Cathedral Music Series there and conducted first performances of works by American, Canadian and British composers.

From 1971 to 1984 he taught organ, choral and orchestral conducting, organ literature, keyboard skills and orchestration at the University of Ottawa. In the same years he was organist and choirmaster at Trinity Anglican Church. He moved to London, Ontario, in 1984.

Bales performed as organist, pianist, conductor and composer across Canada and the United States. He wrote music for organ, piano, choir, orchestra, and choir with orchestra, as well as scores for film and radio.

The Royal Canadian College of Organists made him an honorary Fellow in 1974. He was its national president from 1980 to 1982 and later an Honorary Vice-President and Honorary Life Member. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1996. He died in London, Ontario, on July 4, 2002.

Biography from Canadian Music Centre