Bruce Edward Holder Sr. (January 8, 1905 – August 27, 1987) was a Canadian composer, conductor, [1] and violinist. [2] [3] He helped to conduct, teach, and found many music groups, including Symphony New Brunswick, [4] the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, [5] and the Third Field Artillery Band, [6] which earned him his nickname, Mr. Music of Saint John.
Holder was born in Saint John, New Brunswick. [5] He took violin lessons as a child, and later studied conducting in Hancock, Maine, under Pierre Monteaux. [7]
Holder worked at the Ocean Steel and Construction Company. [8] In 1948 Holder was a volunteer with the Saint John Salvage Corps. [6] For fifteen years, beginning in the 1940s, he led the CBC Radio orchestra for the programs Holiday for Strings, Music Styled for Strings, and Fanfare. [7] [9] 1945 he opened a record store in Saint John. [7] In 1950 Holder became first violinist of the Saint John Symphony Orchestra. [10]
In 1957 he began teaching music at Saint John Vocational School, and in 1967 he was assistant conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. [11]
Bruce Edward Holder Sr. (January 8, 1905 – August 27, 1987) was a Canadian composer, conductor, [1] and violinist. [2] [3] He helped to conduct, teach, and found many music groups, including Symphony New Brunswick, [4] the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, [5] and the Third Field Artillery Band, [6] which earned him his nickname, Mr. Music of Saint John.
Holder was born in Saint John, New Brunswick. [5] He took violin lessons as a child, and later studied conducting in Hancock, Maine, under Pierre Monteaux. [7]
Holder worked at the Ocean Steel and Construction Company. [8] In 1948 Holder was a volunteer with the Saint John Salvage Corps. [6] For fifteen years, beginning in the 1940s, he led the CBC Radio orchestra for the programs Holiday for Strings, Music Styled for Strings, and Fanfare. [7] [9] 1945 he opened a record store in Saint John. [7] In 1950 Holder became first violinist of the Saint John Symphony Orchestra. [10]
In 1957 he began teaching music at Saint John Vocational School, and in 1967 he was assistant conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. [11]