Ezra Schabas facts for kids

Ezra Schabas (April 24, 1924 – October 12, 2020) was a talented Canadian musician, teacher, and writer. He was very active in Canada's music world starting in 1952. That's when he moved from Cleveland with his family.

During his time in Canada, he became a top music educator. He was also a great clarinet player and a leader in Toronto's music schools. He wrote several books about Canadian and American music history. For his important work, he was given two special honors: the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.

Early Life and Learning

Ezra Schabas was born in New York City in April 1924. His parents were Minnie Anker and Hyman Schabas. He went to the Juilliard School to study the clarinet. There, he learned from a famous clarinet player named Arthur Christmann.

In 1943, World War II interrupted his studies. Ezra left Juilliard to join the US Army. He served in France and Germany. While overseas, he also attended the Nancy Conservatory. He returned to New York City in 1946.

After the war, Ezra finished his studies at Juilliard in 1947. He then earned a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1948. For the next few years, he kept learning music in many places. These included the Eastman School of Music in New York and the American Conservatory in France. He also took clarinet lessons in New York and Paris.

From 1948 to 1952, he taught at different universities. Then, he moved to Toronto in 1952. There, he worked as a freelance clarinet player. He also managed concerts at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He became a Canadian citizen in 1967.

A Career in Music

After moving to Toronto in 1952, Ezra Schabas became a director at the Royal Conservatory of Music. This is one of Canada's most important music schools. Famous artists like Oscar Peterson and Glenn Gould trained there. For eight years, Ezra taught clarinet at the Conservatory. Many of his students became successful musicians. He also helped young artists like Jon Vickers find concert opportunities.

In 1960, Ezra helped start the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. This group helps find and train talented young Canadian musicians. He was the Orchestra's first administrator. In the same year, he joined the music faculty at the University of Toronto. From 1968 to 1978, he led the performance and opera department.

In 1966, the Ontario Arts Council asked him to write a report. This report was about orchestras in Ontario. It became a guide for how orchestras in Ontario would grow for the next thirty years. Ezra also helped set up the University of Toronto Conductors' Workshop in 1968. In 1972, he helped create Orchestras Canada. He was elected its first president.

Ezra continued teaching at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory. In 1978, he became the Principal of the Conservatory. He held this important role until 1983. During this time, he created special training programs. These programs were for very talented children and teenagers. In 1980, he started the Orchestral Training Program. This program helped young Canadians find jobs in Canadian orchestras. He also founded the Association of Colleges and Conservatories of Music that same year. He was its first president until 1984.

After being Principal, Ezra returned to the University of Toronto in 1983. He retired the next year. In 1985, he was named a professor emeritus. This means he was honored for his teaching. From 1987 to 1990, he directed a special program. It was called "Musical Performance and Communication." This program helped classical musicians connect better with audiences.

Musician and Author

Ezra Schabas was not just a teacher and leader. He also performed and conducted music. He played the clarinet in Canada, the United States, and other countries. He was a freelance clarinet player for the CBC Orchestra until 1960. He also played in groups like the Toronto Woodwind Quintet.

As an educator, he spoke at conferences around the world. He was often asked to give advice and judge for groups like the Canada Council for the Arts. He wrote three books about musicians. He also wrote two books about music schools. In 1995, he won the City of Toronto Annual Book Award. This was for his book Sir Ernest MacMillan: The Importance of Being Canadian. From 1996 to 1998, he was president of The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. In 2000, he became a director for the Canadian Encyclopedia of Music.

Family Life

Ezra Schabas lived in Toronto. He was married to Ann (Fairley) Schabas. She was a former dean at the University of Toronto. Her parents were Margaret Fairley, a Canadian activist and writer, and Barker Fairley, an artist and scholar. Ezra and Ann had five children: William Schabas, Richard Schabas, Margaret Schabas, Michael Schabas, and Paul Schabas. He also had twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Ezra Schabas passed away in Toronto, Ontario, in October 2020. He was 96 years old.

Awards and Honors

Ezra Schabas received many awards for his contributions:

• 1967: Canadian Centennial Medal
• 1996: Appointed to the Order of Ontario
• 2000: Made a Member of the Order of Canada
• 2002: Appointed a Fellow (Honoris Causa) of the Royal Conservatory of Music
• 2002: Presented with the Golden Jubilee Medal
• 2002: Made a lifetime member of the Toronto Musicians Association
• 2012: Received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal

Books Written by Ezra Schabas

• 1989: Theodore Thomas: America's Conductor and Builder of Orchestras, 1835-1905, Champaign: University of Illinois Press; ISBN: 978-0-252-01610-3
• 1994: Sir Ernest MacMillan: The Importance of Being Canadian, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, ISBN: 978-0-8020-2849-5 (won the City of Toronto annual award, 1995).
• 2000: Opera Viva: The Canadian Opera Company; The First Fifty Years, co-authored with Carl Morey, Toronto: Dundurn Press, ISBN: 978-1-55002-346-6
• 2005: There's Music In These Walls: A History of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto: Dundurn Press, ISBN: 978-1-55002-540-8
• 2007: Jan Rubes: A Man of Many Talents, Toronto: Dundurn Press, ISBN: 978-1-55002-685-6

See also

• William Schabas
• Margaret Fairley
• Barker Fairley
• The Royal Conservatory of Music
• Sir Ernest MacMillan
• National Youth Orchestra of Canada