This interview is with Tyrone and Joanne Paterson in London, ON, Canada in May 2024. They are better known as Ty and Jo. Ty is one of Canada’s leading opera conductors. He currently serves as Music Advisor and Principal Conductor for Manitoba Opera. He has appeared with most of Canada’s professional companies and as a Guest Conductor with numerous professional companies throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. Ty held the position of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Opera Lyra Ottawa for 16 seasons (performing at the National Arts Centre). Ty is also an experienced educator having led student productions at Western University, University of Calgary, and UBC. Early in his career, Ty served as Music Director for the Calgary Youth Orchestra. He made his professional conducting debut with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 25. Looking ahead to retirement, Ty is focussing on jazz and is learning to play trombone in the New Horizons Band together with his wife, Jo. He has recently launched a new jazz combo, Second Act Combo, playing keyboard.
Jo Paterson is a Research & Scholarly Communication Librarian at Western Libraries of Western University in London, ON. She currently specialises in scholarly publishing and digital scholarship. She draws on her background in musicology and the humanities to support digital projects. Jo holds degrees in Music History and Literature, General Humanities and Musicology with a special interest in genealogy. Jo plays trumpet and euphonium in the New Horizons Band at Western University. Like her husband Ty, she plays in many community, swing and jazz bands in the city..
If you would like to find out more about the New Horizons Band at Western University, London, ON, Canada, please go to https://music.uwo.ca/outreach/new-horizons-band.html
