Gordon Cherry performed as the Principal Trombonist of the Vancouver Symphony and the C.B.C. Vancouver Radio Orchestra from 1974 to 2009 working under conductors Kazuyoshi Akiyama, John Avison, Rudolf Barshai, Sergui Comissiona, Bramwell Tovey and Alain Trudel as well as hundreds of guest conductors.
Previously, he performed in the same capacity with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under Mario Bernardi. Gordon was a student of the late Emory B. Remington, graduating from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in 1971. As well, some of his other teachers were: Donald Knaub of the Eastman School of Music, Dr. Donald Hunsberger of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Edwin Anderson of the Cleveland Orchestra, Henry C. Smith of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Eugene Watts of the Canadian Brass. Studies at the Royal Conservatory in his hometown of Toronto and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada added a strong background to his early training along with four years in the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
He taught on the Faculty at the University of British Columbia School of Music from 1975 to 2007, graduating many students who have prominent positions in Orchestras and Educational Institutions around North America.
During previous summers Gordon has taught at the Banff Festival, Courtenay Music Centre, Saskatchewan Summer Music School, the Waterloo Festival Orchestra, under the baton of Gerard Schwarz in New Jersey and the S.O.A.P. Festival in Powell River.
Gordon was the recipient of two Canada Council Awards, a four year Eastman School of Music Scholarship and was twice a finalist in the C.B.C. Talent Festival. As a soloist he has performed with orchestras and chamber groups including the Vancouver Symphony, the CBC Radio Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the VSO Brass Quintet, the Vancouver New Music Society and the UBC Wind Ensemble.
Gordon runs Cherry Classics Music, a publisher of high quality music for brass with over 340 works in the catalog.
You can check out the Cherry Classics website at www.CherryClassics.com. Gordon has also performed for many movies and TV specials as a recording artist.
He performs exclusively on a Shires (tenor) and Yamaha (alto) trombone.
Gordon’s wife Joyce has been his loving and steadfast partner in life and music for 50 years. His two children, Rebecca and Avrum are wonderful and loving persons, giving of their great talents to the world. Their granddaughter Ara is a beautiful and bright soul who brings joy to all.