Boris Brott

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The annual Boris Brott music festival kicks off its summer concert series this Thursday and when building an orchestra, Brott says he’s looking for musicians with communicative ability, “Who has all those things, you know can play in tune, but the added plus is can they speak to me, do they speak to me?”

Brott was the assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic when he was recruited to come to Steeltown. He began conducting the Hamilton Philharmonic in 1969. “It was the beginning of a huge growth for the Hamilton Philharmonic because I had this idea about building an orchestra not from individuals but from rather chamber ensembles.”

Decades later, friend Roger Yachetti calls him an icon of the Hamilton community. “Just as significant as the Tiger-Cats for example, McMaster University. He’s been a wonderful influence on the musical scene.”

While he remains as busy as ever, Brott says he’s never worked over the years, only played.