Our Conductor-Music Director-has recently Retired
Since 2011, Robert Mari has been our Conductor-Music Director, but has just retired from the Cowichan Consort. Mr Mari, holding a Masters of Music and Doctorate studies in Orchestral Conducting at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore USA under Frederick Prausnitz and Choral Conducting Studies at UBC under James Fankhouser and VCC under Jon Washburn, delighted our audiences. His last concert was Fall 2019.
Starting to play piano when he was 3 years old, then first performing in public by 5, followed by his first symphonic conducting at 13, he has explored a variety of musical styles and mediums. As pianist or composer Robert has produced 4 recordings and various film scores. Enjoying half of the year in Shawnigan Lake in his beautiful recording studio on Baldy Mountain looking over the lake, valleys and ocean, Robert continues to compose, perform, travel, and play tennis. And the winter months he is in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where he is now the Conductor-Music Director of the ProMusica Youth Orchestra. We all wish him a very happy retirement ! Congrats!