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Gordon Wry

1910 – 1985

Canadian tenor

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About Gordon Wry

Lived 1910 – 1985 (aged 74–75). Gordon Wry was a Canadian opera singer and conductor.

Gordon Wry (1910–1985) was a Canadian tenor and conductor. His voice is preserved on a handful of recordings made with pianist Glenn Gould.

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Wry studied singing with renowned contralto Nellie Smith and music theory with Healey Willan at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. He was one of the original members of the Festival Singers of Canada and was instrumental in encouraging Elmer Iseler to form that choir. He performed with that ensemble during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He also worked as G. Ricordi & Co.'s Canadian agent during the 1950s.

Wry performed with the Canadian Opera Company during its early years and was a leading tenor with the CBC Opera Company from 1949–1953. He notably portrayed the role of Bob Boles in the Canadian premiere of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes for the opening of the CBC Opera Company's second season with William Morton in the title role, Edmund Hockridge as Captain Balstrode, Frances James as Ellen Orford, and Eric Tredwell as Swallow. The production was awarded the Best Music Program prize at the 1950 Canadian Radio Awards Competition. In 1954 he portrayed the title role in the world premiere of Frederick Jacobi's The Prodigal Son at the Forest Hill Collegiate Auditorium in Toronto.

Wry taught for many years on the faculty of Massey College at the University of Toronto where he founded and conducted the Massey College Singers.

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Important facts

Born
1910
Birth century
Died
1985
Nationality
Education
The Royal Conservatory of Music
Employers
University of Toronto

People in Gordon Wry's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Gordon Wry's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Gordon Wry?

Canadian tenor (1910–1985)

When was Gordon Wry born?

Gordon Wry was born in 1910.

When did Gordon Wry die?

Gordon Wry died in 1985.

What was Gordon Wry's occupation?

Gordon Wry was an opera singer and conductor.

What nationality was Gordon Wry?

Gordon Wry was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Gordon Wry

· Wikidata: Q5586016

· DBpedia: Gordon Wry

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gordon Wry. https://biography.guide/gordon-wry/

MLA: "Gordon Wry." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gordon-wry/.

Chicago: "Gordon Wry." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gordon-wry/.

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