William Kuinka

William Kuinka (January 28, 1916 – April 7, 2008) During his 1951–1952 season with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, he became known as a member of the Symphony Six, a group of six musicians under contract to the orchestra who were denied entry to the United States for a concert tour under suspicion of leftist activities.

Early life and career William Kuinka was born in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. In November 1951 the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was invited to participate in the "Major Symphony Series" in Detroit, its first appearance in the United States, alongside major US orchestras from Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. In keeping with US immigration laws, the orchestra submitted its list of members for clearance. Seven musicians were not given clearance; this was later pared down to six: Kuinka, Dirk Keetbaas, Abe Mannheim, John Moskalyk, Ruth Budd, and Steven Staryk (later known as the Symphony Six), who were denied access to the United States under suspicion of leftist activities. At the end of the season the orchestra did not renew its contracts with these musicians. This created a controversy in Canada.

Later career Kuinka performed with the Toronto Renaissance Quintet from 1963 to 1965. In 1964 he founded the Toronto Mandolin Chamber Ensemble, which existed until 1969.

His daughter Valerie has performed with the orchestras of the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company. She married the tenor Richard Margison.

Kuinka died at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto at the age of 92.