Peter Smith

Peter Smith, longtime member of Local 180, died in hospital on February 17, 2010, at the age of 64, after a series of strokes.

Bom in Australia, Peter came to Ottawa at the age of one and received his early music education here. While still in high school, he received his ARCT. He continued his studies at the University of Toronto while freelancing on the clarinet, saxophone and guitar.

He played in various orchestras and bands, including a gig as lead clarinet for Duke Ellington. In 1965, he was the first winner in the woodwind category of the CBC Young Performers National Competition. He performed extensively for the CBC and can be heard on numerous recordings.

In addition to teaching privately, at the Hull Conservatory, and at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, he was a founding member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Ayorama Wind Quintet and was still performing with both groups at the time of his death.

Source: News Harp, March 2010