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WRIGHT,
Don (Donald John Alexander), C.M., B.A., D.Mus., L.Mus.,
D.Ed.; musician, composer, arranger, educator, philanthropist;
Birth: b. Strathroy, Ont. 6 Sept. 1908; s. Ernest Joel
and Mary Jean (Clark) W.; Education: Strathroy Pub.
and High Schs.; Univ. of W. Ont. Honour Classics '33
(G. Howard Ferguson Trophy); Ont. Coll. of Educ. Toronto
1933-34; m. Lillian Mary Laura d. late Rt. Hon. Arthur
Meighen 29 June 1935; children: Timothy A.J., Priscilla
J.M., Patrick O.G.; FOUNDER, DON WRIGHT PRODUCTIONS
1950- ; Pres., Castor Lake Holdings Ltd.; Teacher of
Classics and Hist. Sir Adam Beck Coll. Inst. London
1934; Dir. of Music for London 1940; Mgr. Radio Stn.CFPL
1946, Don Wright Chorus estbd. (10 yrs. on the air);
Don Wright Singers estbd. 1957, many TV and radio appearances
incl. Chrysler Festivals; composed, arranged and conducted
music various films incl. Trail of '98, Opening of Seaway,
A Day to Remember, The Unknown Country; many CBC documentaries;
guest speaker many clinics and workshops on The Changing
Voice in U.S.A. and Canada; formed Don Wright Charitable
Foundation (1966) Scholarships for Music Students Univ.
of W. Ont. and 12 other Cdn. univs.; composed Proudly
We Praise 1966, performed on Parliament Hill 1st July
1967; Presented to the Queen; compiled thesaurus excerpts
life's work in music for educ. purposes covering vocal
devel. and instrumental arranging 1978-79; donated complete
sets Fifty Years of Music with Don Wright to Music Dept.
Cdn. univs. and teachers' colls. 1980; endowed 34 Don
Wright Music Scholarships across Can., endowed each
Don Wright Music Scholarship with sufficient funds to
make each one perpetual and matching inflation 1985-87;
further endowments, Univ. of Western Ont. to the Classics
Dept., the Marching Band, Track & Field (with trophies);
The Wellesley Hosp., Lillian Meighen Wright Maternity
Centre; The S.A. Scarborough Grace Hosp., Nursery &
Birth Centre; The Hosp. for Sick Children - top nurse
scholarship; The Church of St. John the Evangelist,
Strathroy; The Wright Family Memorial Window, Pentecost;
The Wright Family Memorial Found., For the Church; both
shared by his sister Dr. Mary, complete rebuild of the
orgn. donation of a piano 1998-2001; The Church of St.
Clement Eglinton - Grand Piano, Trompette en Chamaude,
Organ Restoration; St. Clement's Church - Great Organ
1999; St. Michael's Hosp. - The Don & Lillian Meighen
Wright Maternity Centre 1999; Univ. of Western Ont.
- 8 lane track in new olympic size stadium named The
Don Wright Track 2000; Fac. of Music at Univ. of Western
Ont. renamed the Don Wright Fac. of Music; further increased
endowments for all scholarship awards 1997; author Collegiate
Choir Series 1938-39; Youthful Voices Series 1940, revised
1964; Pre-teen Song Settings 1960; Don Wright Choral
Series; Lets Read Music; served with C.O.T.C. rank Capt.,
RCAF rank Flying Offr. World War II, wrote all music
and dir. orchestra two different units troop shows;
rec'd Citation, Althouse Coll. 1981; Award of Merit,
Univ. of W. Ont. Alumni (highest honour) 1983; Univ.
of W. Ont. Track Meet named in his honour: The Don Wright
Invitational, 1983; Doctor of Music (hon. causa), Univ.
of Western Ont. 1986; Licentiate in Music (hon. causa)
Western Ont.Conservatory of Music 1987; Track &
Field, Athletic Hall of Fame, Univ. of Western Ont.
1990; awarded Commemorative Medal for 125th Anniversary
of Cdn. Confederation; 1st recipient, The Purple &
White Award, U.W.O. Alumni 1997; Mem., Order of Canada
2001; D.Ed. (hon. causa) Victoria Univ. 2001; Freemason;
Life Mem., ACTRA; Toronto Music Assn.; Charter Mem.,
CFIB; Delta Upsilon; P. Conservative; Anglican; recreations:
music, travel, walking. |
