STEWART MACMILLAN THOMSON

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STEWART MACMILLAN THOMSON Psallam spiritu et mente I will sing with the spirit and the understanding also Peacefully, with his family by his side, Stewart MacMillan Thomson passed away on Monday, October 27, 2008. Stewart was predeceased by his parents W. Davidson and Helena Thomson, brother Kenneth and wife Margaret, sister Helen and husband Thomas Mackie, nephew Davidson Thomson; and at birth by his identical twin. He is survived by his soulmate Phyllis Cooke Thomson, his children, Andrew (Mary-Anne), Christopher (Sheryl) and Celia, and four grandchildren, Alastair, Fraser; Matthew and Jacqueline, all of Winnipeg; and brother Edward Thomson (Donna), their son Grant (Leanne Philpott) and their children, Paisley, Cameron and Bryce, all of Connecticut. Born into a musical family on April 14, 1930 in the family home at 584 Broadway in Winnipeg, Stewart was given the name MacMillan after Sir Ernest MacMillan, whose parents were good friends of his mother's parents. At the age of eight, he began his piano studies with Glen Pierce, later with Leonard Heaton and organ tutelage with Walter MacNutt. At age 12, Stewart began accompanying his father in recitals and concerts. Stewart attended Mulvey School and Gordon Bell High School. During his school years, he performed in Gilbert and Sullivan productions, accompanied choirs, appeared as solo pianist with The Winnipeg Schools Orchestra, and was chosen valedictorian of his graduating class in 1947. He also competed in solo piano classes and in duet classes with Audrey Belyea at the Manitoba Competitive Music Festival. Graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1954 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, Stewart joined the Province of Manitoba Department of Public Works (Government Services) as a draftsman. He concluded his career as Senior Architect/Project Manager, retiring in November 1988. Notable highlights of his career included the conversion of the Winnipeg Auditorium for use by the Legislative library and provincial archives, the construction of the Manitoba Youth Centre, and the conversion and restoration of the A.A. Heeps Building (formerly the Bank of Nova Scotia). While an architect by profession, music and the church were Stewart's greatest joy. In 1951, encouraged by Richard W. Cooke, his future father-in-law, he assumed the position of organist at St. James Anglican Church. In 1954, he became deputy organist of St. George's Anglican Church, Crescentwood, directed by Donald Leggat, whom he succeeded as organist and choirmaster on January 1, 1956. For the next 50 years, Stewart developed and maintained a tradition of choral excellence with the Men and Boys' choir, the last of its kind in Western Canada. In training the treble voice, he developed hundreds of singers, many of whom have become accomplished musicians in their own right. Stewart was the first church choir director in Winnipeg to use brass and percussion instruments in worship services, and introduced countless contemporary choral compositions by English composers. He was regularly called upon to assemble and conduct massed choirs for special diocesan services, including the consecration of the Bishops of Rupert's Land, Brandon and Keewatin in 1969. Outside the church, Stewart was also extremely active in music, both locally and nationally for over 60 years as a chorus master, vocal coach and especially an accompanist. Married to soprano Phyllis Cooke in 1955, he was her musical collaborator in many recitals throughout Western Canada and on CBC Radio. Stewart and Phyllis commissioned and premiered Bernard Naylor's Three Feminine Things on October 18, 1976. Stewart was heard on the CBC Distinguished Artists Series as collaborator with singers and instrumentalists. He was an accompanist of the Winnipeg Male Voice Choir, accompanist and then Chorus Master of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir from 1967 to 1975, and the Manitoba Youth Choir for 17 years. He prepared children's choruses for performances with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Manitoba Theatre Centre, and for 30 years, the Manitoba Opera Association. Stewart was also a fixture at the Winnipeg Music Festival as an accompanist at all voice levels. A trophy, given by his family in his name, was instituted by the Festival in 2004 to be awarded for the most outstanding performance by boys with unchanged voices, eight and 10 years of age and under. Stewart was a loving father, grandfather and friend. A man of integrity, he gave unstintingly of his wisdom, knowledge and understanding to all with whom he came in contact. His children and grandchildren were a great source of joy in his life, and he and Phyllis shared a profound love one for another. We all share in gratitude for his life, and for the musical and loving heritage he has provided. A Service of Thanksgiving in Celebration of Stewart's life will be held at the Parish Church of St. George, Crescentwood, 168 Wilton St. at Grosvenor Avenue, on Monday, November 3 at 7:00 pm. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. George's Memorial Fund Inc., or to the Stewart M. Thomson Trophy scholarship fund, in care of the Winnipeg Music Festival, 2 - 88 St. Mary's Rd., Winnipeg, MB R2M 2Y7. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 BROADWAY, WINNIPEG, MB R3C OX4 783-7211 Send expressions of sympathy at www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 01, 2008