Phil Nimmons, O.C., O.Ont.
June 3 1923 – April 5, 2024
For over six decades, Phil Nimmons steadfastly and passionately dedicated himself to students and musicians in Canada, encouraging generations of professional musicians and teachers who are making significant contributions to the nation’s arts and culture. To honour Phil’s life’s work and to support the continuation of his dedication to future generations of artists, the Canadian Music Centre established “The Phil Nimmons Legacy Fund”.
Phil firmly believed in giving opportunities for musicians to learn, to experience a variety of music, to play and be heard in live concert settings, and to be promoted. As funds grow, the CMC will consider a number of meaningful activities that continue his work, including
- Commissions for new jazz and classical compositions by composers in Canada
- Presentation and promotion of these commissioned works
- Support to a pan-Canadian youth engagement program that encourages music creation in students
- Support to a series of listening and learning podcasts about legacy composers.
- Support for the “Jazz at the Centre” series to provide opportunities for audiences to see live performances by Canadian jazz musicians
Background
One of Canada’s pioneer composers, and one of a handful of musicians who solidly established the country’s status in the world of jazz, Phil helped launch major initiatives that to this day, support Canadian contemporary music. He was a founding member of the Canadian League of Composers that led to the Canadian Music Centre. He helped start several music education programs, including programs at the University of Toronto, the Western University (Ontario), the University of New Brunswick and the Banff Centre for Fine Arts. He also adjudicated many bands through Musicfest (formerly known as the Canadian Stage Band Festival). In the 1960s, along with his good friends Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown, he started the Advanced School of Contemporary Music in Toronto.
Phil Nimmons was part of a visionary community of musicians who worked to preserve and promote Canadian music, including John Weinzweig, John Beckwith, R. Murray Schafer, Norma Beecroft, Harry Freedman and more. Driven by evolution, Phil worked as a composer, bandleader, clarinettist, and educator and dedicated himself to music in Canada.
Fondly known as the “Dean of Canadian Jazz”, Phil influenced, inspired, and mentored generations of musicians, music teachers and audiences since the 1950’s through his radio shows, recordings, nationwide tours, band clinics, workshops and programs in universities and summer camps. He was a prolific composer and arranger with over 400 original jazz compositions and several classical works. He wrote for his own big bands and small groups, as well as for film, radio, TV, stage productions.
