The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Board of Directors, Staff, and Choristers today recognize the passing of John Lawson with profound sadness. We pause to recognize, with deep gratitude, his extraordinary influence and impact on this organization and, in fact, the arts in Canada.

John showed his love of the performing arts in multiple ways and his dedication and commitment was an inspiration to all that had the good fortune of knowing him. He shared his wisdom, talent, time, and treasure with TMC in countless ways and we are particularly grateful for his roles as chorister, Board Chair, generous donor, and loyal audience member. TMC is today financially stable and well managed in large part because of John’s prescient establishment of systems that have sustained the organization through difficult times, including the current pandemic.

Though we deeply mourn John’s loss, we also celebrate a man who lived an exemplary life of service to his community. John never sought public recognition for his many deeds. He instinctively knew how to use his formidable abilities to enhance and sustain our organization and simply went about doing the hard work necessary to accomplish those objectives.  John will not be forgotten at TMC where his outstanding record of service and support will always serve as the finest example of what a person can accomplish in a lifetime.

          – Denny Young, Chair of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Board of Directors

 

John Lawson died on October 12, 2021 at the age of 95. You can read his obituary here.

Photo: John Lawson and composer Andrew Balfour. We were thrilled to have John at our 125th anniversary Gala concert in October 2019; the concert included the premiere of Mamachimowin by Andrew Balfour.  (Photo by John Hryniuk.)