The Fredericton Playhouse selection committee has recognized and awarded musician, arts advocate and educator, Richard Hornsby as the Playhouse Honours recipient for 2024.
Richard has been a major player in the Fredericton and New Brunswick Arts communities for 32 years. He has made significant contributions with his performance and conducting, work in arts administration and education, as well as through his entrepreneurial initiatives enriching the lives of budding musicians, amateur musicians and concert goers.
“Richard Hornsby has had an immeasurable impact on countless artists and audiences in our community through his commitment to the performing arts,” said Craig Leonard, President of the Board of Directors. “His passion for innovating and shaping the local music landscape is exemplified through his work with the Fredericton Symphony Orchestra, UNB, and the many other initiatives he lends his talent and dedication to."
Richard has worked behind the scenes leading a variety of arts organizations such as the Cultural Human Resources Council of Canada, ArtsNB, and CulturePlus, in addition to serving on numerous boards including the Musicians Union and the Canadian Musical Centre (Atlantic). He was also a member of the organizing group that secured the Charlotte Street School as a civic Arts Centre.
Since his early years Richard has been the driving force behind many musical initiatives, forming jazz ensembles and creating touring classical ensembles. In Fredericton he founded the UNB Centre for Musical Arts, UNB Music Camps, the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival, and the Atlantic Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra. He has been the Director of Music at UNB since 1992.
Richard has performed throughout New Brunswick, and toured Canada, the United States, and Europe performing and recording traditional classical music as well as contemporary new music. As a conductor he has led major ensembles in Ontario, Indiana, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.
For over 10 years Richard has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Fredericton Symphony Orchestra, raising it from a small local group to that of a major, full community orchestra that gives opportunities to young regional musicians, local amateurs, and local professional musicians, as well as collaborating with others in the arts community.
As the recipient of the 2024 Playhouse Honours, Richard Hornsby will join seventeen other local performing arts pioneers bestowed this prestigious award over the years.
The Fredericton Playhouse acknowledges generous support from promotional partner Atlantic Mediaworks for their contribution of services to the program.