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About Us

Mission

“Spreading music, changing lives”

We believe that the Arts can enlighten, inspire and transform. We believe in Universal Access to Music, Art, Culture, Education and Community. We believe that volunteerism is the highest form of giving back to community.

We present excellence in performance and create revolutionary arts programs to build better communities. To do this, we are brave, rebellious, justice seeking and innovative.

Vision

“Music everywhere, everyone”

In our future world everyone has the highest value for Music, Art, Culture, Education and Community. The Aeolian becomes a leader inspiring people to connect to their creative abilities.

Values

Transformation

We believe participation in music, art, culture, education and community leads to transformation by:

  • Inspiring
  • Motivating
  • Enlightening

Diversity

We believe that creativity can bring us together fostering:

  • Interdependence
  • Inclusivity
  • Community

Social Justice

We believe that our world must foster:

  • Equality
  • Universal Access
  • Supporting and Advocating
  • Volunteerism

Self Actualization

We believe that we can all become better people through:

  • Learning and Teaching
  • Courage, Bravery and Perseverance
  • Building Self

Heritage

We believe in preserving, reflecting and celebrating our past through:

  • Historical Preservation
  • Cultural Preservation
  • Teaching and Presenting

History of Aeolian hall

The Early Years

The story of the Aeolian Hall begins in 1882. The London East Town Council bought a plot of land from David E. Glass, former mayor of London. The Council then authorized the expenditure of $7,000 towards the construction of a town hall, in the hope of thwarting any attempt at annexation by the City of London.

The renowned architect George F. Durand designed the building. It is a combination of High Victorian and Italianate design, a masterpiece of tall traceried windows and biochromatic brickwork. Construction took place between September 1883 and June 1884. The project went over-budget by double the original estimate. A year later (1885) East London found itself in severe financial trouble and was forced to amalgamate with the City of London. The building has served a number of intriguing purposes over the decades.

Upon amalgamation with the City of London, the main floor of the building was converted into Fire Station No. 2 (until the station was moved to Florence Street in 1946) while also serving as the Ninth Divisional Court in the 1880’s and 1890’s.

From 1888 to 1890 the hall was also home to a public school. In 1901, Samuel Francis Wood had a workshop at the Hall and later became president of the Hobbs Hardware Company and the Hobbs Manufacturing Company.

Turn of The Century

Around the turn of the twentieth century many outdoor concerts and plays were held in the evenings on stages and in tents behind the building. Such events were often sponsored by traveling herb doctors, who would hawk their so-called “cure-all” medicines to the audience.

On December 23, 1915 the London Public Library opened the East End Branch – the first branch location for the library – on the ground floor. The Oddfellows Lodge held its meetings on the second floor and Mrs. Reuben Short was the Noble Grand of its Rebecca lodge sometime during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Goodwill Industries of London occupied part of the main floor from 1945 to 1947 with Margaret Glass as director.

After Fire Station No. 2 was moved to its new location the City of London sold the East End Town Hall to the National Appliance Limited, who in turn sold it to Imperial Fuels Ltd in 1954.

The hall was also home to the London School of Telegraphy. In 1949 the school ran an ad in the city directory promoting: “Classes in telegraphy and railway clerks graduate in five months into interesting, profitable, lifetime employment.”

For 32 years (1950-1982) Frank C. Warder Radio Limited occupied this site, offering sales and services for radios, refrigerators and washers. Eventually the line of products also included closed circuit televisions, intercommunication systems, telephone systems, mobile systems, sound systems and televisions.

Enter Gordon Jeffery

In 1947, Gordon D. Jeffery purchased the First Congregational Church (later Beecher United Church) and refurbished it as a concert hall renamed Aeolian Hall. Jeffery was among the first individuals in London to promote local chamber music.

The term “Aeolian” comes from the Aeolian Islands found northeast of Sicily. The root of the word is derived from the god Aeolus (keeper of the winds, son of the god Hippotas). Aeolian is also a technical music term associated with a number of organ, piano and player piano manufacturing companies. There was an Aeolian Hall in London, England (which opened in 1904) and an Aeolian Hall in New York City as well.

On May 20, 1968, the Aeolian Hall was destroyed by arson. (The London Tower, a heritage site located at 379 Dundas Street, is all that remains of the original building.)

In 1968, Jeffery purchased the former London East Town Hall for $42,000 as a temporary headquarters until the original could be rebuilt. In 1969, the old town hall was refurbished as a fully equipped musical performance center. To improve the acoustic of the Hall, the original ceiling – which was fastened to the base of the dark beams – was removed. The original stage was raked, but the orchestra pit was added in hopes of staging small operas and musicals.

On opening night in September 1969, Jeffery conducted the Aeolian Town Hall Orchestra in a program of three Brandenburg Concerti and the Violin Concerto in E Major by Bach.

On October 12, 1972, the Historic Sites Committee of the London Public Library Board unveiled its thirteenth plaque at the Hall. In March 1977, Jeffery abandoned his plan of rebuilding the original Aeolian Hall. Later that year the new Aeolian Town Hall hosted Theatre London which performed a reduced playbill under the directorship of William Hutt for its 1977-78 season while the Grand Theatre was being renovated. In 1989 the Forest City Gallery – the oldest artist-run gallery in the London region – also moved into the building.

Gordon Jeffery died in 1986 leaving the Gordon Jeffery Trust to oversee and maintain the Aeolian as a musical venue for London. The Trust was nearing the end of its mandate in 2003 and decided to put the building up for sale.

Clark Bryan

Mr. Clark Bryan, concert pianist, bought the Hall in July 2004 and expanded its mandate to include multi-genre music and art presentation as well as community events. In 2009, Bryan shifted the governance of The Aeolian to a Registered Charity/Non-Profit Corporation called The Aeolian Hall Musical Arts Association. Mr. Bryan transferred ownership of the building to this charity in February 2011 to ensure its future in the Public Trust.

The Aeolian Hall Musical Arts Association (AHMAA)

The Aeolian Town Hall is currently the home the Aeolian School of Music and Aeolian Hall. It has twice been awarded “Best Live Venue” at the Jack Richardson Music Awards, and has been selected as one of the Top 10 Halls in Canada by the CBC Radio 3 Searchlight Contest. In 2010, The Aeolian was given a Pillar Award by The Mayor of London for outstanding Community Contribution. The Aeolian Hall has become a centre for research and development of arts programs with focus on social justice, social inclusion, and community development.

Clark Bryan

Executive and Artistic Director

As an award winning concert pianist, Clark Bryan has performed internationally, recorded 14 CD’s and has been featured on radio and television. As a teacher, Mr Bryan has taught thousands of students, adjudicated 65 festivals coast to coast in Canada, given dozens of workshops and written a book “Gateways to Learning and Memory”.

The founder of The Aeolian Performing Arts Centre, Clark believes that everyone should have universal access to music, art and culture. Because of this belief, he launched El Sistema Aeolian in 2011. This free, intensive music program has offered more than 200 children and youth an opportunity to experience the joy of a rich musical experience. Recent programs Mr. Bryan co-founded and launched under the Aeolian umbrella include Pride Men’s Chorus London and Rebelheart Collective.

Mr. Bryan is engaged in community activism and speaks regularly at events, on radio and television and has given a TED talk about the power and joy of music study.

Bryan Gloyd

General Manager (Emeritus) 

Current:  Jazz Curator, volunteer and adviser

Bryan Gloyd brings a vast array of skills to the Aeolian. His musical career has many facets including working as a church musician, recording artist and jazz pianist. Bryan has accompanied many local musicians and organized jazz programming at The Aeolian. He has also accompanied two-time Grammy Winner Matt Alber, the legendary songwriter Marc Jordan and the Canadian National Jazz Award Winner Denzal Sinclaire. Bryan has a strong business background having worked for a world-wide animal nutrition company. He uses these skills to help maintain and grow systems at The Aeolian.

Darren MCCaffery

Accounting and Development

A proud new member of the Aeolian team, Darren brings over two decades of experience in arts administration. He began his career performing in the Toronto musical productions of Les Misérables, Napoleon, and Miss Saigon. Passionate about supporting young talent, he co-founded the Broadway North Theatre Company and launched The Performing Arts Warehouse training school. Darren served as the inaugural Managing Director of the EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts,  the Cultural Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Winter Games, and most recently helped lead Windsor Light Music Theatre through the pandemic years.  Recognized with several business awards, he is a sought-after expert in event management and non-profit finance. Darren remains dedicated to fostering creativity and community through the arts.

 

Darren Sigesmund

Program Coordinator, El Sistema Aeolian

Darren Sigesmund is an award-winning trombonist and composer. He has released five recordings as bandleader featuring his compositions with his jazz ensembles. He has received a 2010 JUNO nomination and a Galaxie Rising Star award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Darren has toured nationally and overseas, and has written several classical commissions. He holds a doctorate from the University of Toronto in Jazz Performance. Darren has given dozens of workshops and has taught jazz and classical piano at the Humber College Community Music Program. With a strong belief in the importance of music education, Darren aspires to help provide meaningful opportunities for the youth at El Sistema Aeolian.

Wendy perry

Administration Coordinator

Wendy was born and raised here in London but has also lived in London, England and Toronto working in the hospitality industry.  After returning home to London in 1990 she switched gears and went into office administration in the finance and insurance sectors.  This is where Wendy developed her organizational and customer service skills which eventually led to her to the Aeolian Hall Box Office in 2018.  Her love of music and the arts runs deep, her parents and three older brothers exposed her to a wide variety of music genres growing up and taught her to appreciate art in all of its forms.

Oleksandr HorbanovskyI

Caretaker & Set-up Coordinator

Oleksandr is a refugee from the Ukraine war.  He attended the Professional Lyceum of Construction and Architecture in Odessa, Ukraine.    He has a number of years of experience in hotel administration as a technical engineer and caretaker.  He also has worked in construction apprenticing in plumbing, electrical, and turn-key repairs.

Dr. Paul Cooper

Chair

Paul has served for many years as Chair of the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Western University). Paul has a strong music background and brings to the Aeolian a tremendous leadership, administrative and fund development background.  Paul’s passion for music includes his participation in community choirs and accomplishments as a pianist/organist.

sue soney

Vice-Chair

An Indigenous woman from Bkejwanong-Walpole Island First Nations Reserve, Sue brings an important perspective to The Aeolian’s Community.  Sue lives in the Old East Village neighbourhood close to Aeolian Hall and has spent her life working as the Ultrasound Coordinator at Victoria Hospital and is currently doing research at The Robarts Research Institute. Sue’s granddaughter Ayden is an Alumni of El Sistema Aeolian and she hopes that every young person gets to have the opportunity to engage in music and the arts.

bill jansen

Treasurer

Born and raised in London, Ontario, Bill graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business In 2006.  Bill cares deeply about this community, the power of music and The Aeolian’s Mission.  He is the proud father to two young boys, who both love music.   Bill is a Commercial Account Executive with McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers.

vimla harry

Secretary

Vimla grew up in Trinidad and came to Canada in 1983, as an international student, to study Biochemistry/Molecular Biology at McMaster University, Hamilton. Upon graduating, she obtained permanent residence in Canada, and then accepted an  assistant research scientist job in a  laboratory in Dept of Immunology at McMaster, doing molecular microbiology research in infectious diseases.

She moved to London in 1987 when the laboratory moved to the Lawson Research Institute/ Dept of Microbiology at SJHC. In 2004, she moved from the research setting to work in a clinical lab, the Molecular Pathology Lab, Dept of Pathology at LHSC, testing for genetic mutations associated with various cancers and other diseases. She retired from LHSC IN 2017.

Vimla has have volunteered  in different organizations over many years. She served as Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre (1998-2003). She was very involved in the the Sunfest-London Committee for Cross Cultural Arts for many years (1997-2015) from its initial committee status to a non-profit cooperation. She served on the board as Vice-President and President and was also a lead member of the festival organizing committee and the Volunteer Coordinator. In recognition of her volunteer efforts, she was presented with the LHSC award for community service in 2010.

Since 2005, she has volunteered at the Aeolian Hall at concerts, the Box Office and over the last 3 years at El Sistema Aeolian. At El Sistema, she took on the lead role in planning and organizing the meals (on a modest budget) and coordinated the volunteers who prepared  and served the meals.

Jacob MalKIN

Director

Jack is a consultant in real-estate development and is the President of the London Multicultural Community Association in London Ontario.  Jack is heavily invested in helping newcomers integrate into their new home in Canada while at the same time helping them celebrate their culture heritage.

Ailene Wittstein

Director

 

sandi caplan

Director

Sandi comes from a strong musical background.  Her mother Sylvia Novak was a renowned pianist and teacher in London Ontario.  Sandi was founding president of Hospice of London and has spent the last twenty years developing support programs for the bereaved.  She is the author of “Grief’s Courageous Journey”.  Sandi was Chair of the Board of Wellspring Cancer Support and has served on the Board of the London Health Sciences Centre.

mike hanson

Director

Mike is the founder and chief software architect of BoxSoft Corporation. He has aided companies in myriad industries, including independent music promotion, and served on the boards of the Symphony Orchestra of Canada, Selwyn Community Childcare Centre, and various education councils. Toastmasters is another of his passions, given its focus on self improvement, personal expression, and supportive feedback. As a longtime musician and music lover, he’s honored to serve the Aeolian Hall in its many efforts to build and maintain London’s arts community.

annual report

 

Our 2022 Annual Report can be viewed by selecting the PDF file below:

 

Our 2021 Annual Report can be viewed by selecting the PDF file below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our 2020 Annual Report can be viewed by selecting the PDF file below.

Annual Report 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 


Our 2019 Annual Report can be viewed by selecting the PDF file below.

Annual Report 2019


Our 2018 Annual Report can be viewed by selecting the PDF file below.

2018 Annual Report Preview


Our 2017 Annual Report can be viewed by selecting the PDF file below.


Our 2016 Annual Report can be viewed by selecting the PDF file below.

REFLECTIONS

In today’s world, it is of utmost importance to study the lives of those who have devoted themselves selflessly to community.  We need to understand and aspire to the qualities of leadership, value of community, integrity, generosity and engagement with creativity.

Tom Siess embodied all of these wonderful qualities.

Tom’s death reminds us of the contrast we are facing in our society between selfish and selfless intent.  We are truly at crossroads and have to make a choice.  Do we continue to have leaders that divide community, villainize community members, teach us to be greedy and self-focused and respond to populist impulse, or do we choose to cultivate leaders who can empathize and bring us together towards a future of common good?  A future that embraces our diversity and respects all life.  For the latter, I present some reflections on the life of Tom Siess.

Tom was a great listener.  He believed in letting people speak their truth without interruption.  His ability to reflect what he heard and stay centered without impulsively reacting is something I will always remember and strive to achieve.

As a leader, I watched Tom quietly empower others to lead.  He would often say to me: “what do you want to achieve?”  If he believed in the pathway, he would just say: “What do you need from us?  I don’t want to get in your way.”

His ability to find language that crystalized his thoughts and heart was so inspiring.  He thought carefully before he spoke and understood the power of language for good and bad intent.  He always strived for good.  I remember getting myself worked up over some sort of drama in our community and a quiet smile would come over his face as if to say: “that’s how humans are…if you haven’t figured that out yet.  Don’t get too worked up about it, just continue doing good things and fight the good fight”.

Tom believed strongly in giving back to community.  It was a belief he just lived.  He didn’t talk about or celebrate his giving.  It was so authentic.  Whether he served on a board or helped paint windows, he went about this work with natural stride and joy.

Tom wasn’t afraid to call out someone on their behaviour or point out the needs for change.  He always did this with firmness and love.  It seemed impossible to take his criticism personally as it was always tied to his personal values, ethics and mission.

Music was always a mainstay in Tom’s life.  His work with the Folk Community still resonates internationally.  He believed in the Arts and Art Education as a touchstone to the core of our beings.  Anne and Tom’s home was always a revolving door of billeted artists, community supporters and his closest friends.  There was always a party or celebration that would spontaneously burst into song.

Above all, Tom was a friend.  He understood and valued friendships and made big investments in those relationships.  He was someone you could confide in, count on and call on.  What did this mean to me?  Tom gave me confidence to dive into the water after sticking my toe in it.  He helped me get comfortable with leadership and its risks, often holding my hand at the precipices.  On more than one occasion, I experienced sleepless nights in fear of failure.  When I expressed my fears to Tom, he said: “You’ve always been brave, just keep being brave.  I’m  here to help you”.

We’ll miss you Tom.  May we all learn to take up your mantle.  For me the mantle will always be the qualities you possessed and how we can learn from you as a role model of authentic love.

Clark

In Memoriam, Tom Siess (2018)

Tom Siess passed away peacefully at home, in the house he so lovingly built with Anne as their retirement home, after a lengthy illness with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. His wife Anne, his children Paul (Christine), Miriam, Debbie (Joe), grandchildren Ian, Ryan, Emma and Jonah and their much loved Havanese, Sasha are grateful that he lived far longer than expected. Predeceased by his brother Ken 2 weeks ago and survived by his sister Marian Macbeth.

At the end of his life Tom said that he had accomplished everything that he had wanted. He completed his PhD in psychology at University of Minnesota. He and Anne moved to London with Paul, Mim and Debbie on the way. He worked at the University of Western Ontario and was a highly regarded professor of psychology. He transitioned to administration and was Director of Student Services for 25 years. The student services programs he led at Western were models for universities and colleges all across Ontario and Canada.

Tom was exceedingly proud when the Siess family became Canadian citizens in 1972 and he remained a proud Canadian throughout his life. He served his community as an alderman on London City Council for 7 years.

Tom loved music. He helped build and run the Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club and directed the Home County Folk Festival in the 70’s and 80’s. Tom and Anne sang together and were frequent and popular members of many folk singing gatherings in London and afar. Tom and Anne were 2/3 of the trio Tom, Anne and Bob, and brought folk music and song to public schools for many years. In addition, Tom and Anne played Santa and Mrs. Claus for the University preschool for many years. Tom in his Santa suit with his guitar will be remembered by many children and adults.

Tom loved to dance and his favourite partner was Anne. Together they were graceful, lively and well partnered. They loved Pinewoods dance camp in Massachusetts and had many good friends in the dance community. Tom was president of the Country Dance and Song Society and a founding member of the True North Country Dance Society in London, Ontario. New Year’s Eves were lively parties with dance friends from across Ontario and the States. Tom was always the life of the party with his flawlessly told jokes and his hearty laugh. He and Anne were often the centre of hijinks and practical jokes to the delight of us all.

Tom was so proud of his volunteer work. He became involved in the Grand Theatre and served as board chair. He was privileged to take part in productions of The Dining Room and The 39 Steps on the Grand stage. For the last decade of his life, Tom’s passion was Aeolian Hall. He helped with renovations and repairs, fundraising and was Board Chair until June of this year. He helped develop and implement the El Sistema program, bringing musical instruction to kids who would not otherwise be able to learn an instrument.

Tom loved to travel. He and Anne saw much of Canada and the US as well as St. Lucia, Paris, the narrow boats of England, Italy and in May of 2017 took a Danube river boat cruise from Budapest, through Austria to Prague. They spent the past 3 February’s in Encinitas, California and Tempe, Arizona thanks to the care and generosity of great friends.

But most of all, Tom loved his family. He always said of his wife, Anne that she was the most wonderful woman and he didn’t deserve her. She always knew that at least on the latter point, he was wrong. He was so proud of his children’s accomplishments. He loved his grandchildren Ian, Ryan, Emma and Jonah. His children and grandchildren are so grateful for his love and support and we will cherish the beautiful woodworking pieces he created in his retirement years. We were privileged to have known him, to have loved him, and to have been loved by him.

Tom’s family would like to thank his wonderful family doctor, Dr. Dorli Herman, Dr. David McCormack for his expertise and compassion, the palliative care team and the many friends and colleagues who sent messages and visited over the last several months. Your love and support for Tom and Anne will not be forgotten.

There will be a celebration of Tom’s life at Aeolian Hall at a later date. The family requests donations, in lieu of flowers, in Tom’s name to Aeolian Hall.

With thanks to the following for the generous contributions in memory of tom siess.

Alice McGibb

Ann Bigelow

Anne S. Siess

Barbara Broerman & John Patcai

Barry Nunn

Bronwyn Powell-Wasse

Bruce Curtis & Patricia Ferries

Carlson, Peter and Mary

Carlyle Peterson LLP

Charles & Pleasanc Crawford

Christine & Paul Siess

Christopher Collins & Elana Johnson

Clark Bryan & Bryan Gloyd

Daphne Marshall

David Southen

David & Deanne Pederson

Debbie Siess

Dr. Miriam Mann

Glenn Weeks

Gloria Jenner

Greg Maxwell

Gretchen Preston & Dr. Gregory P. Meisner

Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance

Ian Davies

Ian Siess

Jack in the Green

Joanne Does

John & Bonnie Holt

John C. Mann

John F. Ogletree

Joseph D. Driskill

Judy and John Ogletree

Judy Davidson

June & Don Meremurro

Kate Ahrens

Kathleen Bissett

Kathryn Fryer

Kevin Daphne

Kristen Pederson

Laura Brown

Leslie Jost

Lucius Parshall

Mackenzie Lake Lawyers LLP

Marian Macbeth

Matthew Wannan

McKenzie Lake Law Firm

Miriam Mann

Nancy & Eric Bryan

Patricia Little

Paul & Beverly Mills

Paul Siess

Peter & Mary Carlson

Phyllis & Marvin Simner

Phyllis Brady

Pierre Bussieres

Robert & Mary Lou Cunningham

Robert and Roberta Cory

Rodney Skinkle

Rosemary Travis

Sandy & Paul Caplan

Sheila Scott

Sid G. Monteith

Stephen Jarrett

Stratford General Hospital ED Physicians

Susan Pepper

Susan Traill

Vera & Jeff Eames

Rent The Aeolian

The Aeolian is a beautiful, unique, award-winning location to host your event.

While particularly renowned for its acoustic/live music presentations, the Aeolian is a versatile facility and can also host conferences and fundraisers.

Give to Culture

Explore the arts. Support your community. Discover yourself.

The Aeolian relies heavily upon a strong base of community support that benefits many projects and events. All contributions, whether small or large, make a huge difference and will help sustain The Aeolian Musical Arts Association’s mission and future.