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Sheet Music Edits

DAVID WARRACK

David Warrack was born in Calgary, and first performed on radio when he was five. It’s pretty much been non-stop since then. He has a commanding presence in every facet of the arts/entertainment industry.

David has a varied career as a Composer, Conductor, Pianist, Vocalist, Lyricist, Librettist, Arranger, Orchestrator, Music Director, Director, Satirist, Comedian, Actor, Poet, Producer, Impresario, Bon Vivant, and Hockey Coach – he has truly done it all! And judging by his project board, “he’s only just begun”.

As a writer he has had 66 shows produced professionally and he has been Musical Director for over two hundred productions across North America, including Shenandoah starring John Cullum on Broadway.

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Career Highlights

“Most impressive … Mr. Warrack is a major talent who is welcome in our town.” (Barnes, New York Times) …”Masterful Music Direction!” 
(Chapman, Toronto Star)

As Conductor and Musical Director, David has worked with orchestras and bands across North America. He toured for 15 years with the legendary Maureen Forrester, and they released a CD of songs he wrote for her entitled “Interpretations of a Life”. As Music Director for well over 250 musicals, including the Canadian tour of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well, Closer Than Ever (for which he won a Dora, the Canadian equivalent of the Tony), the first Canadian production of A Chorus Line, Shenandoah on Broadway with John Cullum, and nine seasons of Ross Petty’s Christmas pantomimes at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, Mr. Warrack is constantly in demand. Highlights include a gala tribute to Oscar Hammerstein with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, conducting the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa for a set of concerts featuring Natalie McMaster and the Men of the Deeps, conducting the Kitchener/Waterloo Symphony in a three-concert Latin extravaganza featuring an entirely new program which he orchestrated specifically for this magnificent ensemble, music directing a jazz extravaganza at the brand new concert facility Koerner Hall in Toronto, and music directing the performance of Dave Brubeck’s LIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS with the celebrated Elora Singers in Guelph. He was Music Director for the Salute to Musical Theatre at the Elora Festival. He is the founding Conductor of the 60-piece Canada Pops Orchestra, which CBC Radio’s Andy Barrie commended as “the first orchestra I have ever heard which could present everything from the classical repertoire right through to jazz with equal joy and mastery!”. The Canada Pops has performed at Massey Hall, the Hummingbird Centre (now the Sony Centre), the Toronto Centre For The Arts, the CNE Grandstand, and Nathan Phillips Square as part of Toronto’s Downtown Jazz Festival. He is also the Organist/Music Director for Hillcrest Christian Church. His choir participated in the multi-faith presentation of SACRED SERVICE by Ernest Bloc at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, where the combined choirs featured 150 voices.

“Brilliant – only once have I heard his equal and that was the American Legend Roger Kellaway.” (Currie, Orangeville Record) … “…internationally recognized pianist and comedian.” (Hill, Guelph Mercury)…”…dramatic rendition of “Rhapsody in Blue. Warrack’s effortless embellishments and massive rush of thick chords gave way to a dynamic performance!” 
(Merpaw, Brockville Review)


David has performed in clubs, concert halls, and theatres, as well as on television, radio, recordings and films. He was featured in a tribute to Duke Ellington at the Montreal Bistro; his two most recent appearances as a solo pianist were at Roy Thompson Hall and the Princess of Wales Theatre. His countless Television specials began with Global Television’s Peter Allen and David Warrack: Composer Meets Composer. Most recently, he did a Christmas Special for Vision Television in December, 2012. For years, he was a regular feature on Peter Gzowski’s Morningside (CBC Radio) singing his trademark satirical songs. As accompanist to the stars of theatre, opera and jazz, he has accompanied
and conducted orchestras for concerts with countless brilliant artists, including Michael Burgess, Rebecca Caine, Len Cariou, Ben Heppner, Jeff Hyslop, and Louise Pitre.


“Warrack’s orchestral arrangements … are clean, inventive, and extremely clever.” 
(Pederson, Halifax Mail-Star)


As arranger and orchestrator, David has a demanding schedule. Virtually all of the orchestrations for the Canada Pops Orchestra are David’s. For the nine years that he was Musical Director for Ross Petty’s madcap pantomimes, David also did the arrangements and orchestrations. His first major assignment was for the CBC Radio special of the musical Ballade.


“Producer Extraordinaire” 
(Mallet, Toronto Star)


David has produced plays, musicals and variety shows for theatre and television as a complement to his artistic achievements. Warrack Productions has mounted shows performed across Canada and the U.S.A. The television superspecial All For One (CBC Television) was an instant classic. David produced three of the Dora Mavor Moore Award Shows, the only three televised to date. At one point he had six shows running in Toronto simultaneously. His legendary production of TORONTO TORONTO garnered him his first Dora Mavor Moore Award as a producer, followed quickly by ON TAP. He presented Ronnie Hawkins at Massey Hall in his triumphant “I’m Back!” concert.


He produced his own musical ROB ROY, a huge hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and recorded a CD for that project the following year.


“David Warrack is a man of astonishing versatility ... a human rainbow of theatrical aptitudes. Warrack, like Noel Coward and Cole Porter, is gifted with the ability to write lyrics of the same high quality as his music. The result is song after song in which the beguiling melody and infectious rhythm carry meters and rhymes of brilliant linkage and comical complexity.” 
(Porter, Toronto Sun)


David has an extensive catalogue of compositions including orchestral music, choral pieces, chamber works, and a Mass for choir, soloists, and organ. However, he is best recognized for his huge volume of work for the theatre. He has written or collaborated on over seventy professionally-produced musicals or revues over the past 50 years, including some of the longest-running shows in Canadian theatre history. Cast recordings include Oops! Tut Tut, Drummer, Torontosaurus, Hansel and Gretel, Goldilocks, and A Kidsmas Carol, with individual songs from various shows featured on a multitude of recordings. Long-running shows include Tease For Two, Flicks, Sweet Reason and Vaudevillians. Catwalk was showcased as part of Toronto Fashion Week, followed by a showcase in New York.

David Warrack lives in Toronto with his remarkably talented wife, pianist, composer and musical director Lona Davis. He considers his three children – Gordon, Cayleigh, and Levi – to be the most important achievements of his life. Grandpa Dave is also very proud of his 4 grandchildren: Alexis, Grayson, Griffin and Neave.!

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In the News

BARNES, NEW YORK TIMES

"Most impressive... Mr. Warrack is a major talent who is welcome in our town."

CURRIE, ORANGEVILLE RECORD

"Brilliant – only once have I heard his equal and that was the American Legend Roger Kelleway."

PEDERSON, HALIFAX MAIL-STAR

"Warrack’s orchestral arrangements... are clean, inventive and extremely clever."

CHAPMAN, TORONTO STAR

"Masterful music direction!"

HILL, GUELPH MERCURY

"... internationally recognized pianist and comedian."

WHITTAKER, GLOBE & MAIL

"Warrack produces songs that deserve an afterlife!"

PORTER, TORONTO SUN

"David Warrack is a man of astonishing versatility... a human rainbow of theatrical aptitudes." 
"Warrack, like Noel Coward & Cole Porter, is gifted with the ability to write lyrics of the same high quality as his music. The result is song after song in which a beguiling melody and infectious rhythm carry meters and rhymes of brilliant linkage and comical complexity."

ANTHONY, TORONTO SUN

"Warrack’s music is too good, his talent too extravagant."

STEPHENSON, SCENE CHANGES

"Warrack’s “The Colours of Alberta” sounds as if Rodgers & Hammerstein might have written it in their “Oklahoma” era."

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