In 1972, at a school reunion for Scarborough
Collegiate (now R.H.King Academy), Stan met classmate
Nan Ricciardelli (now Nan Wells), who told him that
she was the Director of the St. Peter's Choral Society
and that the Society was looking for a new accompanist
for the their annual Gilbert and Sullivan performances
at the church on Brimley just below Lawrence. She
invited Stan to take in their 1972 production, which
just happened to be The Yeomen of the Guard, a show
Stan had not seen before. Well, Stan and his wife,
Barb, were quite impressed, he signed up, and he's
still here!
He's accompanied four performances of Iolanthe over
the years. The piano score is probably
the most challenging of the operas, but with Stan's
son, Brian, now on hand as the Musical Director and
the imaginative stage direction of Judi White to
enjoy (when he gets a chance to glance up from the
piano), he's looking forward to another great
adventure. He's also thrilled to have his
grand-daughter, Tanya Paradowski, back to share in the
overture.
Scarborough Collegiate was where Stan first
encountered G. and S., when his dad (a teacher there)
took him and his sister, Gwen, to the annual
operettas. He helped out on the piano when he was a
student there, then sang in the chorus at Victoria
College, U. of T., and at the Ontario College of
Education. He crossed paths with Nan again in the
early 1960s, when her brother, John, invited him to
accompany the annual G. and S. shows at St. Aidan's
church in the Beach.
During his 35 years as a teacher (Head of the Classics
Dept.) at Thomson Collegiate, Stan was always involvd
with the stage productions, including two G. and S.
operas, also back in the early 1960s. He spent so much
time in the auditorium that, on his retirement in
1994, it was named in his honour. So it's always a
rather special feeling to perform in a hall with your
name on it. He hopes it will be special for you as well!
You can read more about Stan Farrow here.
[Photo © 2005 Huw Morgan]
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DIRECTORS:
Brian Farrow
Judi White
Stan Farrow
LEADS:
Bill Harman
Philip Allard
Max Craddock
Kenneth Small
Huw Morgan
Heather Mackie
Kirsten Rogers
Lisa Schulte
Wanita Ellis
Tanya Paradowski
Marie Criscione
BACKSTAGE:
Chris Yalousakis
Marlon Romeo
David Sweeney
Felix de Wal
Bruce G. Hodgson
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