Allard de Ridder
violist with the Quartet from 1941-1944
Allard de Ridder studied violin and conducting in Holland and
at the Cologne Conservatory. Following conducting appearances
at Arnheim, The Hague and Anseterdan, he immigrated in 1919
to the USA where he became assistant conductor and violist with
the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
In 1933 he was appointed conductor of the Vancouver Symphony
and was responsible for building this orchestra into a major
Canadian performance group. In 1942 he left for Toronto to join
the Hart House String Quartet as violist following Milton Blackstone's
retirement. Here he earned his Doctor of Music (University of
Toronto) in 1945. When the quartet disbanded he left Toronto
to take up a post as conductor of the newly formed Ottawa Philharmonic.
In 1952 he returned to Vancouver where he organized and conducted
the Holland Choir.
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