Onciul, Gerald

French horn player who graduated from Ross Sheppard High School and The University of Alberta, from whence he acquired a Bachelor’s degree in music in 1977. In short time, he became a member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and advanced his education under the tutelage of Erich Penzel, Eugene Rittich, and James Decker.

He cites the ESO’s 1992 Procol Harum Reunion Concert as his personal favourite. It was a busy year that also saw him become the Professor of Horn at his alma mater and record tracks with the Edmonton Wind Ensemble that would later appear on their album, Snake Fence Country. Since 1997, he’s been active with the symphony’s Adopt-A-Player, an outreach program that affords young musicians a chance to shine in the spotlight at the WinspearCentre.

He became Acting Principal Horn of the ESO in 2001 and would eventually become Assistant Principal Horn. In 2002, he appeared on the Belle Canto album, Invocation, a mixed bag of choral music by composers such as Bardos, Brahms, Kocsar, Kodaly, Kostiainen, and Mantyjarvi.

In 2004, he and Jeremy Spurgeon helped Robb Carson premiere his “Pie Jesu” on CBC Radio 2. Throughout the new millennium, he has toured sporadically with the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia in Italy and France.

In 2008, his tenure with the University of Alberta ended and he went on to become Professor of Horn for King’s University College. He also helped co-found The Mill Creek Colliery Band. Frequently, he can be seen and heard performing chamber works, devoting his time and talent to the church, and working as a music clinician.

In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, golfing, hiking, and is something of a Mr. Fix-It. It’s just as well, as one of his favourite gadgets is the Buzz Extension Resistance Piece (you guessed it, B.E.R.P.) which he uses to warm up before concerts. His wife Evelyn is also a teacher, and they have a pair of sons, Byron and Nathan.

Edmonton Wind Ensemble recordings
Snake Fence Country (Howard Cable)
CBC Records SMCD 5165 (Snake Fence Country)
Conductor – Harry Pinchin

Sources:

Onciul, Gerald

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