About

Barnaby Kerekes has built a career around the intersection of performance and education in Toronto's classical music community. As a conductor, he leads community and youth orchestras throughout Ontario, shaping ensemble sound through clear gesture and rehearsal discipline. As a violinist and violist, he performs regularly with Kindred Spirits Orchestra, bringing chamber-music sensitivity to larger forces. His teaching at ABC Academy of Music reflects the same approach: technique serves expression, and every student receives attention proportionate to their ambition. Kerekes studied violin and viola before turning to conducting, a path that informs his collaborative style at the podium. He programs with an ear for balance — standard repertoire alongside Canadian works, familiar pieces beside new commissions. Off the podium, he maintains an active private studio and coaches sectional rehearsals for school and community groups. The throughline is simple: music happens in the space between preparation and spontaneity, and his role is to make that space reliable.