Member bio
Gordon Slater has played carillon, piano and organ since childhood and in school began studying bassoon and conducting. His first carillon experience was as assistant to his father, James, who was Carillonneur at Metropolitan United Church in Toronto, Ontario. Gordon Slater studied at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and held a position as a church Organist and Choir Director as well as four Carillonneur positions. He has conducted orchestras, choirs, bands and musicals and is now retired from the position of Dominion Carillonneur of Canada after 31 years of service playing the Peace Tower Carillon on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. He tours widely as a carillonneur and clinician was Music Director of Divertimento Orchestra from 1987 to 2024 and has played bassoon and contrabassoon in the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra since 1979. Since 1978, Mr. Slater has been a Carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and was co-editor, with his wife Elsa, of that organization’s annual Bulletin from 1979 to 1985. He has also served on the Guild’s Board of Directors, its Examination Committee and its Music Selection Committee. Mr. Slater has performed widely in Canada, the United States, England, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and has made several carillon recordings. In 2008 he was awarded the Berkeley Medal by the University of California for distinguished service to the carillon.
