Julian Armour

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Julian Armour has distinguished himself as a performing musician on the cello in a career spanning 20 years, an artistic director, an administrator and as strong innovator in the presentation of music.

Julian Armour is a graduate of McGill University where he was a student of the distinguished Canadian cellist, Walter Joachim. In addition to his music studies, he also majored in history, economics and English literature. After graduation, he continued his studies with some of the greatest cellists of our time including János Starker, Ralph Kirshbaum, Aldo Parisot and Leonard Rose. He has played numerous solo recitals in Ontario, and has performed throughout Canada as a chamber musician. Mr. Armour is also heard regularly on CBC Radio, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. He is currently principal cellist of the chamber orchestra Thirteen Strings and is Artistic and Executive Director of the Ottawa Chamber Music Society. Under his directorship, this Society's main event, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, has grown to become the world's largest chamber music festival.

Julian Armour was awarded the 2000 Victor Tolgesy Arts Award by the Council for the Arts in Ottawa, which recognizes the accomplishments of residents who have contributed substantially to enriching the cultural life in the city. In 1999, he was awarded the Community Foundation's Investing in People Award, in recognition of the work he has done bringing classical music to new audiences. Julian Armour was named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in December 2002 by the Government of France for his contributions to music. He was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.