The Governor General’s office at Rideau Hall announced 78 appointments to the Order of Canada in December 2022. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, while on a tour of Alberta, presented medals to regional recipients on Monday, Oct. 28 at the province’s stately Government House.
Longtime St. Albert resident Michael Massey, 79, was an honouree. He is a pianist, composer and music director of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra (EYO). Massey was among seven people who became members of the Order of Canada, one of the order’s three levels.
Massey has been part of the regional music scene for 50 years. The accomplished and versatile pianist/cellist received the Order of Canada for his transformative mentorship to generations of private students and young musicians in the EYO.
It was nearly two years between the appointment and the presentation, and the St. Albert Gazette caught up with him to hear his thoughts on the presentation.
“It was wonderful. There are so many thoughts that go through your head — the people sitting next to you, living in Canada, the achievements in arts and getting recognition in arts. It made me happy to know my work is appreciated. But you don’t get there by yourself. There are always the people who back you up, and that’s important to remember,” said Massey.
After the presentation, honourees and guests were invited to a cocktail-style reception where Massey spoke with the Governor General and her husband, vice-regal consort Whit Fraser.
“She was very nice, and I find her very courageous. She’s carried on her duties wonderfully. And her husband is very down to earth. I told him about my work with youth and he mentioned he’d done some work with youth,” Massey said.
Elaine Stepa, Massey’s wife and biggest booster, also attended. She is a French horn player and percussionist, as well as an instructor at the Winspear’s YONA program for young children.
“I’m so proud, so happy for him. It’s so deserved. It’s wonderful to be able to spend his time doing his passion. He’s composing now and it’s adding to his many talents. I’m absolutely thrilled for him. They say if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life,” Stepa said.
Massey has been a staple of the classical music scene for 50 years as a pianist, conductor, arranger and composer, but mostly as a teacher, mentor and role model for youth.
Born in London, UK, the Massey family immigrated to Edmonton when he was 12 years old. At first, life in Edmonton was difficult for the young lad. However, two years later he started formal piano lessons under Jean-Pierre Vetter. The music teacher had a knack for making Massey feel at home and bringing music to life.
“He was my piano teacher from 1959 to 1965. He opened doors to a lot of music for me and that led to everything else,” said Massey.
Eager to study music, the aspiring musician earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alberta and later spent two years at the Geneva Conservatory. As a soloist, he was awarded the Premier Prix de Vituosité and played with L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
Upon returning to Canada, Massey auditioned for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on cello and received a seat. After playing cello for two years, he stepped into the role of ESO pianist, a position he holds to this day.
In 1977, Massey became music director for the EYO. Under his mentorship, the single orchestra doubled and split into two: the Intermediate Orchestra for musicians aged 11 to 16 and a Senior Orchestra for musicians 14 to 25.
Currently, many of those student musicians are on the top-tier internationally. They include trumpeter Jens Lindeman, Montreal concert-master Andrew Wan, ESO cellist Ronda Metzies, horn player Jeff Nelson, bass player John Taylor and Raymond Baril, artistic and principal conductor of Edmonton Winds.
Massey was also awarded the 2016 Alberta Order of Excellence and the St. Albert’s Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. His first accolade was being inducted into Edmonton’s Cultural Hall of Fame in 2002 as an Artist-Builder.
“I’ve had my share," he said. "It’s nice to feel my work is appreciated and you must have done something right. I’m really proud of it and you realized your early teachings got it right. I’ve been so lucky, but I’m not finished yet. I’m going to go as long as I can.”
The Governor General also presented Order of Canada medals to community leader Jodi Abbott, neuropsychopharmacology researcher Glen Baker, scientist Vickie Baracos, emergency room physician Louis Francescutti, textile researcher Beverly Lemire, and respected businessman Javaid Naquvi.
