Paris in Bloom

Hailing from Scarborough, award-winning trombonist Robert Conquer is quickly establishing himself as one of Canada’s finest young musicians. Robert studied privately with David Archer, our own Principal Trombone player. After receiving his Bachelor of Music at the Curtis Institute of Music, he joined the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra as Principal Trombone, wherein he became its youngest tenured musician in 2024. He has also been heard playing tenor trombone with the Hannaford Street Silver Band, Toronto Symphony, National Arts Centre, Hamilton Philharmonic, Mandle Philharmonic, Esprit and National Ballet of Canada Orchestras. In the chamber music setting, Robert enjoys performing brass quintet music with many ensembles across Toronto, and can be heard on the Art of Time Ensemble’s new record Sankofa: The Soldier’s Tale Retold, a brilliant reimagination of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du soldat.

 As a soloist, Robert performed and recorded Nino Rota’s Concerto per Trombone on tour with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada as the first-prize recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts - Michael Measures Prize. In 2021, he was the second-prize winner of this same award and was also named as one of CBC Classical Music's "30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30." He was also the winner of the 2020 Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Competition, wherein he also received the prize for best interpretation of a Canadian work in the semi-final round. 

Music Director Michael Newnham is best known for his intense and inspiring conducting style, based on a deep knowledge of the score and informed by a strong interest in languages, cultures and history. A born communicator, his open and direct contact with musicians and audiences creates performances full of expression and energy.

Along with his duties at the PSO, he is also presently (since 2018) Music Director of Orchestra Toronto. During his tenure as Music Director of Symphony New Brunswick (2009-2018), Newnham was instrumental in bringing that orchestra to new artistic heights and raising its profile on the national level.

In addition to his performances in his native Canada, Newnham has also appeared at the helm of many orchestras and opera companies throughout Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and South Korea.

Endowed with a special passion and gift for working with young musicians, Michael was the founding conductor of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra and has been a faculty member at Music at Port Milford for several years. His involvement in educating young musicians is not limited to Canada; he spent two years as a guest professor and orchestra conductor at Taegu-Hyosung University in South Korea.

Originally from Hamilton, Newnham is a graduate of the conducting class of prof. Bogusław Madey at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. He also studied at the Indiana University School of Music and at the University of Toronto.

He is a recipient of several awards, including the “Order of Merit” from the Republic of Poland, the “Best Conductor” Award from the East Slovakian State Opera, and the Turzanski Award for his services in promoting Polish music and culture in Canada.

Before taking up the baton, Newnham began his musical career as a trombonist, playing with the Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphonies, as well as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He currently lives in Peterborough with his wife, cellist Zuzanna. He is an avid reader, proud father to two daughters and a passionate home barista.