Obituary of Garnet Brooks

Garnet James Brooks, late of Regina, SK, passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at the age of 72 years. Predeceased by his parents James Brooks and Sylvia Brooks, and his first wife, Delores Brooks, Garnet is survived by his wife of 11 years, Paulette; daughter Liana (Hardy) Falkenhagen of Toronto, ON; son Cameron (Tamar) Brooks of Westchester, NY; and four grandchildren Oliver, Alexander, Rachel and Kaila. Garnet was a distinguished Canadian singer who, over the years gained recognition in many parts of North America and Europe. Born in London, Ontario and trained at the Royal Conservatory Music and Opera School of Toronto, Garnet launched his career with the Canadian Opera Company and was soon singing leading roles in such operas as Turandot and Don Giovanni. In his early career, Garnet also sang with the Western Opera Theatre of San Francisco, and made several appearances at the Stratford Festival, Guelph Spring Festival and Marlboro Festival of Vermont. In 1974, he launched an extended European career which found him performing throughout Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England and Holland, including guest solo roles with the Salzburg Opera Company of Austria, the Glyndborne Opera of England and the Stadttheatre in Bern, Switzerland. Garnet has performed with every major symphony orchestra in Canada and his many concert dates have included recitals, oratorio, symphony and television performances. In 1982, Garnet turned his passion of music into a successful teaching career by first joining the Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario and later heading the Voice Department at the Conservatory of Music, University of Regina. Garnets teaching career also included a professorship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, USA. He retired from full-time teaching in 2003, but continued to perform and teach privately thereafter. Garnet was known as one of Canadas greatest ambassadors of music and he will be dearly missed by his family, friends and acquaintances. Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 24, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in Lakeview United Church, 3200 McCallum Avenue, Regina. Flowers gratefully declined. Friends so wishing may make donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, 279 " 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, S7K 2H8 or the Canadian Diabetes Association, 917 Albert Street, Regina, S4R 2P6. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com