The Brott Music Festival was saddened by the death of its Board President Alexander G. McKay on August 31. Dr. Alexander Gordon (Sandy) McKay was 82.

Dr. McKay was a founding Board member of the Brott Music Festival and worked tirelessly behind the scenes of the then-fledgling organization which has since grown to become Canada's largest orchestral music festival as well as home of the National Academy Orchestra – the country's leading professional training orchestra.

"Sandy was a tremendous asset to the Festival," says Executive Director Ardyth Webster Brott. "He was always available for advice and was a driving force in many of the community partnerships the Festival has formed over the years. He will be missed, both personally and professionally."

A world-renowned Classics scholar and author - he could recite passages of Vergil in Latin at great length - McKay brought his academic acumen and gentle demeanour into the very foundation of the Festival, says Brott.

McKay leaves his wife Jean, daughters Julie and Danae and four grandchildren.

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