Dr. Garland (Gary) Brooks

Dr. Gary Brooks enjoyed music from a very early age and has memories of ‘playing piano’ on a tombstone in a country churchyard while his mother picked blueberries nearby. He played piano by ear for a few years before starting lessons with Edith Burchill and studying pipe organ with Katherine Pye. Growing up, Gary participated in piano and vocal classes at the Hants County Music Festival and occasionally in the Halifax festival as well. 

Music has been a great pleasure for Gary throughout his life. At a certain point he recognized that his enjoyment was greater than his talent, so he stopped performing in public. He continues to play for himself, however, and occasionally takes lessons.

Choral singing has also been a great pleasure for Gary throughout his life: school and junior choirs in Windsor, the Mount Allison Choral Society and Conservatory Chorale in Sackville, the Halifax Choral Society, the Belfast Philharmonic Choir and the Ulster Madrigal Singers in Belfast, and the St. F.X. Choral Society and the Antigonish Singers.

Gary studied at Mount Allison, Dalhousie, the University of Western Ontario, and Queen’s University Belfast where he completed a doctorate in the history of psychology. After working briefly as a clinical psychologist at the Nova Scotia Hospital, he enjoyed an academic career at Mt A and then St F.X. before retiring after 44 years and being named professor emeritus. 

In 2008, Gary became involved with MCPA Association, first as a volunteer, then as archivist, and then on the board of what became Bravura Nova Scotia, including serving as president for three years. He was also involved in the expansion of the organization’s awards programs and the creation of partnerships with other groups involved in performing arts education. 

Dr. Brooks was named an honorary life member of Bravura Nova Scotia in 2021.