.png)
Maestro Robert Franz, beloved Windsor Symphony Orchestra music director, dies at 57
The Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO) and the wider Windsor-Essex arts community are mourning the loss of Maestro Robert Franz, who died September 2 after a courageous battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 57.
Franz, who served as music director of the WSO since 2013, was known as much for his boundless joy and infectious energy as for his artistry at the podium. “Robert brought his incredible joy for live orchestral music to the Windsor-Essex community,” said WSO board president Deborah Severs. “He brought out the best in the WSO with his tenacious spirit, his signature positive attitude and his pure love and passion for the orchestra and the community.”
A resilient leader during challenging times
Under Franz’s 13-year leadership, the WSO flourished, even amid the difficulties of the global pandemic. He spearheaded innovative digital concert series, championed music by underrepresented composers, and created online initiatives like his “Read Aloud Series” for children, which remain accessible today. His commitment to music education and outreach was central to his work, ensuring a lasting legacy for future generations.
A career that spanned the continent
Beyond Windsor, Franz was a force in the classical music world. He served as artistic director of the Boise Baroque Orchestra and music director of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra, in addition to previous roles with the Houston Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Mansfield Symphony, and others. His guest conducting appearances included collaborations with the Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and international ensembles such as Italy’s Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina.
Franz worked with artists ranging from Joshua Bell and Idina Menzel to Judy Collins and James Galway, while championing composers such as Bright Sheng, Michael Daugherty, and Jennifer Higdon. Critics hailed his conducting as “viscerally thrilling,” while Sheng praised his “extremely musical and passionate approach towards music making.”
An advocate for education and community
Franz’s passion for music education defined much of his career. He founded the Idaho Orchestra Institute, co-created acclaimed youth programs, and delivered a TEDx Talk on “Active Listening and Our Perception of Time.” His efforts earned him multiple honours, including the Windsor Endowment for the Arts’ Arts Leadership Award and the Houston Symphony’s Raphael Fliegel Award for Visionary Leadership.
A personal legacy
Franz’s life was deeply rooted in love and connection. He is survived by his husband, Brandon Atkins, and their three daughters. In a moving tribute shared on Facebook, Atkins wrote: “Rest well my handsome prince. You fought valiantly and loved me fiercely. I could not have had a more brilliant love to share this adventure.”
To many in Windsor and beyond, Franz was not just a conductor but the heart and face of live orchestral music. His artistry, warmth, and advocacy for community will continue to resonate in the halls of the WSO and in the lives he touched.