Correcting the spelling mistakes of the newspaper:
"At piano, Mark Lams, on drums Lorne Grossman, Alan Mayer plays guitar, Tony Kosenic electric guitar."
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Lorne attended
University of Toronto studying music and percussion but left his
studies in 1971 when he accepted steady work with the Stratford
Festival, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the National Ballet Orchestra,
the Canadian Opera Company and the house drummer at the O’Keefe Centre (now the Meridian Hall).
During the 1970’s, Lorne was very busy recording jingles at the big studios in the Greater Toronto area such as Eastern Sound, Phase One, Metal Works, McClear Place, Manta Sound, Sounds Interchange, Zaza Sound, Inception Sound, Comfort Sound, Cherry Beach Sound, working with noted music and jingle producers such as Howard Baer, Andy Krehm, Sammy Nestico, David Fleury, Ted Rosnick, Eric Robertson, Pete Coulman, Sid Kessler, Einstein Brothers, Bev Crompton and, most famous, Phil Ramone.
The occasional tour with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Charlottetown Festival took Lorne across all of Canada and through the midwest of the United States. Tours to Mexico and Germany with the National Ballet of Canada were other exciting musical points of Lorne’s career.
All the while, Lorne had his own recording studio in his Willowdale home – Seneca Sound – where he recorded jingles and demos for Lenny Solomon (violinist with Bowfire and noted jazz violin player), The Tait Brothers (Rick Tait would later form the famous jazz fusion band, Manteca), Robert Pilon (who performed the lead in Phantom of the Opera in Toronto), Tova (Teresa Tova, actress and singer – the Yiddish Diva), Erica Goodman (Harpist), Vivienne Williams (singer), Dave Blamires (later to sing with Pat Metheny), Vito Rezza (drummer within GTA) and Barry Elmes (also GTA drummer) to name a few. And also taking equipment out to record on location for groups such as the Hannaford Street Silver Band.
From 1991 to 1994, Lorne joined the Canadian tour of “The Phantom of the Opera” and went across Canada again, up to Alaska and over to Hawaii twice. He then toured with “Music of the Night” throughout the United States. Back home in Toronto and off the road, Lorne played two stints with Donny Osmond in “Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and a run of “Into the Woods” at the St. Lawrence Centre. During the holiday season, from 1973 until 2004, Lorne was in the orchestra pit for Toronto’s famous British pantomimes, later to be produced by Ross Petty.
By 2000, things were different on the music scene around Toronto, so Lorne did some regional theatre productions: Petrolia – “I Do I Do”; Orillia – “Cats”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Kiss Me Kate”; Waterloo – “Menopositive”; Sheridan College – “Two Gentlemen of Verona”; St. Lawrence Centre – “Hey Marilyn”; Drayton Entertainment – “Anne of Green Gables”. In 2013, Lorne was back with a 4-month run of “Cats” at the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto and in 2015, “Anne of Green Gables” for Drayton. Then another run of "Kiss Me Kate" at Drayton Festival (St. Jacobs) in August 2024.
While it seems Lorne was busy playing theatre, he worked even more with orchestras and has rarely let up since. A favourite gig was being the drum set player for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa from 1996 to 2012, playing their pops concerts whether it was jazz, rock or show style of playing. Lorne also played, first as a percussionist and then as the timpanist, with the Hannaford Street Silver Band based in Toronto from 1996 – 2015 and still performs occasionally with this great dynamic ensemble.
Lorne was also regular member of a popular and busy "for-hire" band called The Nova Sounds lead by Alan Shiner.
Lorne also became known as the percussionist who owned ALL of his own instruments (in triplicate) making him the “go-to” person for renting and delivering percussion instruments, meaning Lorne owned a very large cube-van. This also made Lorne the prime candidate for moving OTHER people’s musical instruments and equipment (and home contents) as he knew the value and maintained respect for his cargo. He worked for years for Manta Electronics delivering large sound boards and recording equipment and for internationally renowned harpist, Erica Goodman, who trusted very few with her treasured and expensive instrument.
Lorne also became known as the percussionist who owned ALL of his own instruments (in triplicate) making him the “go-to” person for renting and delivering percussion instruments, meaning Lorne owned a very large cube-van. This also made Lorne the prime candidate for moving OTHER people’s musical instruments and equipment (and home contents) as he knew the value and maintained respect for his cargo. He worked for years for Manta Electronics delivering large sound boards and recording equipment and for internationally renowned harpist, Erica Goodman, who trusted very few with her treasured and expensive instrument.
During the 1970’s, Lorne was very busy recording jingles at the big studios in the Greater Toronto area such as Eastern Sound, Phase One, Metal Works, McClear Place, Manta Sound, Sounds Interchange, Zaza Sound, Inception Sound, Comfort Sound, Cherry Beach Sound, working with noted music and jingle producers such as Howard Baer, Andy Krehm, Sammy Nestico, David Fleury, Ted Rosnick, Eric Robertson, Pete Coulman, Sid Kessler, Einstein Brothers, Bev Crompton and, most famous, Phil Ramone.
The occasional tour with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Charlottetown Festival took Lorne across all of Canada and through the midwest of the United States. Tours to Mexico and Germany with the National Ballet of Canada were other exciting musical points of Lorne’s career.
All the while, Lorne had his own recording studio in his Willowdale home – Seneca Sound – where he recorded jingles and demos for Lenny Solomon (violinist with Bowfire and noted jazz violin player), The Tait Brothers (Rick Tait would later form the famous jazz fusion band, Manteca), Robert Pilon (who performed the lead in Phantom of the Opera in Toronto), Tova (Teresa Tova, actress and singer – the Yiddish Diva), Erica Goodman (Harpist), Vivienne Williams (singer), Dave Blamires (later to sing with Pat Metheny), Vito Rezza (drummer within GTA) and Barry Elmes (also GTA drummer) to name a few. And also taking equipment out to record on location for groups such as the Hannaford Street Silver Band.
From 1991 to 1994, Lorne joined the Canadian tour of “The Phantom of the Opera” and went across Canada again, up to Alaska and over to Hawaii twice. He then toured with “Music of the Night” throughout the United States. Back home in Toronto and off the road, Lorne played two stints with Donny Osmond in “Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and a run of “Into the Woods” at the St. Lawrence Centre. During the holiday season, from 1973 until 2004, Lorne was in the orchestra pit for Toronto’s famous British pantomimes, later to be produced by Ross Petty.
By 2000, things were different on the music scene around Toronto, so Lorne did some regional theatre productions: Petrolia – “I Do I Do”; Orillia – “Cats”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Kiss Me Kate”; Waterloo – “Menopositive”; Sheridan College – “Two Gentlemen of Verona”; St. Lawrence Centre – “Hey Marilyn”; Drayton Entertainment – “Anne of Green Gables”. In 2013, Lorne was back with a 4-month run of “Cats” at the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto and in 2015, “Anne of Green Gables” for Drayton. Then another run of "Kiss Me Kate" at Drayton Festival (St. Jacobs) in August 2024.
While it seems Lorne was busy playing theatre, he worked even more with orchestras and has rarely let up since. A favourite gig was being the drum set player for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa from 1996 to 2012, playing their pops concerts whether it was jazz, rock or show style of playing. Lorne also played, first as a percussionist and then as the timpanist, with the Hannaford Street Silver Band based in Toronto from 1996 – 2015 and still performs occasionally with this great dynamic ensemble.
Between 1996 to 2013, Lorne taught private drum and percussion at Upper Canada College in Toronto and from 2009 to August 2024, Lorne was the Principal Timpanist and Personnel Manager at the Peterborough Symphony.
Lorne is presently the Principal Timpanist with the Oakville Symphony, Huronia Symphony (Barrie), Sinfonia Ancaster, Intrada Brass (Oakville) and Rose Orchestra (Brampton). He plays occasionally as the timpanist or a percussionist with the Georgian Bay Symphony (Owen Sound), Choral Works (Collingwood).
Lorne and Wendy live in Mississauga, Ontario.
STAGE & TV PRODUCTIONS
Phantom of the Opera
Cats
Music of the Night
Napoleon
Into The Woods
Bob Fosse – A Dancin’ Man
Joseph and his Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat
Annie
Promises Promises
Jesus Christ Superstar
Evita
Kiss Me Kate
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
My One and Only
Ross Petty’s Pantomimes
English Pantomimes
Stratford Festival
Anne of Green Gables
Johnny Belinda
By George
Company
Porgy & Bess
Anything Goes
West Side Story
The Me Nobody Knows
They’re Playing Our Song
Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris
Purlie
South Pacific
Man of LaMancha
A Christmas Toy – a Jim Henson Production
The Littlest Hobo – a CTV Production
Lorne is presently the Principal Timpanist with the Oakville Symphony, Huronia Symphony (Barrie), Sinfonia Ancaster, Intrada Brass (Oakville) and Rose Orchestra (Brampton). He plays occasionally as the timpanist or a percussionist with the Georgian Bay Symphony (Owen Sound), Choral Works (Collingwood).
Lorne and Wendy live in Mississauga, Ontario.
STAGE & TV PRODUCTIONS
Phantom of the Opera
Cats
Music of the Night
Napoleon
Into The Woods
Bob Fosse – A Dancin’ Man
Joseph and his Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat
Annie
Promises Promises
Jesus Christ Superstar
Evita
Kiss Me Kate
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
My One and Only
Ross Petty’s Pantomimes
English Pantomimes
Stratford Festival
Anne of Green Gables
Johnny Belinda
By George
Company
Porgy & Bess
Anything Goes
West Side Story
The Me Nobody Knows
They’re Playing Our Song
Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris
Purlie
South Pacific
Man of LaMancha
A Christmas Toy – a Jim Henson Production
The Littlest Hobo – a CTV Production
Frankie Avalon
Jeff Beck
Harry Belafonte
Tony Bennett
The Carpenters
Cher
Perry Como
Rodney Dangerfield
Sir John Dankworth
John Davidson
Jose Feliciano
Aretha Franklin
Mitzi Gaynor
Frank Gorshin
Marvin Hamlisch
Bob Hope
Rock Hudson
Englebert Humperdinck
Sir Elton John
Tom Jones
Cleo Laine
Frankie Lane
Angela Lansbury
Peggy Lee
Liberace
Hal Linden
Hal Linden
Shirley MacLaine
Melissa Manchester
Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
Al Martino
Jim Nabors
Helen O’Connell
Jim Nabors
Helen O’Connell
Dolly Parton
Debbie Reynolds
Ginger Rogers
Sonny & Cher
Donna Summer
Ten Australian Tenors
Three Dog Night
Rachel Welch
Ten Australian Tenors
Three Dog Night
Rachel Welch
-- Walking In the Sand
Howard Baer
– Children’s Album
– Various Solitudes
Hannaford Street Silver Band
Louis Applebaum
– Fanfares
Napoleon
– Original Cast Album
Frank Stallone
– produced by Phil Ramone
The Peaches
Sammy Nestico
– Night Flight
Fanfare
-- Shakespearean Music from Stratford
Howard Baer
– Children’s Album
– Various Solitudes
Hannaford Street Silver Band
Louis Applebaum
– Fanfares
Napoleon
– Original Cast Album
Frank Stallone
– produced by Phil Ramone
The Peaches
Sammy Nestico
– Night Flight
Fanfare
-- Shakespearean Music from Stratford
Rosemary Bailey
-- Rosemary: That's The Time (drums & wind chimes)
Klaatu
-- MagentaLane
See an online database of Lorne's recordings
ORCHESTRAS & GROUPS
Oakville Symphony
Hannaford Street Silver Band
Peterborough Symphony
Brantford Symphony
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Toronto Symphony
National Ballet
Canadian Opera Company
Rose Orchestra
Ontario Philharmonic
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Opera York
Larry Bond Trio
Twist
Milton Philharmonic
The Nova Sounds
Huronia Symphony Orchestra
Georgian Bay Symphony
The Italian Canadian Symphony
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
ORCHESTRAS & GROUPS
Oakville Symphony
Hannaford Street Silver Band
Peterborough Symphony
Brantford Symphony
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Toronto Symphony
National Ballet
Canadian Opera Company
Rose Orchestra
Ontario Philharmonic
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Opera York
Larry Bond Trio
Twist
Milton Philharmonic
The Nova Sounds
Huronia Symphony Orchestra
Georgian Bay Symphony
The Italian Canadian Symphony
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
Toronto Sinfonietta
Burlington New Millennium Orchestra
Intrada Brass