InnerChamber

Jim Mason is one of Canada’s most prominent oboists. Recently retired in 2019 from the Principal Oboe position in the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (a position he held for 40 years), he now spends his time playing chamber music around Ontario and operating a small business selling - what else? - oboes.

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Over the years, Mason has been a very familiar face in the musical life of Waterloo Region. He and his wife, violinist Julie Baumgartel, were founding Artistic Directors of the Grand River Baroque Festival. He has performed and recorded most of the oboe’s chamber music and solo repertoire, including 7 works that were written specifically for him. Jim was on the faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University for 37 years (7 of which were as a full-time faculty member) and in 2009 was awarded the University’s Mentor of the Year award. In 1999, in recognition of his contribution to the arts, Mason was given the Kitchener Waterloo Arts Award for Music.