DAVID BANTON

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DAVID BANTON David Banton, former principal and section violist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at his home. He was 61. The second of three children, Mr. Banton was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, England. He earned an undergraduate degree from Englands prestigious Royal Academy of Music and was granted a Fulbright Scholarship to continue his studies in the United States. Mr. Banton received a masters degree in music performance, under the tutelage of renowned musician William Primrose, from Indiana University in 1966. It was during this period he met his future wife Julie - a cello and flute performance major at IU. A year after graduation, Mr. and Mrs. Banton moved to Winnipeg, Canada, so Mrs. Banton could take a position as associate principal cellist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra; Mr. Banton would be granted a position in the viola section soon thereafter. The couple played together in the WSO for 22 years, until Mr. Banton left to pursue his many other interests and talents. He was a gifted restorer and appraiser of stringed instruments. It was his sensitivity to the needs of these instruments that led him to spend many of the last years developing and patenting an invention to control the humidity of the air surrounding these fragile antiques. Mr. Banton was an extremely intelligent, charismatic and well-spoken individual whose presence will be missed by all who loved and cared for him. David Banton was predeceased by wife Julie. He is survived by his two children, Kim Metcalfe and Kevin Banton; sisters, Muriel Stevenson and Hilda Alter; and granddaughter Alexis Metcalfe. Funeral services were held December 14 at Green Acres Memorial Gardens in Winnipeg.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 10, 2004