Oliver Balaburski

Oliver Balaburski Macedonian born Canadian began music studies at the age of ten. He attended an arts-focused secondary school to study music and became interested in composing and conducting. Oliver was awarded a scholarship from the Macedonian government to specialize in conducting and in 1999 was awarded the Norman Del Mar Junior Fellowship in Conducting at the Royal College of Music in London, UK, where he specialized in symphonic repertoire. Returning home, Oliver was appointed as Artistic Director of the Opera of the Macedonian National Theatre and until 2004 was Principal Conductor of the opera company. That year, in search of greater opportunities, he immigrated to Canada, where he completed his Master's Degree in Conducting at the University of Toronto in 2008. Oliver has held the position of Conductor of the Hart House Chamber Strings at the University of Toronto, Assistant Conductor with Royal Opera Canada, Conductor of the Orillia Youth Orchestra, and Artistic Director and Conductor of the City of Barrie Choralfest.

In his conducting career Oliver Balaburski had opportunities to become involved in music making in different genres equally, opera, symphonic, chamber and even in the characteristic Silent Movie performances. In the past few years he emerges himself in the field of composing and as result he had a performance of World Premiere of his first major piece, a Musical Narration in 5 parts "Sadie's Door" with the story written by Edward Moll and recently he had a world premiere of his Rhapsody for Orchestra "Bagosnim" (There is Hope) piece inspired by Indigenous peoples folklore, history and struggles.

Oliver currently is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Huronia Symphony Orchestra and the King Edward Choir, and is guest conductor of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. With his wife, professional singer Aleksandra Balaburska, Oliver established the Maestro Music Centre where he teaches piano, singing, violin, viola, vocal and orchestral conducting, as well as music theory and harmony.