Ruby Mercer

Ruby Mercer CM (26 July 1906 – 26 January 1999) was an American-born Canadian writer, broadcaster, soprano and entrepreneur.^[1]

Mercer was born in Athens, Ohio, and grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 1936, she made her debut as a member of the Metropolitan Opera, portraying Nedda in Pagliacci.^[2]

She founded Opera Canada, a periodical for which she served as editor from 1960 to 1990. She also founded the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus, and served as its first president. She was host of CBC Radio's weekly show Opera Time from 1962 to 1979, as well as its successor Opera in Stereo from 1979 to 1984.

She became a member of the Order of Canada in 1995.^[3]

Awards and honours

• BA (Ohio) 1927, BMus (Cincinnati) 1930, honorary DMus (Ohio) 1978, honorary LL.D (U of T)^{[clarification needed]} 1995.
• Walter W. Naumburg Foundation award (1934)
• Canadian Music Council medal (1983)
• Toronto Arts lifetime achievement award (1988)
• Order of Canada (1995)

Writing

• The Tenor of His Time (Toronto, 1976), a biography of tenor Edward Johnson
• The Quilicos – Louis, Gino and Lina (Oakville, Ontario, 1990)
• Articles to Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, Musical America, and Opera News
• Columns and reviews for Opera Canada