Toronto composer a rebel without a choir

Tag : Honey Dates
John Terauds
CLASSICAL MUSIC CRITIC

Let's play a game of spot-the-rebel.
If we stand at King and Church Sts. in downtown Toronto, any numberof tattooed, pierced and skinny-jeaned souls shuffling between thesubway and George Brown College further east might catch ourattention. But we shouldn't overlook the bearded, middle-aged guyin pleated dress pants and sport coat who just slipped out througha side door at St. James Cathedral.
You wouldn't imagine anyone connected to this physical reminder ofOld Protestant Toronto to be a poster boy for non-conformism.
But there is a lot more to Andrew Ager than meets the eye.
The gravelly voice and slow manner hide a deep well of energy and alively creative imagination. Now in his mid-40s, the organist andcomposer-in-residence at St. James is one of the most intriguingclassical musicians working in Toronto