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Laurelle Favreau, Director
A former violinist and pianist, Laurelle Favreau began her career in film and video production. She joined General Arts Management, Inc. (GAMI) in 1983 as Booking Representative for Canada and Europe and was named Vice-President in 1986 working under company founder Peter Sever. In 1987, Favreau purchased GAMI from Sever, representing some of Canada's most respected musicians, composers and conductors.
Favreau dedicated herself to building the international careers of Canadian classical and jazz artists, including clarinetist James Campbell, cellist Shauna Rolston, conductor Daniel Swift, the Amsterdam Guitar Trio, pianist André Laplante, violist Rivka Golani and jazz saxophonist / flutist Moe Koffman. The latter, together with Dizzy Gillespie (who GAMI represented in Canada) was featured in GAMI's best selling touring production, Dizzy and Moe Supershow.
For two consecutive years beginning in 1988, Favreau was President of the Canadian Association of Artists' Managers (CAAM), a lobby group for the artist management industry. In July, 1991, GAMI merged with American company Simonds Management of Connecticut, reinforcing its USA presence in the marketplace.
Ms. Favreau's responsibilities for the company are world wide sales, management and market development. -
Don Verdery - Director
Simonds Management was founded by Don Verdery, in 1982, promoting the careers of classical and world-music artists in the United States and Europe. Prior to the formal founding of Simonds Management, Don Verdery spent seven years as manager/agent for the Cobble Mountain Band, a country-rock group from the Berkshires that toured throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Southwest. In 1982, Don's brother, classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery, suggested a partnership which led to the formation of Simonds Management. During the 80's the Simonds Management roster included solo artists, classical ensembles and dance companies. Through Ben's tours, Don met flamenco guitarist Paco Peña who was with Simonds Management for eight years. And, through Paco, in 1989, Don met and signed on the great Chilean ensemble Inti-Illimani who remain on the GAMI/Simonds roster today. In addition to managing artists, from 1986 to 1991, Verdery was the Executive Producer for the D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts which presented a classical guitar series in New York City, Washington, Milwaukee and San Francisco. In July, 1991, Simonds Management merged with Canadian company General Arts Management, Inc. (GAMI) of Toronto, Ontario extending its representation of artists.
Don’s areas of responsibilities are the company’s immigration and tax service, marketing, contracts, itineraries, road management, artist tech and publicity.