Eric Paetkau is Music Director and founder of the group of twenty-seven chamber orchestra, Toronto’s only full chamber orchestra, and was recently appointed Resident Conductor of Les Violons du Roy. He has also held the position of Assistant Conductor of orchestral studies and opera at the University of Kentucky, as well as cover conductor for the Lexington Philharmonic. He also served as conductor of the Lexington Chamber Orchestra and the Toronto-based Mooredale Concerto Players.

Also a violist, Mr. Paetkau was a member of the Nuremburg Symphony in Germany, and has played with the Toronto Symphony, Les Violons du Roy, Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet, and Tafelmusik.

Mr. Paetkau received his early musical training in Canada with Lorand Fenyves and later with Steven Dann. He then continued his studies with James Dunham at the New England Conservatory and with Hariolf Schlichtig at the Hochschule für Musik, Munich, Germany. Mr. Paetkau also studied conducting under Jac van Steen in the Netherlands and Kenneth Kiesler in North America.