Ottawa critic leaves estate to music society

A renowned Ottawa music critic has left most of his estate to the city's chamber music society.

Jacob Siskind, who died in September at the age of 82,  was a well-regarded critic who began his career with the Montreal Standard newspaper before leaving to work at the Ottawa Journal and then the Ottawa Citizen, where he spent 13 years as the music and dance critic until retiring in 1993. Siskind also hosted several radio programs on CBC.

On Wednesday, Glenn Hodgins, executive director of the Ottawa Chamber Music Society, announced Siskind's gift and said he was "bowled over" by the late critic's generosity.

"It's not only a vote of confidence from one of our country's finest music critics, which is in and of itself an amazing honour, but it is a financial boost that I think helps to boost confidence in the organization," Hodgins said.

Hodgins did not release the amount Siskind gave, but said the money will be invested in an endowment fund to give the organization's Chamberfest event a steady stream of income. Hodgins said some will also be spent to bring the world's top musicians to play in Ottawa.