The Windsor Symphony Orchestra is giving the gift of music to staff at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre in honour of their former maestro.
During a presentation Wednesday at the cancer centre, WSO Executive Director Patti Lauzon announced each staff member will receive two free tickets for the upcoming season in honour of the late Robert Franz.
Franz, the maestro and music director of the WSO, passed away one year ago on September 3, 2025, at the age of 57 after losing a second battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lauzon says this was one of Robert’s wishes before he passed away.
“He talked to me about this probably 12 times, in fact, so many times, I said, ‘Don’t worry about it. We’re going to do it.’ It was his wish that he would be the one gifting the tickets. It just didn’t work out that way, so we’re here doing this in honour of him,” he says.
There are around 200 staff at the cancer centre.
Franz’s husband, Brandon Atkins, says the centre provided Robert with care and compassion that was above and beyond.
“I think that it’s just a realization of a goal that he had that he didn’t get to see to fruition. It’s a beautiful gift that the WSO has done on his behalf, knowing it was part of his dying wish that the individuals here would be able to get a small thank you and gesture for the work they had done and carried for him at the end of his life,” he says.
Atkins says Robert brought joy to other people.
“His particular venue of compassion and joy was bringing music to people; I think it’s impactful. Even this season this year, he did all the programming for the last season and this season. People coming to the symphony will still get a piece of Robert in the music that was shared because he wanted to make sure he gave our community the best, and the best is that music and the love he had for it,” he says.
Four finalists have been announced in the global search to replace Franz.
Each finalist will conduct two WSO concerts this season and will meet with key stakeholders while in the city.
The Windsor Symphony Orchestra performs out of the Capitol Theatre at 121 University Avenue West in downtown Windsor.