Robin Korthals Leaves $1-Million Legacy Gift to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is honoured to announce a $1-million gift from the Estate of Robin Korthals, former President of Toronto Dominion Bank and a loyal TSO supporter for over three decades. This generous contribution underscores Robin’s belief in the transformative power of music and its role in shaping Toronto’s cultural identity.

Robin became a TSO donor in 1992, continuing his support until 2022. In a 2015 letter to the TSO, Robin wrote, “The TSO deserves support because it enriches the city.” His legacy gift carries forward this sentiment, helping to ensure the TSO can continue to bring world-class music to audiences across Toronto and beyond. Robin’s gift will be formally recognized at this evening’s TSO concert dedicated to his memory. Read more about Robin’s remarkable legacy and connection to music on Noteworthy.

Legacy gifts like Robin’s are essential to the TSO’s future. They provide vital funding for music education, community engagement, and programming that establishes the orchestra as a globally celebrated institution. These contributions ensure the TSO continues to be a vital part of what makes Toronto an engaging, dynamic, and culturally rich city.

“Philanthropy is deeply personal,” said Robert Dixon, Chief Development Officer of the TSO. “Anyone who leaves a legacy gift reflects deeply on what matters to them and how they want to shape their community even beyond their lifetime. Robin Korthals’s thoughtful generosity reflects his vision for a vibrant Toronto, where music continues to inspire and bring people together. We are profoundly grateful for his enduring commitment to the TSO.”

Robin’s generosity follows a series of transformational gifts to the TSO in recent years, including the $15-million pledge from the Barrett Family Foundation announced earlier this season, and the Beck family’s extraordinary lifetime contributions, which have surpassed $50 million. 

Legacy Giving at the TSO

For more information about leaving a legacy gift or joining the TSO’s Legacy Circle, please contact Emelita Ervin, Senior Development Officer, Legacy Giving, at eervin@TSO.CA or 416.595.4259, or visit TSO.CA/LegacyGiving.

For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in shaping and celebrating Canadian culture. The TSO’s commitment to musical excellence and ability to spark connection remain as strong as ever. With a storied history of acclaimed concerts and recordings, Canadian and international tours, and impactful community partnerships, we are dedicated to engaging and enriching local and national communities through vibrant musical experiences. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician orchestra that serves Toronto—one of the world’s most diverse cities. As a group of artists, teachers, and advocates who share the belief that music has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life, we engage audiences young and old through an array of community-access, health-and-wellness, and education initiatives including the TSO-affiliated Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra—a tuition-free training program dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists. Join us for a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, or experience the TSO in your neighbourhood. Visit TSO.CA or Newsroom.TSO.CA.

The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO.

The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.

The TSO relies on the generosity of thousands of donors and partners who provide a critical base of funding that makes possible all of the TSO’s music-making on stage and in the community. 

The TSO is grateful for the support of the Toronto Symphony Foundation and all levels of government, including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Ontario.