Graz Brescacin completed a B.Mus (honours) degree in performance at the University of Ottawa and later continued his studies at Humber College. He has been a freelance woodwind specialist since 1970 playing in various theatres in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, and for the Stratford and Shaw Festivals.
He has played in orchestras backing star performers including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Rich Little, Jack Jones, Shirley MacLaine, Petula Clark, and others.
Captain Brescacin retired from the Canadian Forces in 2014 having completed a 42-year career as a military musician playing flute, clarinet, and saxophone and for the last 19 years was the Director of Music for the 7th Toronto Regiment Artillery Band. From 2004 to 2014 he was also the Staff Officer of Army Bands for the Ontario Area. He has taught conducting, flute, and clarinet classes at Canadian Forces Base Borden.
In civilian life, Graz Brescacin taught band, strings, choir, and keyboard classes for the Toronto Catholic District School Board from 1981 to 2005. From 2005 to 2015 he was the school board’s Instrumental Music Resource Teacher where he was responsible for all instrumental music programs in the 200 Elementary and Secondary schools and coordinated many special music projects. He has been the Pit Orchestra Conductor for the TCDSB Staff Arts Musical Productions since 2010.
Graz continues to be in demand as a guest conductor, performer, clinician, and adjudicator.