Billy, a 2-year-old German shepherd-mix rescue dog, stole hearts at a Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra rehearsal. Dressed in a tuxedo, Billy sat calmly in the middle of the room, eyes closed, as he appeared to soak in the symphonic music.
Billy, who has become a social media sensation for his apparent love of classical music, was invited to the orchestra’s season-opening rehearsal. His owners, Lucian Barz, a violinist and violist, and Teresa Bowes, a pianist, adopted Billy from a Texas rescue farm in June 2022, unaware of his musical interest.
Barz, 33, was not entirely surprised by Billy’s reaction to music. “You hear a lot about animals enjoying music. I grew up on a farm, and I would take my violin and play for the cows,” he explained. Barz added that Bowes often plays classical music at home, and they soon noticed Billy’s positive response to the tunes.
“It’s mostly food for the soul, just to see the purity of an animal enjoying music,” Barz said. “It’s a reminder that music is the universal language.”
Ken Hsieh, conductor of the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, performed Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 during the rehearsal. Expecting Billy to be playful, Hsieh was surprised by the dog’s serene demeanor and engagement with the music.
“He would lift his head when he heard something big in the music, and it went back down when it was soothing,” Hsieh noted. “It’s what I wish my audiences were doing — going through that same emotional state.”
Billy’s musical journey began when Esther Hwang, 29, the orchestra’s concertmaster and a friend of the couple, performed for him. “I performed for him as if I was playing for a live audience — with the same quality and presentation,” Hwang said. “I was moved when he was so calm and just listened with his eyes closed.”
The public’s fascination with Billy’s musical experience led Hwang to arrange his attendance at the live rehearsal. Hwang observed that Billy is attracting new listeners to classical music. “Classical music can be niche, but Billy is inviting new audiences,” she said.