In 1999, Larry left Nortel to co-found a fiber optical startup called Optovation, which received its share of press during its existence.  Larry held various positions within the company, including CEO in 2001-02.  When the "internet bubble" burst, the new startup was squarely in the firing line.  Larry left the company in July, 2002 and has been focusing on other activities since.

 

Owing to the lack of a high tech scene in Ottawa since Larry left the startup, Dr L's has been able to thrive.  From 1992-2002 Larry focused his activities on the "word of mouth" business from one vocal studio, that of the prominent Ottawa soprano Yoriko Tanno-Kimmons.  For the 2002-3 season, he was available to a wider clientele and was fortunate to work closely with five Ottawa vocal studios (Dianne Baird, Stacey Ingrey, Charlotte Stewart, Judy Vachon and Yoriko) throughout the Kiwanis '03 and recital '03 seasons.  Along the way, he also accompanied other recitals and productions and was delighted to be the audition accompanist when the Stephanie Gorin company was casting for Mamma Mia in Ottawa. For the '03-'04 season he worked with students from more than 10 vocal studios.

Dr L's is now involved in pop music production: a first release is Cupid 911, featuring award-winning singers Stacey Ingrey, Becky Abbott and Brianna Szarka, and with lyrics by Lila Rose, who has credits in award-winning television programs.

 

Dr L's has always been interested in digital recording technology, doing MIDI production since 1994.  Now equipped with a Mac G4, a Yamaha P-200 88 weighted key controller, a Roland U-20 keyboard, a Korg 05R/W sound module, many virtual instruments including a digitally sampled Gigasample Steinway B grand piano, and a MXL studio microphone, Dr L's Music is able to produce CDs that rival commercial studios in sound quality.  And nowhere else can one get Dr L's acclaimed musical arrangements!

 

Dr L's enjoys live performance, which for the most part is restricted to the Ottawa, Canada area or nearby.  And Dr L's has expanded operations in 2003, aiming at the wider North American market which can be serviced with the digital recording technologies available today. 

 

Larry enjoys making music.  He takes great joy in meeting, working with and trying his hardest to support artists at all levels. 

Three Preludes (Gershwin)

Sonata in C minor Op. 10 #2 (Beethoven)

Prelude Op. 23, #5 (Rachmaninoff)

Toccata (Khatchaturian)

Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin)  -- solo piano arrangement (additional to the sheet music) by Larry

 

Larry sang with the Canadian Centennial Choir from 1986-88 and with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, under well-known Laurence Ewashko's baton, from 1988-89, leaving to concentrate on his Ph.D. studies.  Once the bulk of the Ph.D. work was out of the way, Larry joined HeadCount, a local Ottawa rock band, from 1991-93.  Dr L's was formed in 1992.

 

Larry also sings and plays the guitar in public, having run the music program at Temple Israel religious school from 1994-2000, resuming the activity in 2003, and appearing as a lay cantor at Temple Israel on a regular basis since 1995. He is presently also the choir director at Agudath Israel, which often uses Dr L's arrangements and compositions.

 

Larry also does musical compositions.  In addition to his classical and jazz works, he has written some serious choral Jewish sacred composition, feeling that there is a lack of repertoire in this genre, and has most recently composed and produced Cupid 911, a pop epic. He has appeared at various Ottawa venues, and on TV he has performed on CJOH TV and "the new RO".