William Kuinka (January 28, 1916 – April 7, 2008)[1] was a Canadian mandolinist, bassist, guitarist, and educator.
[3] In November 1951 the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was invited to participate in the "Major Symphony Series" in Detroit, its first appearance in the United States, alongside major US orchestras from Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, and Philadelphia.
Seven musicians were not given clearance; this was later pared down to six: Kuinka, Dirk Keetbaas, Abe Mannheim, John Moskalyk, Ruth Budd, and Steven Staryk (later known as the Symphony Six), who were denied access to the United States under suspicion of leftist activities.
[1] Kuinka taught classical guitar at the Brodie School of Music in Toronto from 1965 to 1979 and mandolin at Wilfrid Laurier University from 1980 to 1981.
[1] His daughter Valerie has performed with the orchestras of the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company.