The musician, who founded the Chicago Sinfonietta orchestra, was fighting an array of ailments for several years and died in British Columbia, Canada on Tuesday (21Jul15).

Officials posted a message on the Chicago Sinfonietta website, stating, "It is with profound sadness that we announce our beloved Founder and Music Director, Maestro Paul Freeman passed away...

"Paul had been fighting a number of physical challenges over the last few years but according to his wife Cornelia and his son Douglas, both of whom were with him, he felt no pain and was at peace."

In 1987, Freeman founded the group, which dubs itself "The Nation's Most Diverse Orchestra", and embarked on a number of U.S. and European tours.

While working with the orchestra, he also acted as music director and chief conductor of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Prague from 1996.