The Ontario Government has announced a return to a region COVID-19 response framework; our retail store continues to remain closed until further notice. Online shopping and order fulfillment continues as normal. Curbside Pick-up service is available after a 'ready' email notification.
Home Our Story
We're not just a music store. In fact, we're much more than that. If you're looking to buy an instrument, rent some gear, improve your playing, get your instrument or gear back into top-working condition, help make your event a success, set-up the A/V for your organization, or even just a cool place to hang out and enjoy a coffee, we've got you covered.
A long history.
Established in 1968, over 50 years in the music business
You're with family.
Founded by Tom Hebert, family owned and operated
The single largest musical instrument store in North America.
56,000 sq ft store opened in May 2008
We know our stuff.
Over 200 employees including 23 repair technicians and 80+ highly qualified teachers
Unforgettable performances.
Home of the Cosmopolitan Music Hall venue
We are incredibly proud to have a team of highly-specialized, trained people as part of the Cosmo Music family. We're a unique group of music-loving people that have years of experience and knowledge that you can count on.
Our Mission: to enthusiastically nurture, inspire, and empower the music-making aspirations of everyone we engage with.
Rudi Brouwers
Vice-President & COO
His favourite song of all-time: "Fly By Night" - Rush
Brenda Hebert
Founder
Mark Hebert
President & CEO
An instrument he wishes he could play: Guitar
Hanson Fung
CFO
The best concert he's ever been to: The Wedding Band at Cosmo Music in July 2019
Chris Bailey
Director of Marketing and eCommerce
The best concert he's ever been to: Osheaga in 2012
Chris Fountain
Assistant Store Manager
An instrument he wishes he could play: Piano
Andrew Lai
Retail Store Manager
His favourite song of all-time: “What a Wonderful World“ - Louis Armstrong
Scott Trowbridge
Educational Services Division Manager
An instrument he wishes he could play: Drums
Paul Curtis
Customer Support Manager
His favourite song of all-time: "Too Many Ways to Fall" - Arc Angels
Rob Cooper
Director of the Cosmo School of Music
The best concert he's ever been to: Pink Floyd "Momentary Lapse of Reason" Tour in 1987
Terry Fitzgerald
Repair Shop Operations Manager
The best concert he's ever been to: Chris Cornell at Massey Hall
Kevin Rohm
Manager of Repair Training and Development
An instrument he wishes he could play: Piano
Ryan McLeod
Cosmo Pro Division Manager
The best concert he's ever been to: His first, Bryan Adams
April Hebert
Director of Starbucks @ Cosmo
An instrument she wishes she could play: Guitar
Adrian Ruegsegger
Warehouse Manager
His favourite song of all-time: “Never Let Me Down Again” - Depeche Mode
Shawna Baddeley
Accounting and Admin Manager
The best concert she's ever been to: AC/DC "Back in Black" Tour
Tamara Freethy
Marketing Manager
The best concert she's ever been to: Ron Pope at the Great Hall
Jerry Hunt
Purchasing Manager
The best concert he's ever been to: Queen at the CNE Grandstand in 1980
Peter Fudge
Director of Technology and Systems Development
The best concert he's ever been to: Maynard Ferguson at Minkler Auditorium
Jeff Brown
Facilities Manager and Systems Administrator
The best concert he's ever been to: Genesis "Duke" Tour with Chester Thompson and Phil Collins
We believe that our home is a music paradise for everyone to enjoy. In virtually every corner of the building, you'll find something to catch your attention.
Do you know exactly what you're looking for? We have the largest stock in Canada, we'll likely have it. Not sure what you're looking for and need some advice? Come by, have a look, we'd love to help you find your perfection. Not a musician? Come sit and have a coffee and enjoy the music around you.
Have a look by taking a Google virtual tour.
Cosmo Guitars, a small business started by Tom Hebert, began in 1966 importing guitars from Italy and Japan. Tom had just come out of the Air Force and was itching to pursue a business venture in the area he was most interested in… music. Tom had been involved in bands while in the Air Force and his heart and soul was the guitar.
Although importing guitars was promising, in 1968 Tom realized the added potential of his Sheppard Ave location in Downsview and opened the first Cosmo Music. At this time, he was selling mostly the guitars and accessories he was importing, and the store grew.
In 1970, it was obvious that the retail world was what Tom enjoyed most. He stopped importing guitars and grew by opening up a small music school and offering different instruments in the Downsview store.
In 1971 Cosmo Music moved to Richmond Hill and took over the local Mundinger Music location. Richmond Hill was a much smaller town but with the bigger store and Yonge Street locale, Tom was thinking into the future. The new store already had a large lesson studio (65% accordion students!) and big potential for future growth.
Cosmo Music began offering brass and woodwind instruments, rentals and repairs in 1975. The need became obvious with the population explosion and the lack of service-oriented school band program providers. The brass and woodwind department quickly became an area of expertise for Cosmo Music as the rental fleet grew exponentially.
In 1985, Cosmo Music moved again to an even bigger location just a few blocks south on Yonge Street. Taking over a department store and building one of the largest music stores in Canada gave Cosmo customers an increased instrument selection and even more value than before. It also gave way to the construction of the Cosmo School of Music, the largest and most prestigious music school in the area.
Cosmo Music’s Brass and Woodwind department was growing so fast, the decision was made to relocate the department into its own location. The Cosmo Music Brass and Woodwind Centre opened in 1990 and became the largest provider of brass and woodwind instruments and accessories in Ontario. The new building also housed Cosmo Music’s Brass and Woodwind repair facilities and Cosmo's ever-growing rental fleet (now well over 11,000 instruments).
The dream of the entire Cosmo Team has always been to create the world’s most exciting and interactive music-making environment. In the spring of 2008, this dream became a reality when Cosmo Music amalgamated both of its locations into one giant store. Cosmo Music – The Musical Instrument Superstore opened its doors on May 22, 2008 and is the largest musical instrument retail store in North America; providing sales, service, rentals, and lessons for all types of musical instruments in a one-of-a-kind, world-class facility.
Cosmo Music is an active member, contributor, or associated with the following trade and philanthropic organizations.
musicmakesus.ca
We envision Canada as a country where the lives of all children are enriched by quality school music programs, and where their active participation in music is valued and supported in our communities. Our mission is to raise the awareness and understanding of the role that music education plays in Canadian culture, and to promote the benefits that music education brings to young people. Cosmo Music is a proud Gold Partner with the Coalition for Music Education in Canada.
omea.on.ca
The Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA), a non-profit organization that represents music educators in Ontario. One of our objectives is to "provide leadership in establishing and maintaining high standards of school music throughout Ontario & Canada". We participate in meetings with the Ministry of Education, the Ontario Teachers’ Federation Curriculum Forum, and the Ontario College of Teachers.
nammfoundation.org
Advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. Cosmo Music’s NAMM membership helps contribute to NAMM Foundation research. This important research has provided significant proof towards the importance of music in developing minds.
namm.org
NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that promotes the pleasures and benefits of making music and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry. NAMM serves as a hub for people wanting to seek out the newest innovations in musical products, recording technology, sound and lighting. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. Cosmo Music is an active member of NAMM and sends a team of buyers and team leaders to trade shows on a yearly basis. Attending NAMM helps Cosmo Music stay on top of active trends and the newest and hottest items on the market in order to provide the latest and greatest to our customers.
sickkids.com
The Friends of Music Therapy Endowment Fund was established at SickKids Foundation to provide permanent support to the Music Therapy Program at The Hospital for Sick Children. This stable funding source will ensure this delivery of care to the palliative and cancer programs at SickKids, and enable the expansion of music therapy services to other areas such as organ transplantation, neonatal intensive care, adolescent medicine and more. The Cosmo Music team have chosen Sick Kids Foundation as their charity of choice. Any and all funds raised through staff events and/or customer promotions are contributed to this amazing program.
rhbot.ca
A Board of Trade is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and support local businesses. Businesses join a board of trade for many different reasons. The organization offers small businesses an established network as well as the opportunity to learn from more established colleagues. Cosmo Music is a proud member of the Board of Trade and won a prestigious Business Achievement Award in 2006 and 2017.
