Musician. He received recognition in the 20th century as a Canadian musician as well as a violinist, altoist, arranger, music professor and orchestra conductor. A native of Montmagny (Québec), he studied initially the violin the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in his hometown, then at the Minor Seminary of Québec. He became a member of the Symphonic Society of Québec where he played from 1928 to 1931 and obtained the "Prix d'Europe" for the violin in 1933. In Paris, in 1933 and 1934, he was a pupil of the great maestro Carl Fleisch. He was one of the founders of the Philharmonic Circle of Québec which he directed from 1935 to 1942. Captain in the army, he became director of the band of the Royal 22nd Regiment, a post he held from 1937 to 1961. With this unit, he made concert tours in the Far East, Europe and in the United States. He composed many pieces and carried out several arrangements for harmony. From 1942 to 1951, he served also as artistic director of the Symphony Orchestra of Québec. Later, for this orchestra, he accepted to be the head of the section of the second violins, this for a first period between 1966 and 1975, and again, from 1977 to 1984. Beginning in 1935, he worked as instrumentalist, conductor and arranger for various radio and TV shows produced by Radio-Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Titular professor of the classes of alto and orchestra at the Academy of Music of Quebec, from 1973 to 1985, he was also president in the Concerts Couperin, from 1977 to 1982. During his career, he chaired the "Association des musiciens du Québec" for four 4-year terms. In 1984, he was given a doctorate honoris causa by the University of Québec. He died at the Hôtel-Dieu-de-Lévis.
Musician. He received recognition in the 20th century as a Canadian musician as well as a violinist, altoist, arranger, music professor and orchestra conductor. A native of Montmagny (Québec), he studied initially the violin the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in his hometown, then at the Minor Seminary of Québec. He became a member of the Symphonic Society of Québec where he played from 1928 to 1931 and obtained the "Prix d'Europe" for the violin in 1933. In Paris, in 1933 and 1934, he was a pupil of the great maestro Carl Fleisch. He was one of the founders of the Philharmonic Circle of Québec which he directed from 1935 to 1942. Captain in the army, he became director of the band of the Royal 22nd Regiment, a post he held from 1937 to 1961. With this unit, he made concert tours in the Far East, Europe and in the United States. He composed many pieces and carried out several arrangements for harmony. From 1942 to 1951, he served also as artistic director of the Symphony Orchestra of Québec. Later, for this orchestra, he accepted to be the head of the section of the second violins, this for a first period between 1966 and 1975, and again, from 1977 to 1984. Beginning in 1935, he worked as instrumentalist, conductor and arranger for various radio and TV shows produced by Radio-Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Titular professor of the classes of alto and orchestra at the Academy of Music of Quebec, from 1973 to 1985, he was also president in the Concerts Couperin, from 1977 to 1982. During his career, he chaired the "Association des musiciens du Québec" for four 4-year terms. In 1984, he was given a doctorate honoris causa by the University of Québec. He died at the Hôtel-Dieu-de-Lévis.
Bio by: Guy Gagnon
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