Jean Vallerand

Jean Vallerand, composer, critic, administrator, teacher, violinist (b at Montréal 24 Dec 1915; d at Montréal 24 Jun 1994). His career as a critic began on Le Canada in 1941, followed by Montréal-Matin, LE DEVOIR, Le Nouveau Journal and LA PRESSE. During the 1940s and 1950s, he composed incidental music for more than 50 radio dramas on the CBC, where he later became head of musical broadcasts. His opera Le Magicien was performed over 100 times across the country during the JEUNESSES MUSICALES DU CANADA 1961-62 tour. Secretary general and teacher at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal from 1942-63, Vallerand also taught at U de M from 1950-66. Other positions he held include cultural attaché for Québec in Paris, director of the Service des arts d'interprétation of the Québec Ministère des affaires culturelles and director of the Conservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec.

Author HÉLÈNE PLOUFFE