André Moisan began playing the clarinet … in hiding! Initially he concealed the activity from his father, who was in fact a clarinetist with the OSM. Once his secret was out, he studied the instrument with Robert Crowley, Victor Sawa, Larry Combs, Karl Leister and Gilles Moisan, his father. His first concert with the OSM was in 1977, playing the tenor saxophone part in a performance of Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé suite under the direction of Andrew Davis. His fondest music-making memory was created during the OSM’s recent tour of Quebec’s Far North, improvising to Kent Nagano’s storytelling of Japanese tales to groups of children in Kuujjuaq. André Moisan tours extensively as a soloist and continues to cultivate his strength as an orchestral conductor.
Model of instrument: Buffet Crampon (Paris) R-13 B-flat and A clarinets, Buffet Crampon Prestige basset horn and basset clarinet, Buffet Crampon Tosca bass clarinet, Selmer or Yamaha soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones
Hometown: Montreal
Musical first love: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor (Chopin)
Prizes and scholarships: Canada Council for the Arts, Les amis de l’art, OSM Competition winner
Favourite composer: Brahms
Favourite work: Parsifal (Wagner)
Member of other ensembles: The Inspirations jazz quintet, piano trio with Jean Saulnier and violinist Elvira Misbakhova
Recent recordings: Impressions, with the Inspirations jazz quintet and Klezmer Dreams with the Molinari Quartet and Jean Saulnier, both on the ATMA label
Other interests: Kayaking, mountain biking and fatbiking
If you could play another instrument, you would choose …: Guitar
If you hadn’t chosen to become a musician, you would be …: An actor
Other areas of expertise: Workshop leader and specialist in stress management
Donner la note – Meet André Moisan *In French only