Alexandre Laurendeau

Laurendeau, Alexandre

(J.-) Alexandre (Zénon) Laurendeau. Oboist, clarinetist, b Lachenaie, near Montreal, 13 Dec 1870, d Montreal 13 Jul 1933. He was clarinetist in the Montreal Concert Band under the direction of Edmond Hardy and, after 1890, in the Sohmer Park orchestra. He later studied oboe with a Father Geay.

Laurendeau became principal oboe in 1899 for the summer tours of the John Philip Sousa Band and during the winter ca 1900 he recorded with the band for Berliner. Around this time he joined the Pittsburgh SO. In 1905 he successfully competed with 105 others for the coveted post of solo oboe of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Society, and he remained 12 years with that orchestra. At the same time he recorded concert pieces with Columbia Gramophone studio groups (see Roll Back the Years). He was also principal oboe 1910-20 of the New York Symphony Society under the direction of Walter Damrosch.

After losing the use of two fingers, Laurendeau returned to Montreal in 1920 and concentrated on teaching and composing. His pupils included Réal Gagnier after 1926. He was second cousin of the composer Louis-Philippe Laurendeau and the brother-in-law of George Violetti, a music dealer.