Claude Webster

Webster, Claude

Claude Webster. Pianist, vocal coach, b Roberval, Lac-St-Jean, Que, 5 Sep 1961; B MUS (Montreal) 1983, M MUS (Montreal) 1985. Following studies with Marc Durand at the University of Montreal, Claude Webster received further training in New York from André Laplante (1985-6) and Adele Marcus (1986-9), also taking part in master classes given by Lazar Berman and Leon Fleisher, among others. He won numerous prizes, including second prizes at the Leschetizky Competition in New York (1984) and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Concours (1985), and first prize at the Artists International competition in New York (1988).

Under the auspices of the Jeunesses Musicales du Canada (Youth and Music Canada), Webster toured Quebec (1986) and other regions in Canada (1988). Making his New York debut in 1988 at Weill Hall of Carnegie Hall, he came back to Montreal the following year. With baritone Bruno Laplante and soprano France Duval, he made several tours in Quebec (1990) and Japan (1991), in addition to recording the CD Dialogues d'amoureux (Analekta AN-9401). Webster has given many recitals either as soloist, accompanist or chamber performer, namely at Le Domaine Forget, the Festival d'été international de Québec, the Orford Arts Centre, and the Montreal International Music Festival. Heard frequently on CBC radio, and (as accompanist) in 2002 on the Bravo! television network, he has also been a guest soloist with various orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre des jeunes du Québec. Webster was pianist and vocal coach 1994-2000 with the Atelier lyrique of L'Opéra de Montréal, and toured with them in Quebec, eastern Ontario and the Maritime provinces in 2003. He has also performed and recorded with the Quebec flutist Claude Régimbald.