Jean Goulet

Goulet, Jean

Jean (Antoine Joseph) Goulet. Violinist, conductor, teacher, b Liège 17 Apr 1877, naturalized Canadian 1919, d Montreal 23 Sep 1965. He studied violin at the Liège Conservatoire and, while working as a printer, was a member of that city's opera orchestra. He moved to Montreal in 1893 at the encouragement of his brother, J.-J. Goulet, and became a second violin in the Couture MSO. He played also at Sohmer Park under Ernest Lavigne. After living 1897-1906 in Belgium, he returned to Montreal, again at his brother's suggestion. At Sohmer Park he played clarinet and conducted a small orchestra. During these years (1907-14) he played and conducted at several theatres, including the National (where the young Wilfrid Pelletier was pianist) and the Amherst, as well as at the Bijou and Moulin-Rouge cinemas. He taught 1914-62 at Laval College in St-Vincent-de-Paul, near Montreal, and founded and conducted 1912-24 the Cercle symphonique St-Pierre. He was choirmaster 1921-30 at St-Eusèbe-de-Verceil Church, 1930-6 at St-Stanislas-de-Kostka, and 1936-? at St-Lambert, on the outskirts of Montreal.

In 1920 Jean Goulet became president and music director of the Assn des chanteurs de Montréal, which he conducted until 1935 in oratorios including, in 1923, Couture's Jean le Précurseur. Beginning in 1921, he taught violin and orchestral instruments, and conducted the chamber ensemble, at the Collège de Montréal and at Notre-Dame College. He conducted 1922-6 for the Société canadienne d'opérette and 1936-55 for the Variétés lyriques; indeed, he led 895 of the latter's performances, including operas and operettas. In 1926 France made him an Officier d'Académie and the following year Belgium named him Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Couronne.

See also Charles Goulet (his son).