Marc Durand

Durand, Marc

Marc Durand. Pianist, teacher, b St-Samuel, Que, 28 Aug 1949; B MUS (Montreal) 1969, M MUS (Montreal) 1970, Concert Diploma (Sherbrooke) 1972, M MUS (Temple, Philadelphia) 1975. Following piano studies at the École Vincent-d'Indy with Yvonne Hubert and Natalie Pépin, he studied accompaniment with Louise André. From 1973 to 1975, he received further training from Harvey Wedeen at Temple U in Philadelphia. On a scholarship from the Juilliard School in New York, he worked under Adele Marcus. He took part in several summer sessions in Europe, Canada and the USA, studying piano with Leon Fleischer, Pierre Sancan, Yvonne Lefébure, Jacques Rouvier, and Ronald Turini; chamber music with Dorothy Delay, Lilian Fuchs, and Helen Kwalwasser; and accompaniment with John Newmark, and Dalton Baldwin. In 1973, he won second prize at the International Stepping Stones of the Canadian Music Competitions, and first prize at the Leschetizky Competition in New York in 1975.

He made his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1976. He has been a soloist with various orchestras and given numerous recitals as soloist, accompanist and chamber performer in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Asia. He has been heard regularly on CBC radio. As accompanist, Durand has made several recordings with baritone Bruno Laplante and mezzo-soprano Marie Laferrière. He has taught piano at UQAM (1971-83), Laval University (1978-82), the University of Montreal (beginning in 1980), the RCMT (as guest professor, 1989-90), and at the JMC Orford Art Centre, also giving master classes in Canada and the USA. Among his students are Anne-Marie Dubois, Louis Lortie, Jean Saulnier, Paul Stewart, and Claude Webster. Durand was artistic director 1986-9 of the Montreal International Music Festival.