Marcel Laurencelle

Laurencelle, Marcel

Marcel Laurencelle. Choir conductor, teacher, b Montreal 15 Jan 1914, d there 16 Aug 1991. A soprano in the boys' choir of the Church of the Immaculée-Conception, Montreal, he began music studies at nine with Émile Fontaine, continuing with Alfred Bernier and Georges-Émile Tanguay and 1943-8 at the CMM with Léon Barzin, Claude Champagne, Jean Vallerand, and Séverin Moisse.

Laurencelle was assistant director 1938-44 of the Petite Maîtrise de Montréal and choirmaster 1941-50 at St-Étienne Church. He also founded the Choeur Berlioz and conducted it 1945-58. He was choir director 1944-65 for the Montreal Festivals, 1946-69 for the Opera Guild, and 1957-8 for the Grand Opéra de Montréal. In 1950 he began preparing choirs for the MSO and the CBC. He was assistant director of the JMC (YMC) 1954-5 and directed that organization's choir 1958-67. He prepared the choirs 1971-2 for the Opéra du Québec. Laurencelle taught theory and choral singing 1949-80 at the CMM and 1951-79 at the JMC Orford Art Centre. He also taught 1951-5 at the University of Montreal. In 1976 he became choirmaster at Montreal's Notre-Dame Church, a position he held until his death. He also composed choral works, including Messe pour tous les temps (Pain et vie 1987).