Marc Bélanger (musician)

Marc Bélanger (born 30 July 1940) is a Canadian violinist, violist, conductor, arranger, composer, and music educator.

Born in Quebec City, Bélanger is the son of violinist and conductor Edwin Bélanger and the brother of musician Guy Bélanger. It is from his father that he received his initial musical training. At the age of eight he began studying the violin with Calvin Sieb and singing with Claude Létourneau at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec. He continued to study at the conservatoire through 1961, earning a diploma in 1960 with premier prixs in both harmony and chamber music. He also studied conducting at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana under Hermann Scherchen.

Bélanger began his career working as an ensemble musician, conductor, and arranger for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Between 1956-1971 he played the violin and viola in various orchestras at the CBC in Quebec and from 1972-1976 he played in the CBC Orchestra in Montreal. From 1958-1972 he was a member of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra; notably serving as the ensemble's principal violist from 1969-1972. In 1981 he played an instrumental role in establishing the Orchestre Métropolitain (OM) in Montreal; notably serving as the OM's first Musical Director from 1981–1986 and then Artistic Director in 1986-1987. At Expo 86 he was a guest soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for the inauguration gala of the Canadian Pavilion. He later served for several years as the principal violinist of the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre de chambre de l'Estrie.

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