A Canadian virtuoso, he mastered the violin, composed music, and led orchestras, leaving a lasting impact on the country's classical music scene. His works continue to inspire new generations of musicians.
Jean Deslauriers, a Canadian conductor, violinist, and composer, is best known for his long and fruitful partnership with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), conducting orchestras for feature films, television, and radio programs for over 40 years. His versatility and efficiency in conducting concerts, opera, and lighter repertoire made him a household name in Canadian music.
Born on June 24, 1909, in Montreal, Deslauriers was a child prodigy who began his career as a concert violinist at a young age. He studied violin with notable musicians Émile Taranto and Camille Couture, and later pursued studies in orchestration with Claude Champagne, counterpoint and instrumentation with Auguste Descarries, harmony and solfège with Romain-Octave Pelletier.
In the early 1930s, Deslauriers worked as a violinist and conductor aboard cruise ships, further honing his skills. In 1935, he joined the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, playing with them for the next decade. His breakthrough came in 1936 when he began working for CBC Radio in Montreal as a conductor, leading orchestras for various programs such as Radio-Concerts canadiens, Thtre lyrique Molson, and Concerts dopras.
As television became a prominent medium, Deslauriers seamlessly transitioned to conducting for CBC TV programs like L'Heure du concert, Srnade, and Concerts populaires. His most notable achievement was conducting the orchestra for the LaFlèche Trophy Award-winning radio and television program Serenade for Strings from 1941 to 1955.
Deslauriers was also a prolific composer, with his most famous works being Prélude for strings and the song La Musique des yeux. He was the father of soprano Yolande Deslauriers-Husaruk, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations of Canadian musicians.
Jean Deslauriers passed away on May 30, 1978, but his legacy continues to resonate in the world of Canadian music, inspiring future generations of conductors, composers, and musicians alike.
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