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Lagacé, Geneviève
Geneviève Lagacé. Organist, harpsichordist, b Montreal 14 Nov 1957; premier prix organ (CMM) 1976. She studied organ with her father, Bernard, and harpsichord with her mother, Mireille, 1973-7 at the CMM. With the aid of a Canada Council grant she studied harpsichord 1977-8 with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam. She also studied this instrument 1979 with Kenneth Gilbert and organ 1978 with Marie-Claire Alain. She won several prizes including the first prize in the John Robb Competition in Montreal in 1975, and the third prize in the Paul Hofhaimer International Competition in Innsbruck in 1981. In 1978 she began to give concerts and recitals in Canada, the USA, and Europe. After a recital of works by Buxtehude, Bach, Brahms, and Reger, which she gave on the organ in St-Joseph Chapel in Montreal, Claude Gingras wrote in La Presse (Montreal 17 Aug 1978): 'She plays with a man's strength ... with the maturity of someone twice her age ... She was exceptional in every respect.' With Hélène Dugal and Jacques Lecavalier she took part in the presentation of Sweelinck's complete works in Montreal during 1979-80.
In 1982, Geneviève formed a duo with Jean-François Rivest on baroque violin. From 1982 to 1988, she was the harpsichordist of the I Musici de Montréal ensemble. She also has provided the basso continuo for various ensembles, including the MSO, the McGill Chamber Orchestra, the Montérégie Symphony Orchestra, and the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal. In 1987 she founded and organized the concert series 'Les Idées heureuses' at the Erskine and American United Church where she became organist in 1985. She has been responsible for the music education classes at the Marie de France College 1982- and during the summer has taught 1978- at the CAMMAC music centre. She has also taught 1983-6 at the Éveil musical school, and at Concordia University 19855-7. She has recorded concerts for the CBC on both harpsichord and organ and made recordings with her mother 1978 of organ works by Fresocbaldi and Merula for the Titanic label. She has also recorded four concertos for organ and orchestra by Handel with the Carl Philipp Ensemble (1980, Alpec A-83040). See also Discography for I Musici de Montréal.
See also Éric Lagacé (her brother).
