Jacques LeComte

Jacques LeComte took piano lessons 1931-5 before switching to clarinet and then to trumpet, which he began studying in 1937 with Joseph-Laurent Gariépy. Under Gariépy's direction he became a member of the Victoria Rifles Band. When the CMM opened, in 1943, he was admitted to Bernard Baker's class.

As principal trumpet 1945-61 with the MSO, LeComte performed with the orchestra on several occasions as soloist in the standard concertos; he appeared from time to time on CBC radio and TV until 1971. In the early 1950s he performed the Concerto, Opus 27 for trumpet, timpani, and strings by the Austrian composer Kurt Roger with the Little Symphony of Montreal and in 1953 he premiered Michel Perrault'sFête et parade for trumpet and orchestra.

LeComte began teaching at the CMM in 1948 and many of his pupils, including Guy Archambault, Jean-Louis Chatel, Serge Chevanelle, Léon Deit, and Daniel Doyon, obtained positions in orchestras in Canada and abroad.

LeComte was a member of the jury of the CBC Talent Festival for four years and, in 1964, a juror for the Paris Cons competition. He recorded George Fiala'sConcertino with Rose Goldblatt (RCI 184/5-ACM 27). His daughter Louise, a flutist and winner of the Prix d'Europe in 1969, married Lucien Poirier. His other daughter, harpist Manon LeComte, played with the National Arts Centre Orchestra for more than 40 years.