Article

Lucienne L'Heureux-Arel

Published Online July 5, 2007

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Lucienne L'Heureux-Arel (b L'Heureux, m Arel). Organist, teacher, b St-Jude, near St-Hyacinthe, Que, 6 Jan 1931; lauréat organ (AMQ) 1953. She studied piano 1948-52 with Aline Letendre and organ 1948-52 with Conrad Letendre and 1952-3 with Raymond Daveluy.

L'Heureux-Arel, Lucienne

Lucienne L'Heureux-Arel (b L'Heureux, m Arel). Organist, teacher, b St-Jude, near St-Hyacinthe, Que, 6 Jan 1931; lauréat organ (AMQ) 1953. She studied piano 1948-52 with Aline Letendre and organ 1948-52 with Conrad Letendre and 1952-3 with Raymond Daveluy. In 1955 she married the organist Gaston Arel. In 1960, on individual Canada Council scholarships, they both went to Hamburg where she studied with Charles Letestu. In 1964 she made a second trip.

In the early 1960s she was associated with the ensemble Ars Organi as organizer and recitalist. L'Heureux-Arel has given solo recitals in Quebec, the USA, Belgium, and England; has been guest performer on the CBC, at McGill University, and for Concerts d'orgue du Québec, the JMC (YMC), and the Concerts spirituels of Saint Joseph's Oratory; has given joint recitals with her husband; and has accompanied choirs. She gave the first performance of Jean Chatillon 's Suite pantomime at the Canadian Pavillion Theatre of Expo 67.

L'Heureux-Arel was organist 1965-72 at the Ascension of Our Lord Church in Westmount (Montreal), and obtained the same post at St Léon Church in Westmount in 1983. She was organ professor 1966-83 at the École normale de musique (Institut Marguerite-Bourgeoys) and began teaching at the UQAM in 1969.