Chantal Masson

Masson, Chantal

Chantal Masson. Violist, choir conductor, teacher, b St-Denis, near Paris, 24 Oct 1937, naturalized Canadian 1977; premier prix viola (Paris Cons) 1958. She studied at the Toulouse Cons and the Paris Cons. Later she worked with Micheline Lemoine (viola) and Georges Dandelot and Marie-Claire Alain (harmony and counterpoint) and was principal viola with the Orchestre de chambre francais. She pursued her training in choir conducting 1960-1 within the movement À Coeur Joie, becoming national instructor in 1962. In 1964 she joined the faculty of Laval University, where in 1991 she continued to teach viola, conducting, aesthetics, choral singing, and chamber music. She became the violist of the Quatuor Laval at its inception in 1982. She has performed as a soloist with the CBC orchestras in Quebec City and Montreal, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and the chamber orchestra of the Concerts Couperin. She conducted the Ensemble vocal Chantal-Masson 1965-72. She has also conducted the choir of Laval University and the Choeur symphonique de Québec, the last-named noted for its discipline and fine blend.