Benoît Verdickt

Benoît Verdickt (27 September 1884 – 28 April 1970) was a Canadian organist, choirmaster, composer, and music educator of Belgian birth. His compositional output consists mainly of sacred music, some of which he self-published. His most notable works are his Cantique de mariage for soloist and two-part choir and his Missa pro defunctis for three-part choir and organ (1941).

Early life Born in Steenhuffel, Londerzeel, Verdickt studied in Mechelen, first at the Interdiocesan School of Sacred Music, and then at the Mechelen Conservatory where he ultimately graduated with his diploma.

Career In 1906 Verdickt immigrated to Canada to assume a church organist post in Victoriaville, Quebec. He remained there until 1912 when he became an organist/choirmaster at a church in Rochester, New York in the United States. After just one year there, he returned to Canada in 1913 to assume a similar role at Sts-Anges Church in Lachine, Quebec near Montreal. He remained there until his retirement in 1963.