Denis Bédard

Denis Bédard (born 13 January 1950) is a Canadian composer of organ works (solo, duet, and with other instruments) and choral pieces (a cappella, with organ, and with piano). He founded Éditions Cheldar, which publishes his works. His compositions are performed internationally.

Early life and education Bédard was born in Quebec City, Quebec. He was trained at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec where he obtained a deuxième prix harmony in 1966, a premier prix counterpoint in 1970, a premier prix for fugue in 1971, premier prix for organ in 1972, and a premier prix for harpsichord and premier prix chamber music in 1973. Among his teachers at the conservatoire were Tania Krieger (piano), Claude Lavoie (organ), André Mérineau (harmony), Magdeleine Martin (counterpoint and fugue), and Donald Thomson (harpsichord). A series of grants from the Canada Council enabled him to pursue studies in Paris with André Isoir (organ) and Laurence Boulay (harpsichord and figured bass realization) and in Montreal with Bernard Lagacé (organ and harpsichord) between 1973 and 1975. After winning the Prix d'Europe in 1975 for his harpsichord performance, he studied piano, harpsichord, and organ with Gustav Leonhardt in the Netherlands from 1975 to 1977. In 1999 he composed Duet Suite for Organ and Piano.

Bédard later moved to the west coast and became organist at Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire de Vancouver.

In 2018 his composition "Gibraltar March for Organ" was performed in Gibraltar at Holy Trinity Cathedral at the rededication of its 138 year old organ.

Selected compositions Suite from the year 1996 Suite du premier ton. "Fantaisie" "Gibraltar March for Organ" (2018)