Serge Garant

Serge Garant, OC (September 22, 1929 – November 1, 1986) was a Canadian composer, conductor, professor of music at the University of Montreal and radio host of Musique de notre siècle on Radio-Canada.

In 1966 he cofounded with Jean Papineau-Couture, Maryvonne Kendergi, Wilfrid Pelletier and Hugh Davidson the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec. In 1979, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.The Prix Serge-Garant was created in his honour by the Foundation Émile Nelligan. Among his notable pupils were Ginette Bellavance, Walter Boudreau, Marcelle Deschênes, Denis Gougeon, Richard Grégoire, Anne Lauber, Michel Longtin, Myke Roy, and François Tousignant.

Exploring many aspects of the music industry, Garant decides to turn to piano, a sinuous path where he will be in the first place under the supervision of one of the founders of the Symphony Orchestra Sherbrooke, Sylvio Lacharité. This is also Lacharité who initiate Garant to the sumptuousness of the literature and its inherent link with the musical sphere, a legacy that will greatly influence his writings and compositions throughout his career. Enjoying a stay in the school orchestra Pierre Monteux through his contact with Lacharité, Garant found interests in writing music. In 1946, he wrote Conte (version for strings, flute and clarinet), a work which will also be presented at the Youth Festival in 1949. Thereafter, Garant, while continuing practice and writing music for saxophone and clarinet, continues his piano studies in Montreal with Yvonne Hubert. In 1951, having learned the basics of music theory and widely explored the practical field experience as interpreter and maestro, Garant sets sail for the French capital. In Paris, Serge Garant followed lessons of Andree Vaurabourg-Honegger and Messiaen.