Louis Babin M.Mus Associate Composer - Canadian Music Centre EMAIL : [email protected] WEBSITE: www.louisbabin.com
CAREER SUMMARY Composer Louis Babin creates works that are modern, playful and accessible – a personal music avoiding trends, music that endures. Louis Babin’s works have been acclaimed in Canada, the USA and Europe, two recent examples being his piece for symphony orchestra - Saint-Exupéry : de cœur, de sable et d’étoiles, a musical homage to French literary icon Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and his work for string orchestra - Suite du promeneur. Starting out in his twenties as a violist, then working as a much-in-demand trumpeter for 40 years, Louis Babin puts a creative emphasis on instrumental play. Thanks to his wide ranging experience performing on stage, he has a solid knowledge of all musical genres: classical, jazz, contemporary, experimental, current and even pop. His eclectic talent has seen him perform in New York, Paris, Basel, Zurich and Toronto. His is a palette rich in musical vocabularies that has given him the necessary tools to compose several works for film and theatre. Louis Babin’s deepest artistic priority however is concert music, which inspired him to seek out the guidance of teachers Michel Longtin and alan Belkin at the Université de Montréal where he completed a Master’s degree in Composition. Louis Babin’s musical vocabulary is cultivated and well honed. Duel, a composition for piano, was singled out for a Special Mention at the IBLA Grand Prize World Music Competition in Italy in the summer of 2010. La suite du promeneur, created in 1992 under the direction of Boris Brott, has been performed by several noted ensembles, including l’Orchestre de Chambre de Montréal, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Longueuil, as well as at the Festival des Eurochestries in Vienne, France, and by Montreal’s FACE School String Orchestra at the International Society for Music Education conference in Greece. In recent years Louis Babin’s involvement in broadening the scope of musical creation within the educational system has become an increasingly central part of his work . the Molinari Quartet has commissioned a work to be performed for a youth audience. He gives music composition workshop at some high school.
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EDUCATION
Université de Montréal, Masters in Composition (dir. Alan Belkin and Michel Longtin) 2005 - 2007
Concordia University, Baccalauréat partiel - Fine Art, integrative music 1983 -1985
Conservatoire de musique de la province du Québec à Montréal, trumpet (Jacques Lecomte), viola (Otto Joachim) and counterpoint (Clermont Pépin) 1974 - 1981
École de musique Vincent-d’Indy, trumpet and piano 1966 – 1968
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Apple Corporation (New York) Certified Pro Logic Trainer (first to be certified in Quebec) since 2007
Skidmore Jazz Institute (Saratoga Springs, NY) Jazz improvisation 2003
Scott Smalley - American composer and orchestrator (New York) Orchestration for film music 2003
Guild of Canadian Film Composers (Montreal) Film music orchestration workshops 2003
Don Sebesky - American composer and orchestrator (New York) Film music technology 1987
CÉGEP Maisonneuve (Montreal) Course in radio technology (in association with CIBL-FM) 1981
James Thompson, Charles Ellison, Réal Matthieu, Dominic Derasse Trumpet 1982 - 2007
HONOURS, PRIZES AND APPOINTMENTS
Festivals of Music (New York) 3 prizes with the Orchestre à cordes des jeunes de Laval under Babin’s conducting 2014
CMC-FAMEQ Winner commissioning of a work for wind orchestra 2014
CMC Quebec – Quebec Music Competition - sponsored by Quebecor; 1st edition 2012-2013 …appointed to build a catalogue of works for piano … to be distributed to young musicians in Quebec school music programs 2013
Quebec Arts Council travel grant for Festival des Eurochestries project 2012
Quebec Arts Council grant in support of a new work commissioned by the Molinari Quartet 2011
Special Jury Mention for Duel, a work for piano solo - IBLA Grand Prize World Music Competition 2010
Honorific with Distinction to recognize 15 years of teaching - Trebas Institute, Montreal 2008
Nominated for Best Original Music - Zie 37e Stagen, Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival 1997
SODEC grant in support of professional projects (for the album Mananara) - Société des entreprises culturelles 1998
Quebec Arts Council - Type A grant 1997 et 1998
Benson & Hedges Prize – musician category (trumpet) – Concordia University Orchestra top prize 1986
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COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE
Festival des Eurochestries en Charente-Maritime (France) Composer …a work for symphony orchestra: Saint-Exupéry : de cœur, de sable et d’étoiles 2012
Carillon de la Place Claude-Léveillée (Laval) Composer, technical director …a work for for carillon bells: Première volée, Indicatif du carillon, Jour du Souvenir 2011
Pointe-de-l’Île School Board Composer; and music creation workshops …a work for winds: Jean-Claude, agent secret 2010
FACE School, Montréal Composer; and music creation workshops …works for diverse ensembles: Stairs, Couleurs, Le cirque court-circuité, Graduation, Après tant d’années, To Dream 2009-10
CONCERT MUSIC
Phœnix Violin and string orchestra Commissioned by French violonist Marie Cantagrill and Orchestre de chambre d’Ariège en France 2014
Contes et légendes Wind orchestra Commissioned by CMC-FAMEQ 2014
Le gardien du temps Vibraphone solo 2013
Papillonnages Vibraphone solo 2013
L’Indécis Concerto for 6 trumpets, one soloist and orchestra Created by trumpeter Frédéric Demers and the Orchestre symphonique de L’Estuaire under the direction of Luc Chaput 2013
Allez, viens! Piano solo. Finalist at the compositon contest of CMC – Québecor 2013 2012
Jour du Souvenir Carillon bells Carillon de la Place Claude-Léveillée, Laval 2012
Indicatif du Carillon Carillon bells Carillon de la Place Claude-Léveillée, Laval 2012
Saint-Exupéry : de cœur, de sable et d’étoiles Orchestra …a work commissioned by the Fédération des festivals Eurochestries (France) 2012
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Quatre String quartet …a work commissioned for the Molinari Quartet for a youth audience performance 2012
Prix Opus Original works for Prix Opus gala (annual Conseil québécois music awards show) 2008-2009-2010-2012
Première volée Carillon bells Carillon de la Place Claude-Léveillée, Laval 2011
Jean-Claude, agent secret Winds orchestra …a work commissioned for 4 school music programs by the Pointe-de-l’Île School Board, Montreal 2010
Le cirque court-circuité Choral and winds …commissioned work based on the Visages suite, composer in residence – FACE School, Montreal 2010
Graduation Winds …commissioned work based on the Visages suite, composer in residence – FACE School, Montreal 2010
Stairs Choral and piano …commissioned work based on the Visages suite, composer in residence – FACE School, Montreal 2010
Après tant d’années Choral and piano …commissioned work based on the Visages suite, composer in residence – FACE School, Montreal 2010
Couleurs String orchestra …commissioned work based on the Visages suite, composer in residence – FACE School, Montreal 2010
To Dream String orchestra …commissioned work based on the Visages suite, composer in residence – FACE School, Montreal 2010
Qui suis-je? Piano solo 2010
Vains sont les jours Piano solo (performed by Patil Harboyan; 2010, New York) 2010
Duel Piano solo (performed by Philippe Prud’Homme; 2009) 2008
L’Homme exposé Brass quintet …a work commissioned for performances celebrating the 40th anniversary of Expo 67 performed by the musicians of l’Orchestre Métropolitain for the Concerts populaires de Montréal series 2007
L’Homme exposé encore une fois Version of L’Homme exposé for 2 trumpets and organ …a work commissioned for performances celebrating the 40th anniversary of Expo 67 performed at the Festival Orgue et couleurs de Montréal 2007
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L’engin de mort Orchestra 2007
4 Sonneries Trumpet solo …a work for the opening of the General Chapter of the Grey Sisters at Montreal 2006
Procession Trumpet and organ - performed by Louis Babin, trumpet, and Yvan Provost, organ 2000
Deux mouvements pour un ange... Viola and piano 1994
Gloire à Dieu Women’s choir, organ and brass quintet …Chœur du Gesù, director Patricia Abbott 1992
Suite du Promeneur String Orchestra …performed by l’Orchestre Philharmonique de l’Isle, directed by Boris Brott 1992
Mellow Tones For Johnny Flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion and cello …a work commissioned for The American Festival of Microtonal Music Ensemble, director Johnny Reinhard 1993
Coquerelles à l’hôpital A cappella choir 1983
C’est la Noël... A cappella choir …performed by Tudor Singers; director Wayne Riddell 1983
FILM MUSIC
Om Original music for a short animation by director Sanaa Legdani 2010
Iqaluk Original music for a short animation by director Jean-Philippe Côté 2009
The List Original music for a feature-length film by director Sylvain Guy 2000
Le voleur d’étoiles Original music for a short film by French director Philippe Monpontet 1998
Zie 37e Stagen Original music for a short film by director Sylvain Guy 1997
Polaroid Original music for a short film by Anne-Marie Losique 1994
L’autoportrait Original music for a short film by Denise Labrie 1993
Stéréotypes Original music for a short film by Jean-Marc Vallée 1992
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I Won' t Dance Original music for a feature-length film by director Hunt Hoe 1991
Mackenzie King and the Conscription Crisis Original music for a short documentary (NFB) 1990
L’amour volé Original music for a short film by director Pierre Vallée 1990
Deaf and Mute Original music for a feature-length film by director Hunt Hoe 1986
The Trade Original music for a short dramatic video by director Sylvie Bélanger 1986
Closing Time Original music for a short film by director Hunt Hoe 1984
THEATRE MUSIC
La légende du roi Arthus Original music for a theatre piece by Mario Boivin and Michel Garneau 1997
Le Bossu de Notre-Dame Original music for a theatre piece by Richard Lemire based on the novel by Victor Hugo 1993
C'est pas parce qu’on est jeune qu’on n’est pas pareil Original music for a theatre piece by André Miville-DesChênes 1982
L’amiral blanc Original music for a theatre piece by Yves Brodeur and Carolanne St-Pierre 1980
Les filles de l’amour divin Original music for a theatre piece by François Beaulieu 1980
RECORDINGS (PARTIAL LIST)
Saint-Exupéry : de cœur, de sable et d’étoiles and other works Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Petr Vronsky Composer – one symphonic poem and two works for string orchestra 2015
Tribute Music by Eric Radford Olympic Games 2014 Arranger and producer 2014
Dimensions, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Petr Vronsky Composer - two works for string orchestra: La Suite du promeneur, Couleurs 2012
Bassoonist, American Festival of Microtonal Music Composer – a work for wind octet: Mellow Tones for Johnny 2009
Carnaval & Concertos, Frédéric Demers, trumpet Composer, arranger, orchestration 2009
Jazzons Noël, Opus Lib Director, arranger and trumpet 2002
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L’Été du Labrador, Geneviève Charest Director, arranger, orchestration and trumpet 2002
Mananara, Louis Babin Composer, director, trumpet and co-producer 2000
Les Clarinettes Ont-Elles un Escalier de Secours? Robert Marcel Lepage Arranger and trumpet 1998
Je me souviens, Jean Derome Trumpet 1997
Descente vers l’espoir, Roger Tabra Arranger and trumpet 1996
Jezabel, Gerry Boulet (Dan Bigras, producer) Arranger for violinist Angèle Dubeau and the Claudel String Quartet 1994
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