He was a pianist and teacher born in Pointe-Claire, Montreal, Canada. He studied at the Ecole Vincent d’Indy, Montreal, prior to spending a year studying with Yvonne Lefebure in St.-Germain-en-Laye, France, in 1971 followed by three years at the University of Indiana.
He won several competitions including the MSO Concours and the CBC Talent Festival and he came third in the 1971 Montreal International Music Competition.
In 1974 he became artist-in-residence at Dalhousie University and in 1976 he founded the Dalart Trio with the violinist Philippe Djokic and the cellist William Valleau.
He pursued his solo career after performing with Da Camera Ensemble of Toronto and touring with them in North America and London. He performed as a soloist with several orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops, and he appeared in various international concerts.
Although possibly best known for his George Gershwin recordings he has also had his recordings of Haydn, Brahms and several Canadian composers described as having “a flawless technique…a very solid architecture, a communicative spirit…and a beautiful vigour.”
He died in 1992 when he was 40 years old and Dalhousie University now awards two scholarships in his name.
Cincinnati Pops Recordings
Warsaw Concerto (Richard Addinsell)
Telarc 80175 (CD: Selections from Victory at Sea and Other Favorites)
Conductor – Erich Kunzel
Piano – William Tritt
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