André Moisan began to study the clarinet through his father Gilles, himself a clarinettist with the Orchester symphonique de Montréal from 1952 to 1998. André went on to study with Robert Crowley, also of the OSM, then in Chicago with Larry Combs, a soloist with the CSO, and finally in Berlin with Karl Leister, former principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic.

 

Well known for his consummate mastery of the instrument, his musicality and the clarity of his playing, he has made regular concert and radio appearances as a soloist and a chamber musician since 1977. His numerous concerts abroad, most notably at the Carnegie Hall, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and on Radio-Berlin, have established him as a leading soloist.

 

In the orchestral field, Mr. Moisan has worked under renowned conductors, mainly with the OSM. He first performed with the Orchestra in 1977, under Andrew Davis, and made his first solo appearance in 1997 with Charles Dutoit. Since May 1999, he has held the position of principal saxophone and bass clarinet with the OSM.

 

As well as teaching the clarinet at the University of Montreal since 1989, he has won numerous awards and was nominated four times for the Opus prize as a soloist, a chamber music player and a conductor.

 

A presenter, guest speaker and accomplished educator, he has conducted the OSM in its Youth Concerts series for ten years, and also led in the Children's Corner series. Many times a finalist, he won the “Family Concert” Opus Prize in 2003 for a performance in that particular series and was a finalist again in 2007 as a conductor with the OSM.

 

Additionally, André Moisan conducts a number of other orchestras, teaches and works as a soloist across Canada and abroad. He has recorded more than 50 cd's, including seven as a soloist for ATMA, all critically acclaimed worldwide. Two new cd's will be released in the spring of 2017: L'Orgue dans tous ses Etats (with Jean-Willy Kunz) and the other dedicated to the Hebrew repertory and Klezmer with the Molinari Quartet.