Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

March 14, 1915 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Death

:

April 1, 2005

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Alexander Brott was a renowned Canadian composer, conductor, and violinist who made significant contributions to the classical music world. He was born on March 14, 1915, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a family of musicians. His father, Abraham Brott, was a violinist and conductor, and his mother, Claire Brott, was a pianist. Alexander Brott showed an early interest in music and began playing the violin at the age of four. Brott's musical education began at the McGill Conservatory of Music in Montreal, where he studied violin with Alfred De Sève and composition with Douglas Clarke. He later continued his studies at the Paris Conservatory with Jacques Thibaud and Nadia Boulanger. Brott's talent as a violinist was recognized early on, and he won several awards and competitions, including the Prix d'Europe in 1938. After returning to Canada, Brott began his career as a violinist and conductor. He was appointed concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1940 and later became the orchestra's assistant conductor. In 1945, Brott founded the McGill Chamber Orchestra, which he conducted for over 25 years. The orchestra gained international recognition for its innovative programming and performances of contemporary music. Brott was also a prolific composer, and his works were performed by many leading orchestras and ensembles. His compositions ranged from orchestral works to chamber music, vocal music, and film scores. Some of his most notable works include the Symphony No. 1, the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, and the String Quartet No. 1. In addition to his work as a performer and composer, Brott was also a dedicated music educator. He taught at McGill University and the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, where he was instrumental in developing the string program. Brott also founded the Brott Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario, which has become one of Canada's leading summer music festivals. Throughout his career, Brott received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the classical music world. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1971 and was awarded the Prix Denise-Pelletier in 1982. Brott was also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989. Brott continued to perform, compose, and teach until his death on April 1, 2005, at the age of 90. His legacy lives on through his music, his students, and the many musicians and audiences who have been inspired by his work.

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