Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 3, 1936 in Port McNicoll, Ontario, Canada

Death

:

November 8, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

John Arpin was a Canadian classical pianist who was born on December 3, 1936, in Port McNicoll, Ontario. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father played the violin, and his mother played the piano. Arpin began playing the piano at the age of five and showed a natural talent for the instrument. Arpin's family moved to Toronto when he was a child, and he began taking piano lessons with the renowned Canadian pianist, Alberto Guerrero. Guerrero recognized Arpin's talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Arpin went on to study at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, where he won numerous awards and scholarships. In 1958, Arpin won the prestigious Eaton's National Music Competition, which launched his career as a concert pianist. He went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Arpin was known for his virtuosic performances of classical music, particularly the works of Franz Liszt. Arpin's career was marked by many highlights, including his performance at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, where he played the Olympic Hymn. He also performed at the opening of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in 1969 and at the opening of Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in 1982. Arpin was a prolific recording artist, and his recordings of the music of Liszt, Chopin, and other classical composers were highly acclaimed. He won numerous awards for his recordings, including the Juno Award for Best Classical Album in 1980 and 1981. In addition to his career as a concert pianist, Arpin was also a respected teacher. He taught at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and at the University of Toronto. Many of his students went on to have successful careers as pianists. Arpin was known for his warm personality and his love of music. He was a beloved figure in the Canadian classical music community and was often called upon to perform at charity events and other special occasions. He was also a dedicated family man and was married to his wife, Mary, for over 50 years. Sadly, Arpin's career was cut short by his death in 2007 at the age of 70. He had been diagnosed with cancer and had been undergoing treatment for several months. His death was a great loss to the Canadian classical music community, but his legacy lives on through his recordings and the many pianists he inspired and taught over the years.

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