music.wikisort.org - Composer

Daniel Bédard (born September 19, 1957) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer, and audio engineer.[1][2]

Daniel Bédard
Born	(1957-09-19) September 19, 1957 (age 65) Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Education	Laurentian University
Occupation	Musician, composer, arranger, producer, audio engineer
Website	https://soundsculpturessonores.com/

Early years

The product of a musical family, Bédard grew up in Sudbury's Donovan neighbourhood, debuting at 14 as a singer/guitarist-pianist with local groups.[2] He attended Macdonald-Cartier high school, which had a thriving arts' program.[3] He also has reminisced about formative influences while attending the music program at Cambrian College, collaborations with other musicians, and the Sudbury music scene.[4][5][6]

Career

In his multifaceted artistry, Bédard has been described as a "juggler" who approaches each project with a child's curiosity and the rigour of someone constantly in search of new forms and expressions.[7]

As a composer, Bédard's most extensive multimedia collaboration has been with the production team at Science North in Sudbury, although he has worked with a number of Canadian and American institutions.[2][8] In theatre, his closest association has been with the Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario,[2][9] while in film he has worked with Next Phase Motion Pictures in Sudbury, among others.[10]

As a performer, Bédard has appeared in groups and festivals such as Northern Lights Festival Boréal and La Nuit sur l'étang, including as music director.[2][11] He has shared the stage and worked in various capacities, including as producer and sound engineer, on albums with Franco-Ontarian musicians such as Stef Paquette.[2] Cage, an electroacoustic band named after composer John Cage, is headed by Bédard.[12][2]

Bédard toured nationally with the troubadour, Pierre Germain, as musician and arranger for the children's album, Pierre et le Papillon.[13][2] He also toured Chile and Argentina as well as the province of Ontario with the Chilean-born singer-songwriter, Mauricio Montecinos.[7]

He collaborated with the poets Robert Dickson[14] and Michel Dallaire,[2][15][16] the photographer and poet, Mary Green,[17] and the visual artist, Michel Galipeau.[2][18]

The celebratory song, "Levons nos voix," was arranged and produced by Bédard for the 400th anniversary of the Francophone presence in Ontario.[19] He also wrote the opening music for the 10th annual Franco-Ontarian Games.

A Laurentian University graduate, Bédard taught electronic music, composition and music theory at the university from 1988 to 2009.[2][20]

Awards

Bédard is the recipient of many honours including:

• Order of La Pléiade from the Ontario section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie[21]
• Outstanding Achievement Award, Sudbury Mayor's Annual Celebration of the Arts[22][23]
• Prix Hommage from the Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique (APCM)[24][25]
• Three-time winner of the APCM's Trille Or for best music score[26][27][28]
• Three-time winner as a Science North production team member of Thea awards for multimedia installations from the Themed Entertainment Association[29][30]
• Jackie Washington Award, Northern Lights Festival Boréal
• Golden Sheaf Award, Yorkton Film Festival, Yorkton, Saskatchewan

A number of other awards are listed below.

Selected works

Multimedia installations

Soundscapes and audio design for:

• Wild Weather. 2016. Traveling exhibit. Canada/US sites, 2016-2021. Science North Productions. Cascade Award winner for Exhibit or Show - Large Institution, 2017.[31]
• Creatures of the Abyss. 2012. Traveling exhibit. Hong Kong Science Center. Science North Productions. Trille Or award winner, Best Score, 2013.[26]
• The Changing Climate Show. 2011. Object theatre. Science North, Sudbury. Trille Or award nominee, Best Score, 2013; Themed Entertainment Association (THEA) award winner, Outstanding Achievement: Limited Budget, 2012 (Award ceremony: Anaheim, California);[32] Best Institutional Media Installation Award, Jackson Hole Science Media Awards, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 2012.[33]
• Otis’ Big Adventure. 2009. Object theatre. McNeil Avian Center, Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia. Trille Or award winner, Best Soundtrack, 2011;[34] Thea award winner, 2010, Outstanding Achievement, Zoo Attraction: Limited Budget. Award ceremony: Universal Studios, Hollywood.[35]
• Extinction Theater. 2006. Object theatre, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa. Trille Or award winner, Best Score, 2007.[28]
• Aztec on the River. 2006. Multimedia attraction and large-format theater pre-show. Aztec Theater, San Antonio, Texas. Thea Award winner, Outstanding Achievement – Attraction: Limited Budget, 2008. Award ceremony: Orlando, Florida.[30]
• Exploring Chimpanzees: The Remarkable World of Jane Goodall. 2002. Traveling exhibit. Canada/US sites. 2002-2010. Science North Productions. Best Exhibit award winner, Canadian Association of Science Centres, 2003.[36]

Theatre

Music and audio design for:

• Club des éphémères. 2020. Play by Alain Doom. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario and Théâtre français de Toronto.[37]
• En grève autour de théières fumantes. 2019. Théâtre la catapulte and Théâtre action, Ottawa.[38]
• Plein la gueule. 2019. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury.[39]
• Geography of Fire. Play by Colleen Murphy. 2019. Sudbury Theatre Centre.[40]
• Parmi les éclats. 2018. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario.[41]
• Blind Nickel Pig. 2017. Play by Lara Bradley. Pat the Dog Theatre. Sudbury.[42]
• BrokeDownTown. 2016. Crestfallen Theatre. Sudbury.[43]
• Nowhere du Nord. 2013. Play by Miriam Cusson. Chelmsford, Ont. Musagetes.[44]
• Fara Lifa: Fred et Crudo do Iceland. 2012. Productions Roches Brûlées.[45]
• Sahel. 2010. Théâtre de la Vieille 17 - Ottawa. Prix Rideau nominee, Best Production of the Year, 2011.[46]
• Univers. 2003. Play by Herménégilde Chiasson, Robert Marinier, and Dominick Parenteau-Lebeuf. Co-produced by Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury, Théâtre de l'Escaouette, Moncton and Théâtre français du Centre National des Arts, Ottawa. Masque award winner, Best Franco-Canadian production, Soirée de Masque, 2003.[47]
• Du pépin à la fissure. 2001. Play by Patrice Desbiens. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury. Masque award winner, Best Franco-Canadian Production, Soirée de Masque 2001; Critic's Choice nominee - Le Droit.[48][49][50]
• Deuxième souffle. 1991. Play by Robert Marinier and Dan Lalonde. Co-produced by Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario and Théâtre français du Centre National des Arts.[51]
• Au pays de Ti-Jean. 1983. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario and Théâtre l'Acadie, Moncton, 1984.[52]

Film

Music and audio design for:

• Fidelity. 2022- In production. Next Phase Motion Pictures, Sudbury.[53]
• Perspective. 2020. Next Phase Motion Pictures.[10][54]
• Project Uncle. 2020. Sarah Gartshore, writer, director; Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, producer.[55]
• The Standoff. 2011. Green Boots Films. Best Short Film award winner, Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, 2011.[56]
• Exploring the Weather: Reflections on Canadian Meteorology. 1990. Science North Productions. Golden Sheaf award winner, Best Documentary Film - Science and Technology Category, 1990, Yorkton Film Festival, Saskatchewan; Best Film - Science Category award winner, Casa de las Ciencias (La Coruña), Spain, 1990.[7]

Radio, podcasts, television

Music and audio design for:

• L'Insomnie, by Robert Marinier (in production, 2022) and Lucky Lady, by Jean-Marc Dalpé (in production, 2022). Theme, music, sound design and binaural mixes. Idéllo, Théâtre en balado.[57]
• Cinéma de Mishka Lavigne. January 2021. Theme, music, sound design and binaural mixes.Théâtre en balado, Groupe Média TFO - Idéllo.
• Struck: A Pivot in Process. 2020. Podcast. By Eric Rose. Music, sound design, mix. Playsmelter.[58]
• Solastagia. 2020. Podcast. Play-in-process by Kristin Shepherd. Music, sound design, mix. Playsmelter.[59]

Poetry, visual arts

Music and soundscapes for:

• El poder intimo. 1992. Exhibition. Collaboration with Michel Galipeau, Robert Dickson, and Sylvie Mainville. La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury.[60]
• La cuisine de la poésie présente: Robert Dickson. 1985. Édition Prise de Parole, Sudbury.[14]

Electroacoustic works

For musicians, music gadgets, and soundtrack:

• En voie d'extinction. 1993. For choir and soundtrack. Premiered by the Sudbury Chamber Singers, Douglas Webb, conductor. A revised version was performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Jon Washburn, conductor, Vancouver, November 3, 2000.[61]

Albums

• Le salut de l’arrière-pays. 2012. As producer, arranger, bass, acoustic guitar, mix engineer. Stef (Stéphane) Paquette, singer-songwriter. Acoustic Folk SP1110. Trille Or award winner, Best Album, 2013.[62][63]
• L'homme exponentiel - les singles. 2003. As producer, arranger, bass, acoustic guitar, mix engineer. Stef Paquette, singer-songwriter. SP0703. Pop. Trille Or nominee, Best Album, 2005; Trille Or winner, Homme Exponentiel, Single of the Year, 2005.[64]
• ¡Baila Conmigo! 2001. As arranger, bass, producer, programming and mix engineer. Backing vocals for "Yolanda" (track 3). Mauricio Montecinos, singer and guitarist. Global Art Beat Productions: GABP0401.[65]
• le pays intime. 1999. Soundscape, music and audio engineer. Michel Dallaire, spoken poetry. Sudbury: Éditions prise de parole and Société Radio-Canada/CBON. Trille Or award winner, Best Poetry/Music Album, 2001.[66][67]
• Echo. 1999. As producer, arranger, bass, acoustic guitar, mix engineer. Jacinthe Trudeau, fiddler. JT 0699. Fiddle/worldbeat. Best Instrumental Album nominee and Best Folk Album award winner, 2000 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards; Trille Or award winner, Best Instrumental Album, 2001.[7]
• Pierre et le Papillon. 1982. As arranger and multi-instrumentalist. Pierre Germain. MP 1085. Reissued in 2000 as Brindille chante Pierre et le Papillon, Trille Or award winner, Best Children's Album, 2001.[7]

References

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