Robert Langevin
Encyclopedia
Robert Langevin is a Canadian flautist
. He has been principal flute of the New York Philharmonic
since 2000 and is a former principal flutist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
. He was associate principal flute with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
for 13 years and can be heard on more than 30 recordings with that orchestra. He is a former faculty member of Duquesne University
and the Université de Montréal
. He currently serves on the faculties of the Juilliard School
and the Manhattan School of Music
.
Langevin was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec
and at the age of 12 began studying the flute privately in his native city. At the age of 15 he began playing the flute in the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra
. He earned premiere prixs in flute performance and chamber music from the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal in 1976 where he was a pupil of Jean-Paul Major. While a student there he began working as a session artist in Toronto recording studios.
In 1976 Langevin won the Prix d'Europe
. The award provided him with the opportunity to take graduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
with Aurèle Nicolet
. After graduating from that school in 1979, he pursued further studies with Maxence Larrieu
in Geneva. In 1980 he was awarded second prize at the Budapest International Competition.
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
. He has been principal flute of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
since 2000 and is a former principal flutist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District.-History:...
. He was associate principal flute with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
for 13 years and can be heard on more than 30 recordings with that orchestra. He is a former faculty member of Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
and the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
. He currently serves on the faculties of the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
.
Langevin was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and at the age of 12 began studying the flute privately in his native city. At the age of 15 he began playing the flute in the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra
Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra
L'Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke , is a symphony orchestra based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, with Université de Sherbrooke as its home.- Histoire :The orchestra's first performance took place on...
. He earned premiere prixs in flute performance and chamber music from the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal in 1976 where he was a pupil of Jean-Paul Major. While a student there he began working as a session artist in Toronto recording studios.
In 1976 Langevin won the Prix d'Europe
Prix d'Europe
The Prix d'Europe is a prestigious Canadian study grant that is funded by the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec of the Government of Quebec. Established in 1911, the award has been distributed annually to a single individual through competition with the exception of 1960-1973 and 2009...
. The award provided him with the opportunity to take graduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
The Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg is a public music academy subsidized by the State of Baden-Württemberg for academic research and artistic and pedagogical training in music.-History:The Hochschule was initially founded as a municipal institution in 1946 under the direction of Gustav...
with Aurèle Nicolet
Aurèle Nicolet
Aurèle Nicolet is a Swiss flautist. He is considered as one of the world's best flute players of the late twentieth century. He has performed in various international concerts. A number of composers wrote music especially for him, such composers include Toru Takemitsu, György Ligeti, Krzysztof...
. After graduating from that school in 1979, he pursued further studies with Maxence Larrieu
Maxence Larrieu
Maxence Larrieu is a French Classical flautist , born 27 October 1934 in Marseille. He studied flute from age 10 at the Marseille Conservatory of Music with the teacher Joseph Rampal, who was the father of Jean-Pierre Rampal. In 1958 Maxence won the first prize at the International Geneva...
in Geneva. In 1980 he was awarded second prize at the Budapest International Competition.