Paul Pratt

Paul Pratt (born November 25, 1894 in Longueuil ; † May 8, 1967 ibid) was a Canadian composer, clarinetist and pianist, conductor and music teacher.

Pratt studied clarinet at the Conservatoire National until 1912 and also had clarinet lessons from François Héraly . He was also a piano student of Orpha-F. Deveaux and Arthur Letondal in Montreal.

From 1913 he taught clarinet and piano at the Collège de Longueuil , whose orchestra and wind orchestra he directed until 1920. He also taught solfège at the Société St-Jean-Baptiste and was the conductor of the Société de concerts de Longueuil . From 1919 to 1939 he was clarinetist for the Canadian Grenadier Guards , from 1931 to 1941 bass clarinetist for the Montreal Orchestra and from 1935 to 1946 double bass clarinetist for the Concerts symphoniques de Montréal .

He was also musical director of the South Shore Band of Longueuil, the Quartet Les Gais Longueuillois and the Harmonie Métropole de Montréal (1950-67) and 1956-57 President of the Quebec and Ontario departments of the Canadian Band Association . From 1935 to 1966 he was mayor of Longueuil.

Pratt composed marches, waltzes and a Fantaisie-Impromptu for wind orchestra as well as some piano pieces.