Biography of Philippe Bélanger Titular organist of Saint Joseph's Born in Aylmer, Philippe Bélanger became the organist of St.Paul's Church in Aylmer at nine years of age. He studied organ at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec at McGill University in Montréal. He continued hid studies with such distinguished Canadian and European professors as Marc Toews, Luc Beauséjour, Ludger Lohman, Marie-Claire Alain and Daniel Roth. Afterwords, Philippe Bélanger held many posts in his native region, most notably at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, then in the Montréal area at Saint Matthias Church in Westmount and College Presbyterian Church. In 2001, he took first prize in the John Robb competition sponsored by the Royal Canadian College of Organists and in 2002 first prize from the League for Organ Improvisation. In November 2002, following a competition Philippe Bélanger was named titular organist at Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal. He was all of 27 years old. Philippe Bélanger regularly concertizes in Canada in the United States and in Europe. Since 2005, Philippe Bélanger has recorded on the ATMA Classique label. His first recording for the label, Symphony No. 3 by Saint Saëns, with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin was awarded 5 Diapasons by French critics. At that same time, the well-known music magazine Classics Today (classicstoday.com) gave it a grade of 10/10. At the ADISQ gala (the association of the recording industry of Québec) in November 2006, Bélanger walked on stage to receive the coveted Felix prize in the category Classical Album of the Year. This same recording was nominated for the prestigious Juno award in the category Classical Album of the Year for all of Canada.

Philippe Bélanger Photo: Studio André Doyon