François Vézina

Vézina, François

(Xavier) François Vézina. Master painter, bassoonist, clarinetist, conductor, b Quebec City 10 May 1812, d there 12 Feb 1891. As early as 1836 he was a clarinetist (and bassoonist?) in the ensemble which was to become the Musique Canadienne, and he had previously been in an ensemble which existed for five or six months in 1831. He was a member also of the Orchestre Sauvageau, which he conducted 1850-60, succeeding the Sauvageau brothers Charles and Benjamin. His son François (b 1844) was the godson of Charles Sauvageau. Another son, Ulric, became a bassist in the Société symphonique de Québec (Quebec Symphony Orchestra).

See also (François) Joseph Vézina (his son).