Paul Masella

Masella, Paul

Paul (Élie) Masella. French hornist, teacher, b Montreal 19 Sep 1931, d Montreal 14 Feb 1995; premier prix french horn, chamber music (CMM) 1956. He studied piano with John Newmark 1949-51 and Jean-Marie Beaudet 1951-2. He took french horn lessons 1951-6 from his brother Joseph and Harry Berv at the CMM and from Milon Yanchich at Saranac Lake, NY. He was principal horn with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra 1952-7 and the McGill Chamber Orchestra 1966-9 and soloist with the CBC Montreal orchestra. He also performed in chamber and orchestral works in various programs in the CBC radio series 'CBC Tuesday Night' 1968-70 and 'Les Grands Concerts' 1974-7. He was a member of the MSO 1956-69. On CBC radio he premiered Michel Perrault'sConcerto for french horn in 1968. He taught 1957-60 at the CMM and 1965-8 at the École Vincent-d'Indy. In 1967 he was appointed instructor of the orchestra class and director of the chamber ensembles at the Conservatoire de Hull, retiring in 1994. Michael Gent and François Trottier were among his pupils. He married the soprano Claire Grenon.

See also Raffaele (his grandfather), Frank (his father), and Rafael, Pietro, Rodolfo, Alfred, Mario, and Giulio (his brothers).