Benoît Poirier

Benoît Poirier, (17 October, 1882 – 7 October, 1965) was a Canadian organist, composer and music educator. Benoît Fidèle Poirier (17 October 1882 – 7 October 1965) was a Canadian organist, composer, and music educator. He was a church organist and taught at several educational and religious institutions in Montreal, Quebec. He created a number of compositions for organ and piano. Early life and education Poirier was born Benjamin Perry in Tignish, Prince Edward Island. His parents were Laurence Poirier Perry & Emelia Margaret Desroches. His pipe organ study began when he was 13. He studied at the francophone University of St. Joseph’s College, Memramcook, New Brunswick, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1902 and was granted an honorary Master of Arts in 1928. While an undergraduate there, he was also organist of St Thomas Church, Memramcook. Career In 1903 Poirier relocated to Montreal to study for the priesthood. He taught at the Collège de Montréal and became the organist of the Séminaire de Philosophie. In 1919 he was elected to the board of the Schola cantorum, later serving as its president from 1923 to 1925. He was the director of the Conservatoire national de musiqu