Marie Antoinette Jeannine Vanier (b. 21 August 1929) is a Canadian composer and organist who was born blind. Vanier was born in the

Laval-des-Rapides Laval-des-Rapides is a district in Laval, Quebec, Canada. It was a separate city until the municipal mergers on August 6, 1965. Geography The neighbourhood is delimited on the north, north-west and west by Chomedey, on the east and north-eas ...

neighbourhood of Laval,

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

, to Émile and Alice Laurin Vanier. Her father was an engineer. She began her studies at the Nazareth Institute for the Blind, then earned a Bachelor of Music (1950) and a Licentiate of Music (1952) at the

University of Montreal A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

. Among her teachers were Françoise Aubut,

Jean Papineau-Couture Jean Papineau-Couture, (November 12, 1916August 11, 2000) was a Canadians, Canadian composer and academic. Born in Montreal, Papineau-Couture is the grandson of conductor and composer Guillaume Couture (musician), Guillaume Couture. As a child ...

, Roger Filiatrault, Conrad Letendre, Georges Lindsay,

Clermont Pépin Clermont Pépin (May 15, 1926 – September 2, 2006) was a Canadian pianist, composer and teacher who lived in Quebec. Early life and education Jean Joseph Clermont Pépin was born in Saint-Georges, Quebec in 1926. Pépin studied with influe ...

, and

Jean Vallerand Jean Vallerand, National Order of Quebec, CQ (December 24, 1915 – June 24, 1994) was a composer, music critic, violinist, conductor, arts administrator, writer, and music educator from Quebec. As a composer he was active from 1935 to 1969. An a ...

. Vanier has received several awards for her compositions and musical performances, including: *Second Prize, Casavat Organ Society Competition (1948) *First Prize,

Royal Canadian College of Organists The Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO), founded in 1909, is a national association of organists and church musicians in Canada, with 28 centres from Victoria, British Columbia to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The National Office is ...

(1952) *Sarah Fischer Concerts Scholarship (1959) *CAMMAC ( Canadian Amateur Musicians) Competition (1962) Vanier has served as the organist at several churches in Canada: St. Paul de la Croix (1952-1974) St. Bernardin de Sienne (1978), St. Léon de Westmount (1979-81), St. Casimir (1983-5), and St. André Apôtre (1989-94). She also taught music at the Nazareth Institute and the University of Montreal. Her manuscripts are archived at the Bibliothèque du Quebec. In retirement, Vanier copies scores and piano methods in

Braille Braille (Pronounced: ) is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, including people who are blind, deafblind or who have low vision. It can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille disp ...

for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. She says, "You have to try to help others so as not to worry too much about yourself. Every morning I say a prayer of gratitude.” Vanier's music is published by Waterloo Music Company and Berandol Music Limited/BMI. Her compositions include: *Cinq Pieces pour Enfants (piano) *Fantasia for Recorder Trio *Salve Regina (chorus and orchestra)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vanier, Jeannine 1929 births Living people Blind classical musicians Canadian classical composers Canadian organists Canadian women classical composers Musicians from Quebec People from Laval, Quebec French Quebecers