Daniel Bédard (born September 19, 1957) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer, and audio engineer.

Early years

The product of a musical family, Bédard grew up in Sudbury's

Donovan Donovan Phillips Leitch (born 10 May 1946), known mononymously as Donovan, is a Scottish musician, songwriter and record producer. He emerged from the British folk scene in early 1965 and subsequently scored multiple international hit singles ...

neighbourhood, debuting at 14 as a singer/guitarist-pianist with local groups. He attended Macdonald-Cartier high school, which had a thriving arts' program. He also has reminisced about formative influences while attending the music program at

Cambrian College Cambrian College, established in 1967, is a List of Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, college of applied arts and technology in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, partnered with private Hanson College of Business, Health and Techno ...

, collaborations with other musicians, and the Sudbury music scene.

Career

In his multifaceted artistry, Bédard has been described as a "juggler" who approaches each project with a child's curiosity and the rigour of someone constantly in search of new forms and expressions. As a composer, Bédard's most extensive multimedia collaboration has been with the production team at Science North in Sudbury, although he has worked with a number of Canadian and American institutions. In theatre, his closest association has been with the

Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario (''Theatre of New-Ontario'') is a Canadian professional theatre company. Located in Sudbury, Ontario, the company produces French language stage productions. The company was founded in 1971 by the Coopérative des ar ...

, while in film he has worked with Next Phase Motion Pictures in Sudbury, among others. As a performer, Bédard has appeared in groups and festivals such as

Northern Lights Festival Boréal Northern Lights Festival Boréal is an annual summer music festival in Greater Sudbury, Sudbury, Ontario. It is one of Canada's oldest continuous music festivals, having been staged every year since 1972 until the COVID-19 pandemic.

and

La Nuit sur l'étang La Nuit sur l'étang is a Canadian music festival, held annually in Sudbury, Ontario. Established in 1973 by Fernand Dorais and a group of students from Laurentian University who were established as the Coopérative des artistes du Nouvel-Ontari ...

, including as music director. He has shared the stage and worked in various capacities, including as producer and sound engineer, on albums with

Franco-Ontarian Franco-Ontarians ( or if female, sometimes known as ''Ontarois'' and ''Ontaroises'') are Francophone Canadians that reside in the province of Ontario. Most are French Canadians from Ontario. In 2021, according to the Government of Ontario, ther ...

musicians such as Stef Paquette. Cage, an electroacoustic band named after composer

John Cage John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and Extended technique, non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one ...

, is headed by Bédard. Bédard toured nationally with the troubadour, Pierre Germain, as musician and arranger for the children's album, ''Pierre et le Papillon.'' He also toured Chile and Argentina as well as the province of

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

with the Chilean-born singer-songwriter, Mauricio Montecinos. He collaborated with the poets Robert Dickson and Michel Dallaire, the photographer and poet, Mary Green, and the visual artist, Michel Galipeau. The celebratory song, "Levons nos voix," was arranged and produced by Bédard for the 400th anniversary of the Francophone presence in Ontario. He also wrote the opening music for the 10th annual Franco-Ontarian Games. A

Laurentian University Laurentian University (), officially Laurentian University of Sudbury, is a mid-sized Bilingualism in Canada, bilingual public university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, incorporated on March 28, 1960. Laurentian offers a variety of undergr ...

graduate, Bédard taught electronic music, composition and music theory at the university from 1988 to 2009.

Awards

Bédard is the recipient of many honours including: *

Order of La Pléiade The Order of La Pléiade (; ) is an honorary order of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. It recognizes people who particularly distinguished themselves in the service of its ideals of cooperation and friendship, promoting the rol ...

from the Ontario section of the

Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie The ''Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonies'' (APF) is an association of the parliaments of Francophone countries. History It was established in Luxembourg in 1967, and was then known as the ''Association internationale des parlementaire ...

* Outstanding Achievement Award, Sudbury Mayor's Annual Celebration of the Arts * Prix Hommage from the Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique (APCM) * Three-time winner of the APCM's Trille Or for best music score * Three-time winner as a Science North production team member of Thea awards for multimedia installations from the

Themed Entertainment Association The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is an international non-profit association that represents creators, developers, designers and producers of themed entertainment. It is also noted for its Thea Awards, which were founded in 1995 and a ...

* Jackie Washington Award, Northern Lights Festival Boréal * Golden Sheaf Award,

Yorkton Film Festival Yorkton Film Festival (YFF) is an annual film festival held in late May in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1947, the Yorkton Film Council (YFC) was founded and in 1950 the first international documentary film festival officially opened in we ...

, Yorkton, Saskatchewan A number of other awards are listed below.

Selected works

Multimedia installations

Soundscapes and audio design for: * ''Wild Weather.'' 2016. Traveling exhibit. Canada/US sites, 2016-2021. Science North Productions. Cascade Award winner for Exhibit or Show - Large Institution, 2017. * ''Creatures of the Abyss.'' 2012. Traveling exhibit. Hong Kong Science Center. Science North Productions. Trille Or award winner, Best Score, 2013. * ''The Changing Climate Show.'' 2011. Object theatre. Science North, Sudbury. Trille Or award nominee, Best Score, 2013; Themed Entertainment Association (THEA) award winner, Outstanding Achievement: Limited Budget, 2012 (Award ceremony: Anaheim, California); Best Institutional Media Installation Award, Jackson Hole Science Media Awards, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 2012. * ''Otis’ Big Adventure.'' 2009. Object theatre. McNeil Avian Center, Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia. Trille Or award winner, Best Soundtrack, 2011; Thea award winner, 2010, Outstanding Achievement, Zoo Attraction: Limited Budget. Award ceremony: Universal Studios, Hollywood. * ''Extinction Theater.'' 2006. Object theatre, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa. Trille Or award winner, Best Score, 2007. * ''Aztec on the River.'' 2006. Multimedia attraction and large-format theater pre-show. Aztec Theater, San Antonio, Texas. Thea Award winner, Outstanding Achievement – Attraction: Limited Budget, 2008. Award ceremony: Orlando, Florida. * ''Exploring Chimpanzees: The Remarkable World of Jane Goodall.'' 2002. Traveling exhibit. Canada/US sites. 2002-2010. Science North Productions. Best Exhibit award winner, Canadian Association of Science Centres, 2003.

Theatre

Music and audio design for: * ''Club des éphémères.'' 2020. Play by Alain Doom. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario and Théâtre français de Toronto. * ''En grève autour de théières fumantes.'' 2019. Théâtre la catapulte and Théâtre action, Ottawa. * ''Plein la gueule.'' 2019. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury. * ''Geography of Fire.'' Play by Colleen Murphy. 2019. Sudbury Theatre Centre. * ''Parmi les éclats.'' 2018. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario. * ''Blind Nickel Pig.'' 2017. Play by Lara Bradley. Pat the Dog Theatre. Sudbury. * ''BrokeDownTown.'' 2016. Crestfallen Theatre. Sudbury. * ''Nowhere du Nord.'' 2013. Play by Miriam Cusson. Chelmsford, Ont. Musagetes. * ''Fara Lifa: Fred et Crudo do Iceland.'' 2012. Productions Roches Brûlées. * ''Sahel.'' 2010. Théâtre de la Vieille 17 - Ottawa. Prix Rideau nominee, Best Production of the Year, 2011. * ''Univers.'' 2003. Play by Herménégilde Chiasson, Robert Marinier, and Dominick Parenteau-Lebeuf. Co-produced by Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury, Théâtre de l'Escaouette, Moncton and Théâtre français du Centre National des Arts, Ottawa. Masque award winner, Best Franco-Canadian production, Soirée de Masque, 2003. * ''Du pépin à la fissure.'' 2001. Play by Patrice Desbiens. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury. Masque award winner, Best Franco-Canadian Production, Soirée de Masque 2001; Critic's Choice nominee - Le Droit. * ''Deuxième souffle.'' 1991. Play by Robert Marinier and Dan Lalonde. Co-produced by Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario and Théâtre français du Centre National des Arts. * ''Au pays de Ti-Jean.'' 1983. Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario and Théâtre l'Acadie, Moncton, 1984.

Film

Music and audio design for: * ''Fidelity.'' 2022- In production. Next Phase Motion Pictures, Sudbury. * '' Perspective.'' 2020. Next Phase Motion Pictures. * ''Project Uncle.'' 2020. Sarah Gartshore, writer, director; Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, producer. * ''The Standoff.'' 2011. Green Boots Films. Best Short Film award winner, Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, 2011. * ''Exploring the Weather: Reflections on Canadian Meteorology.'' 1990. Science North Productions. Golden Sheaf award winner, Best Documentary Film - Science and Technology Category, 1990, Yorkton Film Festival, Saskatchewan; Best Film - Science Category award winner, Casa de las Ciencias (La Coruña), Spain, 1990.

Radio, podcasts, television

Music, sound design and mix for: * ''L'Insomnie'', by Robert Marinier (2022) and ''Lucky Lady'', by Jean-Marc Dalpé (2022). Podcasts. Idéllo. * ''Cinéma de Mishka Lavigne.'' 2021. Podcast. Idéllo. * ''Struck: A Pivot in Process.'' 2020. Podcast. By Eric Rose. Playsmelter. * ''Solastalgia.'' 2020. Podcast. Play-in-process by Kristin Shepherd. Playsmelter.

Poetry, visual arts

Music and soundscapes for: * ''El poder intimo.'' 1992. Exhibition. Collaboration with Michel Galipeau, Robert Dickson, and Sylvie Mainville. La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury. * ''La cuisine de la poésie présente: Robert Dickson.'' 1985. Édition Prise de Parole, Sudbury.

Electroacoustic works

For musicians, music gadgets, and soundtrack: * ''En voie d'extinction.'' 1993. For choir and soundtrack. Premiered by the Sudbury Chamber Singers, Douglas Webb, conductor. A revised version was performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Jon Washburn, conductor, Vancouver, November 3, 2000.

Selected albums

* ''Le salut de l’arrière-pays.'' 2012. As producer, arranger, bass, acoustic guitar, mix engineer. Stef (Stéphane) Paquette, singer-songwriter. Acoustic Folk SP1110. Trille Or award winner, Best Album, 2013. * ''L'homme exponentiel - les singles.'' 2003. As producer, arranger, bass, acoustic guitar, mix engineer. Stef Paquette, singer-songwriter. SP0703. Pop. Trille Or nominee, Best Album, 2005; Trille Or winner, Homme Exponentiel, Single of the Year, 2005. * ''¡Baila Conmigo!'' 2001. As arranger, bass, producer, programming and mix engineer. Backing vocals for "Yolanda" (track 3). Mauricio Montecinos, singer and guitarist. Global Art Beat Productions: GABP0401. * ''le pays intime.'' 1999. Soundscape, music and audio engineer. Michel Dallaire, spoken poetry. Sudbury: Éditions prise de parole and Société Radio-Canada/CBON. Trille Or award winner, Best Poetry/Music Album, 2001. * ''Echo.'' 1999. As producer, arranger, bass, acoustic guitar, mix engineer. Jacinthe Trudeau, fiddler. JT 0699. Fiddle/worldbeat. Best Instrumental Album nominee and Best Folk Album award winner, 2000 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards; Trille Or award winner, Best Instrumental Album, 2001. * ''Pierre et le Papillon.'' 1982. As arranger and multi-instrumentalist. Pierre Germain. MP 1085. Reissued in 2000 as ''Brindille chante Pierre et le Papillon,'' Trille Or award winner, Best Children's Album, 2001.

External links

''Hommage radio au musicien, compositeur et concepteur sonore Dan Bédard''
(audio) (in French). Éric Robitaille, host, ''Jonction 11-17''. Radio-Canada (Sudbury). June 2, 2022.
Daniel Bédard.
Discography at discogs.com

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedard, Daniel 1957 births Living people Musicians from Greater Sudbury Laurentian University alumni 20th-century Canadian composers 21st-century Canadian composers