Paul Pinsonnault

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         B.Youth and Child Care  U.Vic 

         B.Mus. U.Vic

         M.Mus. U.B.C.

 

    It was my Uncle Jerry Presseau, who introduced me to the guitar. He drove for transit in Victoria. I would jump on his bus, instrument 

tucked under my arm and ride to the end of the line where, with a few minutes to spare, Jerry would sing me a tune and I’d show him what I’d just mastered. My uncle also introduced me to Norm Winquest at Hall and Fairfield in Victoria. Norm was a well known performer and a great teacher. I had a little notation book and he would always start my lesson by quickly jotting down from memory my new piece.

 

It was the intricate polyphony and rich expressive playing on my grandmother's recording of Laurindo Almeida playing Bach arrangements for two guitars that hooked me. I switched from strumming and finger picking to classical guitar. 

 

Moving back to Ottawa the fates continued to smile down. I walked into the local instrument shop, ‘Domenics Academy of Music’, and was delivered into the hands of guitarist John Dykes, another excellent teacher and one of the best classical players in the city. 

 

I began my formal training in Ottawa at Carleton University under the watchful eye of then Chairman Mr. and Mrs. John Churchill. The Churchill family had a significant impact on my life and love of music however my studies were interrupted for a time.

 

After years of traveling I completed a degree in Youth and Child Care at the University of Victoria followed by a  B.Mus. in Guitar Performance with Bryan Townsend. My studies continued at UBC with Michael Strutt and I was the first recipient of a Masters in Classical Guitar Performance from U.B.C. 

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When my partner and I tied the knot we decided on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast as the place to raise our family.  I commuted to Vancouver to teach guitar privately and I taught children's music programs for the Community Music School at Capilano University, The Arbutus Club, The Richmond School of Music and numerous community centres and preschools across the lower mainland.

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I've freelanced as a soloist all my adult life and

have had the privilege of playing in a variety of ensembles including the guitar duo ‘Tinfish’ with Valerie Jackson and 'The Pinsonnault Trio' with my sons Leo and Angelo. I've collaborated with many musicians most notably sopranos Allison Girvan and Elizabeth MacIsaac and violinist Maxwell Ngai. I currently perform on the Sunshine Coast with flautist Julie Rutter in the duo 'Libertango'.

 

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