Étienne Gendron

Étienne Gendron (Percussion) began his musical training at age four playing the violin, completed his grade nine on piano, and settled as a percussionist. He studied classical percussion at Cégep de Ste-Foy with René Joly and René Roulx, completed a Bachelor’s degree in percussion performance at Université Laval in Québec City studying with Serge Laflamme and François Aubin, and studied jazz ensemble (drum set) with Bruno Drolet and Michel Donato. More recently, he has studied with Rick Gratton and Jean-Norman Iadeluca. Two years in a row, he won “Le concours du disque des étudiantes et des étudiants de l’Université Laval “. An active freelancer in Québec, he played with l’Orchestre Edwin Bélanger, l’Ensemble vent et percussions de Québec and l’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec. Between 2002 and 2012, he freelanced in Ontario, performing with the Windsor Symphony, Toronto Philharmonia, Hamilton Philharmonic/Opera, Oshawa Durham Symphony, Ontario Philharmonic, Thunder Bay Symphony, Brantford Symphony, Tafelmusik, Opera York, Canadian Sinfonietta, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Orchestra, Talisker Players and numerous brass bands including Weston Silver Band, Hannaford Street Silver Band and Intrada Brass. He has recorded live orchestral performances for CBC Radio and can also be heard on Intrada Brass’ CDs “That Holiday Feeling” and “The Stardust Ballroom”. In 2009, he was the vibraphonist for Diana Krall’s southern Ontario tour of “Quiet Nights”. Here in NL, he’s been playing with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Opera on the Avalon, Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival, Atlantic Light Theatre, the Scruncheons Percussion Ensemble, Jazz East Big Band and Spirit of Newfoundland.