Alain, Marie-Claire

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Alain, Marie-Claire

Alain, Marie-Claire, renowned French organist and pedagogue, sister of Jehan (Ariste) and Olivier Alain; b. St. Germain-en-Laye, Aug. 10, 1926. She was a pupil of Duruflé (harmony), Plé-Caussade (counterpoint and fugue), and Dupré (organ) at the Paris Cons. At age 11 she made her debut in St. Germain-en-Laye; in 1950, made her formal debut in Paris, the same year she won the Geneva International Competition. In subsequent years, she made frequent tours of Europe; in 1961, made her first tour of the U.S. She lectured at the Haarlem Summer Academy of Organists in the Netherlands (1956–72); also gave master classes around the world. Her exhaustive repertory includes works by the Baroque masters as well as contemporary scores.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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