Alfred De Sève

Alfred De Sève (Alfred Deseve, * 1858 in Saint- Henri ( Canada); † November 25, 1927 in Montreal) was a Canadian violinist, music teacher and composer.

De Sève had first violin lessons from Oscar Martel and Frantz Jehin - Prume. In 1876 he went to Paris, where he studied briefly at Pablo de Sarasate, then at Hubert Léonard and Lambert Massart and finally was three years a student of Henri Vieuxtemps. He began a successful concert career in Paris and was appointed by the Spanish kings Isabella II to Hofviolinisten.

In 1879 he returned to Canada, where he gave many concerts and in the following year the pianist Josephine married Bruneau that his companion was also. In 1881 he went to the USA, where he taught at the New England Conservatory in Boston, and in 1891 successor of Calixa Lavallée as choir director at Holy Cross Cathedral was. In addition, he was concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with whom he performed as a soloist.

In 1899 he went back to Montreal, where he taught privately and at the McGill Conservatory violin. Among his pupils were, inter alia, Alexander Brott, Noël Brunet, Albert Chamberland, Eugène Chartier, Marcel Saucier, Lucien Sicotte and Ethel Stark.

De Sève composed works for violin and piano, piano solo and for piano and orchestra. In 1989, Philippe Djokic and Marcelle Mallette (violin), Douglas McNabney (viola ) and Pierre Djokic (cello), De Sève Quartet.