Marie Iösch Lorcini – Québec / Ontario

harpist . teacher . 1930-2024

Montreal Symphony . London Symphony Orchestra . Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra . Opera Hamilton

Marie Emma Lorcini (née Iösch), of Greensville, Ontario, passed away peacefully on February 26, at the age of 94. Marie was born January 1, 1930 in Montreal, to violinist Pierre Iösch and cellist Marthe Iösch the eldest of three children. A musical prodigy, she began study of the harp at age 13, and was second harpist for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra by age 15. At 16, she became principal harpist. Playing in the orchestra with both her parents, she worked with such legends of classical music as Igor Stravinsky, Francis Poulenc, Otto Klemperer, and too many more to list.

She married British-Canadian sculptor Gino Lorcini in 1953, with whom she had four children; on May 30, 2023, they celebrated 70 years of marriage. After the family moved to London, Ontario in 1969, she became principal harpist for both the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, where she also performed with Opera Hamilton. She and her husband moved to Greensville, Ontario in 1982.

In her long career, Marie debuted many contemporary works for harp, performing in numerous CBC broadcasts, the Montreal Festivals, and at the Stratford Festival. A student of master harpist Marcel Grandjany, she was, herself, a well-known harp teacher, teaching at École Vincent-d’Indy in Montreal, and at the Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario. She originated the syllabus for harp for the Suzuki method in 1984, which she taught at the Hamilton Suzuki School of Music.

Marie had the greenest of thumbs, and could raise the botanical dead. She was a masterful cook (often using ingredients from her own vegetable garden), and had a ready laugh. She was an active participant in the scouting movement, as leader Baloo to the local cub scout troop. An avid traveler and camper, she frequently brought one of her Irish harps along to keep her fingers in shape during vacation. She would play in the open air at our camping spots, much to the delight of neighbouring campers. (- excerpt from Marie’s obituary)

Overview

• studied with Marcel Grandjany 1943-1951
• premier prix harp (CMM) 1951
• harp professor at University of Western Ontario in 1969 for about four decades,
• founded the Hamilton Suzuki School of Music in 1984

Canadian Composer Premieres

• Harry Somers Concerto for Harp and Chamber Orchestra, Toronto 1952
• Montreal composer Jean Papineau-Couture’s Pièce concertante no. 3 in 1959 with the MSO
• Montreal composer Michel Perrault’s Jeux de quartes in 1961 on the CBC
• Jean Anderson’s Six Country Sketches, with flutist Paula Elliott, Guelph, Ontario 1978
• performed with Mountreal composer Bruce Mather his work Coulée de Serrant which she had commissioned, 1981 SMCQ concert
• Nancy Telfer’s Noël with the Guelph Chamber Choir in 1987

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