René Voisin facts for kids

René Louis Gabriel Voisin (born November 19, 1893 – died January 16, 1952) was a very skilled French trumpeter. He was known for his long career with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the United States. Voisin also taught his son, Roger Voisin, who became a famous trumpeter himself.

A Life in Music

Early Training

René Voisin was born in a city called Angers, France. From a young age, he showed great talent for music. He studied the trumpet at a famous music school in Paris, the Conservatoire de Paris. His teacher there was Pierre Vignal, who was also a well-known musician.

Playing in Paris

While living in Paris, René Voisin worked as a freelance musician. This meant he played his trumpet for many different groups and events. One of his most important performances was playing in the very first show of Igor Stravinsky's famous ballet, The Rite of Spring. This was a big moment in music history! During this time, he also became good friends with a conductor named Sergei Koussevitzky. Voisin played with Koussevitzky's orchestra, the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, from 1920 to 1928.

Moving to Boston

Sergei Koussevitzky later became the music director for the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the United States. When he moved, he invited René Voisin to join him. In 1928, Voisin became the fourth trumpeter in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He played with this famous orchestra for 24 years, right up until he passed away in 1952.

A Family of Musicians

René Voisin was not just a great trumpeter; he was also a dedicated father and teacher. His son, Roger Voisin, followed in his footsteps. René taught Roger how to play the trumpet, and Roger later became the principal (main) trumpeter for the very same Boston Symphony Orchestra. This shows how much musical talent ran in their family!