Claude Champagne, a renown musician was among many interesting visitors introduced to Rawdon by Henri Pontbriand. During his visit he stayed in the Rawdon Inn as well as Pontbriand’s guest house on Lakeshore Drive.
A concert hall at the Université de Montréal is named for him.
Born Joseph Arthur Adonai in Montreal, May 27, 1891, Claude Champagne became a French Canadian composer, teacher, pianist, and violinist.
He offered private lessons in theory and harmony and became the accompanist of several choirs. He played violin during intermissions at the National Theatre.
In 1932 he became a member the Faculty of Music at McGill University. He taught at McGill until 1941.
At the Montreal Catholic School Commission he was co-ordinator of solfége in elementary schools.
In 1942 he was instrumental in establishing the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique du Québec.
In 1943 he was appointed the first assistant director of the Montreal Conservatoire.
In 1950 his post-romantic work “Concerto” was recorded by BMI Canada.
Circa 1955 his First String Quartet was performed by the Montreal String Quartet, and recorded by the CBC Transcription Service.
In 1950 the National Film Board of Canada produced “Bonsoir Claude Champagne” and CBC TV presented “Hommage à Claude Champagne.”
That year Champagne was named honorary president of the Canadian Arts Council and, a member of the International Music Council of UNESCO.
He became an honorary member of the Canadian League of Composers in 1956.
In 1963 he was awarded the Canada Council Medal.
In 1991 several activities commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth took place; in particular, an exhibition at Library and Archives Canada.
A plaque honouring Champagne was unveiled by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada 18 Nov 1994.
He co-founded the first publishing house focussing on publishing of plays in 1996.