 Awarded a Quebec government grant, he studied in Paris 1958–62 with Marcel Ciampi (piano) and Edouard Lindenberg (conducting) and 1960–62 at the Paris Conservatoire with Louis Fourestier.In 1960 in Paris, with Gail Grimstead (flute) and Jacques Simard (oboe), he founded the "Trio canadien"; it toured 1962–63 for the JMC, giving the premiere of André Prévost's "Triptyque".In 1961 he placed first over 34 candidates in the 'professional graduate' category of the International Competition for Young Conductors of Besançon.