Marie Antoinette Jeannine Vanier (21 August 1929 – 7 March 2023) was a Canadian composer[1] and organist[2] who was born blind.
Among her teachers were Françoise Aubut, Jean Papineau-Couture, Roger Filiatrault, Conrad Letendre, Georges Lindsay, Clermont Pépin, and Jean Vallerand.
[4] Vanier received several awards for her compositions and musical performances, including: Vanier served as the organist at several churches in Canada: St. Paul de la Croix (1952-1974) St. Bernardin de Sienne (1978), St. Léon de Westmount (1979-81), St. Casimir (1983-5), and St. André Apôtre (1989-94).
[5] In retirement, Vanier copied scores and piano methods in Braille for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Every morning I say a prayer of gratitude.”[3] Vanier died in Montreal on 7 March 2023, the age of 93.