Stéphane Rancourt was born in Quebec in 1967. He studied in Canada with Jacques Simard at the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec, and in Europe with Thomas Indermuhle at the Rotterdam Konservatorium, and the Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik in Karlsruhe. In Canada he was the first oboist to win the Sylva Gelber Award and also, won the 1991 Prix d`Europe. He has performed in most European countries as well as South America, Russia, Canada, Japan and Australia. During the years 1995 to 2003, he was Principal Oboe with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with which he regularly performed as a soloist, making with the orchestra his first Naxos recording, Alan RawsthorneÂs Oboe Concerto (8.554763), which was nominated for a Gramophone Award. He is a member of Paragon Ensemble Scotland which specialises in contemporary music, a founding member of the Commonwealth Chamber Ensemble, and Professor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Since 2003 he has held the position of Principal Oboe in Manchester, with the Hallé Orchestra.
