JEAN-BAPTISTE LABELLE (1825-1898) was an organist, pianist, composer, and conductor. He is thought to have first trained under Joseph Bossu dit Lyonnais of Quebec. In 1843 he became a church organist in Boucherville, near Montreal. In about 1846 he took a similar post in Chambly, Que. It was at this period that he received lessons from the Austrian pianist Leopold von Meyer, who was touring North America. He became the organist at Notre-Dame Church in Montreal where he remained for 40 years while teaching at several Montreal schools. He had a career as a performer and composer before being paralysed by illness in 1894. His compositions include piano pieces, cantatas and operettas.