Pierre LaPlante, of French Canadian descent, was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he received the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. He retired in 2001 after 33 years of teaching at various levels including high school band and chorus; beginning and middle school instrumental instruction; and K-6 general music.

His music is published by Daehn Publications as well as Kjos, Ludwig Masters, Grand Mesa and Bourne. In addition to band and string orchestra compositions, Bourne and G. Schirmer have published several choral settings of Wisconsin folksongs.

Mr. LaPlante was a bassoonist, and played in area bands and orchestras for many years. He was a member of ASCAP and a contributing author to Composers on Composing for Band, Vol. II, edited by Mark Camphouse (GIA 2004). He resided in Oregon, Wisconsin with his wife Laurie.