ARTISTES
Christmas Oratorio
Kristin Hoff
Originally from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and now living in Montreal, Mezzo-Soprano Kristin Hoff made her debut at Carnegie Hall, singing Elliot Carter’s Syringa with Maestro James Levine conducting the Met Chamber Ensemble. She has performed as a soloist with the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Tanglewood Symphony Orchestra, the Mark Morris Dance, Chants Libres, and Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, among many others. She has also performed as a Caramoor Vocal Rising Star, with the New York Festival of Song and with the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques du Canada. At home on the opera stage, some of Kristin’s experiences include the role of Tebaldo with Vancouver Opera, Dryade at Tanglewood and Carmen on tour with the Jeunesses Musicales. Kristin spent the fall of 2015 in Bavaria, working in opera houses in Augsburg and Nürnberg. Other recent engagements include an opera gala tour in China, Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder and Ravel’s Shéhérazade, as well as Canadian new music performances including the premiere of One to One to One by Luna Pearl Woolf, the premiere of White Wines by Dorothy Chang in Vancouver, and Ana Sokolovic’s Love Songs. Other season appearances include a recital in the Ponticello concert series and a performance Jose Evangelista’s Visions with the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne. Kristin is excited about combining her passions for musical theatre repertoire and for women’s rights through the cabaret show We Are Women. She is also co-founder of the Montreal initiative, Musique 3 Femmes, which supports women in classical music and launched its first project in 2018: Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes. This prize is allowing for 5 teams of female Canadian composers and librettists to each write a chamber opera. She can be seen in performances with Musique 3 Femmes this season at the Canadian Opera Company noon-time concert series and at Tapestry Opera, as well as in residency and concert at Mount Allison University and Queen's University.
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Philippe Gagné
Tenor Philippe Gagné has received critical acclaim for his depth of expression, refined musical sensitivity, rare vocal agility, and singular beauty of tone. While his performing career embraces the singing of all periods of music, he has a particular affinity and innate talent in baroque repertoire. Recent appearances with some of the world’s leading ensembles include his work as featured soloist with Les Talens Lyriques, The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, Arion Baroque Orchestra, L’Harmonie des Saisons, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Le Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, Les Délices, I Musici de Montréal, La Bande Montréal Baroque, Le Palais Royal, Les Boréades, Les Idées heureuses, Ex Tempore, Mannheimer Hofkapelle, and Ensemble Caprice.
In 2016 Philippe was featured on L’harmonie des Saisons CD, Las Ciudades de Oro (ATMA Classique) which was awarded the 2016 Canadian JUNO Prize for CD of the Year, Vocal Category. In 2014, Philippe was first prize winner among tenors of the CBC Bruce Haynes International Vocal Competition for the Singing of Bach. Consequently, he has been tenor soloist on two CD’s (ATMA Classique) of Bach Sacred Cantatas with Montreal Baroque (Eric Milnes, director) and appeared with Montreal Baroque both at the Montreal Festival and the Regensburg Festival (Germany).
Flûte Passion
Nadia Labrie
Before completing her master’s degree at Université de Montréal, Nadia graduated from the Québec conservatory of music with first-class honours and great distinction and was awarded the Governor General’s Medal for outstanding academic performance. Nadia has received grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the FCAR fund. As a soloist, her repertoire includes Mozart’s Concerto No. 2, Devienne’s Concerto No. 7, Patrick Roux’s Concerto Tradicionuevo for flute, guitar and orchestra (commissioned Canadian composition), Borne’s Fantaisie brillante sur Carmen, and her own transcription of Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen, works she has performed with ensembles such as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. She toured North America, Europe, and Asia as principal flute of the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra. In that capacity, she worked with world-famous soloists such as Anne-Sophie Mutter and James Ehnes, and with conductors such as Kurt Masur, Yoav Talmi, and Franz-Paul Decker.
With her twin sister Annie Labrie, Nadia is a member of Similia, named “the world’s best flute and guitar duo” by Classical Guitar Magazine UK. She has recorded four CDs with Similia under the Analekta label (Cantabile, Nota del Sol, Fantasia, Dolce Vita). Nota de Sol won the 2004 Félix Award for Instrumental Album of the Year, awarded by ADISQ (the Quebec Recording Industry Association); and Fantasia was nominated for a 2006 Félix for Best Classical Recording. Since 1998, Similia has gained international recognition, performing some 500 concerts in Japan, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, Mexico, Guatemala, United States, and Canada.
Guest appearances on numerous radio and television programs around the world, including broadcasts of her concerts on CBC Television and Radio (English and French), Bravo, the Biography Channel, and CCTV (Asia), have raised Nadia’s profile. She is passionate about sharing her love of music with music lovers from all cultures. She served as a judge for the Canadian Music Competition and was presented with an Emerging Citizen Award from the Lieutenant-Governor of Québec and the president of Québec’s Canada Celebrations Committee, astronaut and federal MP Marc Garneau.
In 2018, Nadia released her first solo album, Flûte Passion: Schubert, part of a series of recording projects with various musical colleagues intended to showcase the flute repertoire.
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Luc Beauséjour
Luc Beauséjour is a highly sought-after musician for his virtuosity and the subtlety of his playing. He leads a very active concertizing career. He has performed as harpsichordist soloist in North and South America as well as in Europe. He was named “2003 Performer of the Year” by the Conseil québécois de la musique and has won Félix awards for two different recordings at the Gala de l’ADISQ in Québec. His love of Bach’s music has led him to perform the Cantor’s works for harpsichord and for organ almost in their entirety. Beauséjour has carried out over 35 recording projects, either as soloist or as musical director. Teaching is also an important part of Beauséjour’s musical activities. He is a music professor at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and at the Université de Montréal.
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Camille Paquette-Roy
Having shown talent for music at a very young age, cellist Camille Paquette-Roy was admitted to the Trois-Rivières conservatory of music in 1999, where she studied under Jean-Christophe Guelpa for 10 years, graduating in 2009 with a Diplôme d’Études Supérieures. That same year, she began her master’s degree at McGill University under Brian Manker, which she completed in 2011. A versatile artist, Paquette-Roy works frequently with a variety of ensembles, including Quatuor Esca, Ensemble Les Songes, and Arion Baroque Orchestra. She is also an active performer in Montréal’s pop music scene working with artists like Ingrid St-Pierre, Jean Leloup, Harry Manx and Half Moon Run.
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L’Orchestre classique de Montréal
The Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM), previously known as the McGill Chamber Orchestra, is celebrating its 80th season as one of Canada’s oldest and most reputable professional ensembles. Founded by Alexan- der & Lotte Brott, the Orchestra has toured widely presenting concerts in 17 countries on five continents to critical acclaim. The OCM also recorded extensively for CBC Records and Analekta, and appeared regularly on radio and television for CBC and Radio- Canada. Maestro Boris Brott, eldest son of Alexander, became the orchestra’s Artistic Director and principal conductor in 2005.
Today, the OCM presents concerts in various Montreal halls such as the Maison symphonique, Salle Bourgie, Salle Pierre- Mercure, St-Joseph’s Oratory and several others while featuring world renowned soloists as well as discovering young upcoming Canadian artists. The OCM has built a strong reputation of commissioning and presenting new Canadian works and continues the tradition to this day.
The mission of the OCM is to present high quality musical performances and to collaborate with a variety of cultural organizations such as the Concours musical international de Montréal, Bach Festival, Festival Montréal en lumière, Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, Schulich School of Music, Atelier lyrique of the Opéra de Montréal, and several other prominent Montreal organizations. The OCM also believes in promoting music education, and championing Canadian and, in particular, Quebec talent.
The OCM is most grateful for the continuing support of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada, all of its donors and sponsors.
Prix Goyer Winner's Recital
Lara Deutsch
Recently named the winner of the 2019-2020 Prix Goyer, flutist ​Lara Deutsch is a versatile soloist, orchestral, and chamber musician with a passion for connecting with audiences. A strong competitor, Lara was a first prize winner of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s 2014 Manulife Competition, at which she was awarded a total of seven prizes, including the Stingray Music Audience Award. Additionally, she was the Grand Prize Winner of both the National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary Competition (2014) and the Canadian Music Competition (2010), as well as a laureate of the Concours Prix d’Europe (2016).
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Philip Chiu
“A pianist-painter who transforms each musical idea into a beautiful array of colours.” (La Presse), ​Philip Chiu​ is acclaimed for his brilliant pianism, sensitive listening, and a stage presence that eschews the hermit-pianist image and favours openness, authenticity, and connection with audiences. Inaugural winner of the Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer ($125,000), Philip has become one of Canada’s leading musicians through his infectious love of music and his passion for creation and communication.