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Browsing: Quebec Music

Alain Brunet, winner of the tribute award at the 29th edition of the Prix Opus. Photo: Alain Mercier

Report | 29th Prix Opus: Composers Thankful for Performers

By Justin Bernard on 6 April 2026 Arts Industry, Canadian Music, Concert Reviews, Quebec Music, This Week in Montreal

Thirty-three winners were presented the fruits of their labour one by one—collecting single or, in some cases, multiple awards—at the 29th edition of Prix Opus held at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Bourgie Hall on Feb. 8 Collective and individual accomplishments were celebrated, as respectively evidenced by the performer-of-the-year award going to Quatuor Quasar and Marie Nadeau-Tremblay for her album Obsession. Maxime Goulet won the coveted composer-of-the-year award and used his platform time to acknowledge performers and ensembles who commission works from composers and support their primary mission to create new music. Journalist and media outreach personality Alain Brunet…

Newswire | Festival Classica Unveils a Banner 16th Edition

By Newswire on 25 February 2026 Chamber Music, Newswire, Piano, Quebec Music, Strings, Vocal

Montérégie, (February 25, 2026) – Festival Classica invites the public to experience classical music in all its variety during its 16th edition, which will run from May 22 to June 14, 2026. The 2026 program once again showcases exceptional artists and a compelling repertoire, with the majority of events taking place on Montreal’s South Shore. Classical works, operatic performances, symphonic rock productions, and concerts for young audiences form a wide-ranging program designed to open the doors of classical music to seasoned concertgoers and newcomers alike. “Since its inception, Festival Classica has positioned itself as a space for sharing and discovery,…

Left: Marie-Josée Lord, Photo by Eric Myre; Right: Kalena Bovell Photo by Tam Photography

Newswire | OCM Welcomes Canadian Haitian soprano Marie-Josée Lord

By Newswire on 13 January 2026 Arts Industry, Chamber Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Newswire, Quebec Music, Vocal

Montreal, January 6, 2025 – As part of Montreal’s Black History Month, the Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM) is proud to welcome renowned Canadian Haitian soprano Marie-Josée Lord, along with Panamanian American conductor Kalena Bovell. Presented by TD Bank Group, the concert will take place on Thursday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Salle Pierre-Mercure. This moving program will highlight landmark works by composers of African descent, including William Grant Still and Florence Price. The second half of the concert will feature Honey and Rue, a poignant song cycle by André Previn with texts by Toni Morrison, exploring the “sweet and bitter” aspects of life and love in the African American experience.…

Andrei Feher (crédit: Matthieu_Gauchet)

Andrei Feher Appointed OCM’s New Music Director for its 86th Season

By Newswire on 29 May 2025 Arts Industry, Canadian Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Orchestral, Quebec Music

Montréal, Thursday, May 29, 2025 – The Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM) is pleased to announce the program for its 86th season: Classical and Eclectic: from Mozart to Piazzolla. The OCM is also thrilled to introduce its new Music Director, the immensely talented conductor Andrei Feher. The season will feature an impressive lineup of renowned soloists, including Elisabeth St-Gelais, Tara-Louise Montour, Marie-Josée Lord, Jean‑Philippe Sylvestre, Adam Cicchillitti, Denis Plante, Karoline Podolak, Marc Djokic, and many more. “It’s always exciting to unveil a brand-new season after a year of planning and preparation,” says Taras Kulish, the OCM’s Executive Director. “And we’re all the more delighted to introduce our new Music Director, Andrei Feher. This marks…

A new assistant conductor at OM: Léa Moisan-Perrier

By Newswire on 6 May 2025 Canadian Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Newswire, Orchestral, Quebec Music

Montreal, May 5, 2025 – Montreal conductor Léa Moisan-Perrier becomes the Orchestre Métropolitain’s new assistant conductor for the 2025-2026 season. Having completed her training at the OM Academy of Conducting this year, she will remain part of the orchestra family for at least another year. Léa Moisan-Perrier already has a rich professional background, as artistic director of the Orchestre de l’Estuaire in Rimouski and conductor of the St. Andrew & St. Paul Choir in Montreal. In recent years, she has been invited to conduct, among others, the Orchestre symphonique de Laval, the Orchestre classique de Montréal and the Orchestre symphonique…

CIOC celebrates 85th birthday of founder John Grew

By Newswire on 23 April 2025 Arts Industry, Canadian Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Music Competition, Quebec Music

Montréal, April 23 2025 – CIOC founder, organist, Professor, and titan of Canada’s classical-music scene, John Grew celebrates his 85th birthday on April 30, 2025. He co-founded the Canadian International Organ Competition in Montréal, one of the largest and most prestigious organ competitions in the world. He has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2014, he was honoured with the Order of Canada for bringing new vitality to organ music in Canada as a performer and educator. John Grew, Organ Music’s Champion “John Grew’s impact on the organ world, and the wider world of classical music cannot be overstated. His is a legacy…

Credit : François Goupil

Orchestre Métropolitain Announces 2025–2026 Season

By Newswire on 22 April 2025 Canadian Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Orchestral, Quebec Music

Montreal, April 15, 2025 – For its next season, the Orchestre Métropolitain and its artistic director Yannick Nézet-Séguin take us into the infinite universe of music, opening the door to new worlds that will resonate within us and inhabit us long after the last chord has fallen silent. First and foremost, Mahler’s sublime universe is revealed in his Third Symphony, a grandiose, unique work in which the composer reveals our Earth, its flora and fauna, in all its beauty. The voice of humanity in this portrait of creation is none other than the great mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato! In keeping with…

The OCM launches a new festival: “Classical day at the Oratory”

By Newswire on 22 April 2025 Arts Industry, Canadian Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Quebec Music

Montreal, April 22, 2025 – The Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM) is proud to announce the creation of the festival Classical Day at the Oratory, which will take place on Saturday, July 5, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Co-produced with Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, the event will feature seven free mini-concerts starting at 10 a.m. and a ticketed evening concert held in the Oratory’s crypt. By offering several free mini-concerts open to the whole family, the OCM continues its mission of making classical music accessible to the broader public. Throughout the day, attendees can discover various scenic spots and breathtaking views of Montreal at the Saint Joseph’s…

Opéra de Trois-Rivières: Giving Voice To Vocal Talents

By Adrian Rodriguez on 31 March 2025 Arts Industry, Canadian Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Opera, Quebec Music, Vocal

In 2021, at the height of the COVID pandemic, while many cultural companies faced closing their doors, soprano Valérie Poisson took the bold step to establish the Opéra de Trois-Rivières. Almost five years later, the company is bearing fruit. From the beginning, the Quebec soprano’s vision was clear: offer a space to up-and-coming lyric artists to be able to practise and experiment with their art. “These days, it’s very hard to find opportunities for performing in full operas,” she explained. “For me, nurturing our artistic soul and developing our unique qualities as lyrical artists, comes from being part of a…

CVAI: The momentum of youth: A breath of fresh air in opera

By Marc-Antoine d’Aragon on 31 March 2025 Arts Industry, Canadian Music, Classical Music, Montreal, Opera, Quebec Music, Vocal

BY MARC-ANTOINE D’ARAGON AND NADIA MONCZAK The 2025 summer season in Montreal promises vibrance, youth and artistic excellence. Two major institutions, the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (CVAI) and the Orchestre de la Francophonie (OF), are joining forces to offer an unprecedented musical experience to young singers from around the world. This collaboration promises to mark a turning point in the training of young talent in opera and classical music. For its 21st edition, the CVAI is reinventing itself. Under the impetus of an artistic committee chaired by baritone Étienne Dupuis, the program now welcomes conductors, stage directors and opera pianists,…