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LE CHŒUR DE CHAMBRE DU QUÉBEC the beginning of an exceptional ensemble

Portfolio

Photo : Sébastien Guillier-Sahuqué

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. The creation of the Chœur de chambre du Québec 3

2. The promotion of original works 4

3. Two prestigious invitations for the spring of 2015 6

4. The detailed budgets for the spring 2015 projects 6

5. The members of the Chœur de chambre du Québec 7

6. Conclusion 14

7. Contact information 14

Photo : Sébastien Guillier-Sahuqué

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1. The creation of the Chœur de chambre du Québec “The performance by the Chœur de chambre du Québec was of an exceptional quality, equally for its interpretation and choice of repertoire, as for its beautiful singing. Our audience was speechless … What a wonderful discovery for us!” - Laurier Fagnan, Associate professor, Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta and Artistic Director of Choralies Internationales, Edmonton 2012 In May 2010, the first steps were taken towards the creation of a professional vocal ensemble of 16 voices, bringing together French-speaking and Francophile singers and choral conductors age 23 to 40 whose mission would be to represent Canada and French-speaking Quebec abroad. Since its creation, the main goal of the Chœur de chambre du Québec has been to participate in the development and the creation of choral works composed on French texts through the performance of original works that combine texts from contemporary French-speaking authors with new musical compositions. In this way, the ensemble aims at enriching the musical heritage of French Quebec and Canada. Thanks to concerts given in Quebec and Alberta, the ensemble has succeeded in bringing significant attention to its mission in Canada and France. Additionally, social networks and the ensemble’s website contribute to achieving its objectives. For the past several years, all levels of choral singing have experienced a boom in popularity in Quebec, be it professional, academic or amateur. With this boom comes the need for a new generation of choral conductors and composers ready to invest themselves in the creation and performance of new choral music. The Chœur de chambre du Québec performs essentially music from Canada and French Quebec, as well as occasional works from France. A large percentage of its repertoire includes choral works in French, several of which are composed by its artistic director, Robert Ingari, as well as other compositions by some of its singers. The ensemble is committed to not only continuing to create new repertoire of choral works in French, but also to showcase them outside the borders of Canada and Quebec. In fact, cultural exchanges are a crucial part of its mission, allowing it to share the beauty and subtleties of the French language through contemporary musical composition for choir. New musical settings of poetry from French Québec and Canada will also help introduce its literary works to classical music lovers from within its borders as well as others from around the world. The mission of the Chœur de chambre du Québec has three main objectives:

• the research and promotion of new or recently composed works by composers from Quebec and Canada, particularly works composed on French-language texts;

• professional quality concerts at home and abroad by an ensemble made up mainly of young French-speaking musical artists from Quebec;

• the creation and performance of original choral works composed by its artistic director, Robert Ingari.

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2. The promotion of original works

The quantity of original choral works in French by composers from French Quebec and Canada is somewhat less developed than in other traditions. Thus, the future of newly composed music for professional and university chamber choirs will depend on the contribution of composers and performers committed to its development and subsequently to its preservation. At the core of the mission of the Chœur de chambre du Québec is the promotion of the composition of new choral works in French as well as the capacity to share this new music abroad, thus allowing it to promote the French language and the talents of its young performers. The creation, performance and recording of new works, particularly those composed to French texts, are among the most important aspects of its mission.

• Composition Writing for choir requires special attention to the musicality of the text. Consequently, the chosen language of a particular vocal work influences significantly its composition. Setting the French language to music presents particularities in its pronunciation that the great composers of the French mélodie such as Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Gabriel Fauré and Francis Poulenc approached with such mastery. However, we find that the standard choral repertoire on French texts is somewhat limited in Quebec and to some extent in France. Each of the composers mentioned above wrote important choral works, notably Poulenc who is the most prolific in this respect. But the lack in Quebec of a standard French-language repertoire in a similar style still needs to be addressed. In the United States and English-speaking Canada, the choral repertoire for chamber choir is vast and varied and has been in constant development for over 60 years. Thus, its popularity continues among specialists and lovers of choral music. The Chœur de chambre du Québec hopes to start a similar movement in the professional, academic and amateur sectors of Quebec. The goal of its activities is to collaborate with living poets and

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composers and to work intimately with each one of them on the musical setting of French texts, thus encouraging the creative process in both artistic spheres. The Chœur de chambre du Québec seeks to create a dialog between authors, composers and performers, offering the possibility of all sorts of exchanges. And the eventual publication and recording of new choral works are two essential components of its future projects. For years, the artistic director of the Chœur de chambre du Québec, Robert Ingari, has devoted himself to the composition of choral works of which several are published by Cypress Choral Music. His most recent work, written in 2013, is Cantate en trois lieux for choir, soloists and orchestra. His “Three psalms for mixed chorus and marimba”, featuring his colleague Mario Boivin appears on the CD “Sacred Choruses/Choeurs sacrés” as well as his Psalm 23 and Dona Nobis Pacem, both for choir and string orchestra. As a composer he seeks to develop his own compositional language. His sense of vocal lyricism and his artistic capacities in the choral conducting field are important resources in his creative process as a composer. His awareness of current trends found in the repertoire he conducts allows him to incorporate them into his own writing and he is known for his sensitivity towards the texts of his choral works. With his new works and those of other composers with whom he wishes to collaborate, he hopes to advance the work of the Chœur de chambre du Québec, both nationally and internationally.

• Performance The Chœur de chambre du Québec is composed of 16 to 18 professional singers, choral conductors and voice teachers. Under the artistic direction of Robert Ingari, the ensemble is known for the purity and beauty of its sound and its sensitive interpretations. The subtleties heard in the choral sound are surely related to its repertoire of works in French, a language that demands fluidity and warm timber. The blending of the voices, each carefully chosen, affords it a rich and varied colour palette, allowing the singers to shape each phrase with precision and depth. Since February 2011, the Chœur de chambre du Québec has given concerts to enchanted audiences. Its numerous performances include the opening concert of the 2012 Choralies in Edmonton, Alberta, a concert in the Prestige Concert Series for Professional Choirs at the Mondial Choral in 2011 in Laval, Quebec, as well as concerts in 2011, 2012 and 2013 at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. In 2014, the choir will be the invited artists at the École d’été de chant choral (Summer Choral School) at Université de Sherbrooke, during which the invited conductor, Catherine Simonpietri from Paris, France will work woth the singers on a program of choral music from France and French-speaking Quebec. In December 2014, the ensemble will give a Christmas concert at the Festival Saint-Zénon-de-Piopolis in Piopolis, Quebec. They have received several invitations to perform in France, notably with the professional choir Sequenza 9.3 and at the Choralies at Vaison-la-Romaine. 3. Two prestigious invitations for the spring of 2015 The Chœur de chambre du Québec has begun to establish its place on the international stage and the support of the Quebec community will play an important role in its future. For some time, other distinguished choral artists have become aware of its existence and its mission, leading to the numerous invitations it receives to perform outside its province and country. Its members and artistic director are proud of what the ensemble has been able to accomplish in such a short time. It will be essential that music-supporting citizens

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recognize the important contribution that the Chœur de chambre du Québec is making by its commitment to promote the French-language through the classical vocal music from Quebec and France. In the spring of 2014, Robert Ingari and the Chœur de chambre du Québec received two invitations to perform abroad. Consequently, it has become a vehicle for the democratization not only of its province’s music, but its language as well. The success and continuation of its work in this regard will depend upon regular sources of financing as well as resources to fund punctual projects and tours such as the two projects mentioned below :

1. March 13, 2015, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, in a collaborative concert for professional choirs « a cappella Next! » of Distinguished Concerts International New York;

2. June 9 to 16 2015, French language festival of Puerto Rico in collaboration

with the professional choir Orfeón San Juan Bautista and l’École Clef of San Juan. 4. The detailed budgets for the spring 2015 projects

March 12 – 14 mars, 2015 : A cappella NEXT, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall

ANTICIPATED EXPENSES

Rental fee (Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall) 4 400 CAD

Rountrip airfare from Burlington, VT 5 000 CAD

Lodging (Manhattan hotel) 4 800 CAD

Singers’ professional fees 4 400 CAD

Per diem (17 people) 1 400 CAD TOTAL 20 000 CAD

June 9 – 16 juin, 2015 : Joint concerts in Puerto Rico with Orféon San Juan Bautista and l’École Clef

ANTICIPATED EXPENSES

Rountrip airfare from Montreal, Quebec 8 500 CAD

Lodging ( San Juan hotel) 11 500 CAD

Singers’ professional fees 4 400 CAD

Per diem (17 people) 4 900 CAD TOTAL 29 300 CAD

5. The members of the Chœur de chambre du Québec

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Since its inception, the Chœur de chambre du Québec has succeeded in retaining the majority of its original members. These young singers and choral conductors, 70% of which have a degree from the music department of Université de Sherbrooke, work as performing artists, teachers and composers and live in Sherbrooke, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto. Their contributions to the promotion of Quebec culture are important and numerous. Voici une brève description des membres actifs :

Robert Ingari, Artistic and General director Sherbrooke, Quebec The choral conductor and composer Robert Ingari is an associate professor in the music department of Université de Sherbrooke where he is the director and professor in the masters program in choral conducting. In addition, he is the coordinator of the voice sector, teaches the opera

workshop and conducts the choral ensembles. He is also the director of the Summer Choral School at Université de Sherbrooke whose 2013 edition won the institutional award for “Great Distinction in University Teaching”. As an invited conductor, Robert Ingari has conducted the Orchestre symphonique de Laval, the Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil and the French vocal ensemble Sequenza 9.3. For several years, Mr. Ingari has devoted himself to the composition of choral works several of which are published by Cypress Choral Music. His Three psalms for mixed chorus and marimba, featuring his colleague Mario Boivin, appear on a CD of his choral compositions “Sacred Choruses - Chœurs sacrés”, as well as Psalm 23 and Dona nobis pacem, both for chorus and string orchestra. His works have been performed by the Chœur de chambre du Québec, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Jubilate! of Vancouver, the Sainte-Anne Singers of Quebec, the Chamber Singers of the University of Victoria and the Da Capo Chamber Choir of Ontario. In May 2014, his Psalm23 had its French premier at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris, under the direction of Catherine Simonpietri. Robert Ingari is the founder and artistic director since 2011 of the Chœur de chambre du Québec, a professional choir composed of young French-speaking artistes from Quebec whose mission is to enrich the contribution of the French-speaking community to the Canadian choral repertoire. For several summers, he was entrusted with the direction of choral week at Domaine Forget à St-Irénée, a very popular event among choral enthusiasts. Upon his arrival in Quebec, Robert Ingari made a concerted effort to acquire an excellent comprehension of the French language and has succeeded in establishing close ties with the communities in which he has worked. Soon after moving to Quebec in 1999, he became an assistant professor at the Schulich Music School of McGill University. He subsequently assumed the musical direction of several choruses such as the Chœur du Musée d’art de Joliette, the Chœur classique de Montréal and the Chœur de la Montagne de Beloeil. He conducted the Chœur symphonique de Sherbrooke from 2009 to 2013, the year when he was chosen “Mérite estrien” by the newspaper La Tribune and Radio-Canada for his personal and professional accomplishements as well as his implication to the musical community.

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Julie Dufresne, chef assistante et mezzo-soprano Montreal, Quebec The choral conductor and mezzo-soprano, Julie Dufresne, has conducted choirs for over 15 years. She is, among others, the musical director of Sympholies vocales. She has also been an instructor at Université de Sherbrooke since 2012 where she teaches vocal techniques for choral

conductors. She is often invited to give vocal technique workshops for special events such as l’École d’été de chant choral at Université de Sherbrooke, conferences for the Fédération provinciale de musiciens éducateurs du Québec (FAMEQ) as well as for various choirs in the Montreal area. Julie Dufresne earned a masters degree in choral conducting from University of Sherbrooke under the tutelage of Robert Ingari. In addition to her teaching abilities, her solid vocal background is an asset to her conducting. She also studied classical voice with Gabrielle Lavigne at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.

Catherine Elvira Chartier, soprano Sherbrooke, Quebec A graduate of Université de Sherbrooke (undergraduate) and Université de Montréal (masters), Catherine Elvira Chartier won first place in the vocal category of the Canadian Music Competition in 2002 as well as the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in 2003. She has brought

her exceptional musicality and her talent as a performer to Handel’s Messiah, the Brahms Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria and Stabat mater, Bach’s cantata Selig ist der Mann BWV 57, Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël to name a few. In 2006, she sang the role of the Countess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in the North American premier of the French translation by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt. She has sung alongside Natalie Choquette with the Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke under the direction of Stéphane Laforest. She has also sung under the direction of the world-renowned conductors Ivars Taurins and Bernard Tétu. In the fall of 2009, Catherine Elvira Chartier participated as a chorister and soloist on the recording “Sacred Choruses - Chœurs sacrés” for the composer and choral conductor Robert Ingari. Also a studio musician, her name appears on several recordings from rock bands to choirs, educational CD-ROM’s, commercials, video games and film.

Stephanie Higgins, soprano Toronto, Ontario Soprano Stephanie Higgins, completed her Master's Music in Vocal Performance at l’Université de Montréal with renowned Quebec Soprano; Gail Desmarias. She received her Bachelor of Arts, double Honours Music and Drama from Bishop’s University in 2008. This fall she will begin her

Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto under the tutalige of Professor Lorna MacDonald. Throughout the course of her education, she has performed scenework including the roles of Despina in Cosi fan Tutte, Paquette in Candide, and Laurie in The Tender Land. She has had the honour of creating the role of Juliet in the world premiere of George Rideout’s The Ballad of Romeo and Juliet, as well as Puck, in A Beatle’s Midsummer Nights Dream. Most recently Stephanie has had the pleasure of working with Toronto’s acclaimed Against the Grain Theatre, as well as traveling to Lucca, Italy to perform the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni. She is known for her energetic stage

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presence, her sensitive ability to communicate with colleagues and audience members alike, as well as the warmth and clarity of her natural soprano sound.

Erin Halpin, soprano Montreal, Quebec Trained as a bassoonist, violinist and architect, Erin has been more and more involved in choral music in recent years. She holds a masters in choral conducting from Université de Sherbrooke where she studied with Robert Ingari, and has sung with numerous Montreal ensembles including the

chorus of the Montreal Symphony, voces boreales and La Ceilagh, allowing her the opportunity to work with the internationally renowned Swiss choral conductor, Michael Zaugg. Since 2006 she has been the conductor of the choir at Saint-Veronica’s Church in Dorval, Quebec and was also a singer and keyboard player for the rock band HONHEEHONHEE whose first album was released in 2011. Proud to be one of the founding members of the Chœur de Chambre du Québec, Erin is happy to be able to contribute to the choral excellence of Quebec and beyond.

Jessica Latouche, soprano Quebec City, Quebec Originally from Beauport, the dramatic coloratura, Jessica Latouche, received her masters degree in 2010 in voice performance from Université Laval in Quebec City where she studied with Patricia Fournier. In August 2013, she participated in L'Accademia Europea Dell'Opera in Italy where she

sang the role of Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. In addition to being one of the founding members of the Chœur de Chambre du Québec, she is also a member of Ensemble Vespéral de Québec under the direction of Richard Boisvert. Additionally, she has represented Quebec three times in the National Youth Choir of Canada. Ms. Latouche is also the musical director of the Petits Chanteurs de Charlesbourg and since 2011, the Groupe Vocal Vibrations. She can be heard as a soloist in various concerts in the greater Quebec City area. She is also a member of the opera production for children «La princesse au grand nez», composed by M. Alfred Marin.

Myriam Leblanc, soprano Montreal, Quebec Scholarship recipient and graduate of McGill University, Myriam Leblanc performs in the operatic milieu as a coloratura soprano. Over the past several years, she has won awards including the most promising young talent award in the NATS competition (National Association of Teachers of Singing), two

years in a row, followed by the vocal performance award. She also placed first in her category in the Canadian Music Competition in 2007 and has also won several competitions in the Montreal area. She has also been a soloist for works such as Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bizet’s Te Deum, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, K. 427. Her operatic solo experience includes roles in works by Handel, Puccini, Stravinksy and Poulenc. Myriam Leblanc est présentement étudiante à la maîtrise en direction chorale à l’Université de Sherbrooke.

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Roseline Blain, mezzo-soprano Montreal, Quebec Recognized for her personality, sensitivity, originality and passion, Roseline Blain is also known for her attention to sound quality. First and foremost a pianist and choral conductor, Ms. Blain doesn’t only express herself through the voice. Her desire to communicate her knowledge and passion is also

shared through her creativity (children’s stories set to music), writing (program notes), communications (radio commentary) and teaching (coaching for performers and teaching as a lecturer at Université de Sherbrooke). While the piano and choirs remain at the center of her work, she reserves an important place for stimulating artistic projects and the opportunity to work with young pianists seeking to develop their skills.

Andrea Kovago, mezzo-soprano Ottawa, Ontario Canadian lyric mezzo soprano, Dr. Andrea Kovago is a sought after performer throughout the United States and Canada. She has performed steadily in the areas of opera, oratorio, chamber music and numerous solo and collaborative recitals. Alongside opera, Dr. Kovago has been a featured

soloist with many distinguished organizations like, the Société philharmonique de Montréal, Choeur Sorel-Tracy, the Stewart Hall Singers, Choeur symphonique de Sherbrooke, Exultate Chamber Choir and Orchestra and many others. As a soloist, Dr. Kovago has recorded at least four CDs as alto soloist including Bach’s St. John Passion completed in March 2014. Dr. Kovago is a member of several professional affiliations including the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Royal Conservatory of Music, Ontario Music Teachers Association, Gloucester Music Teachers Association and Conservatory Canada. Her teaching experiences span more than 20 years and include work at Dalhousie University, The University of Minnesota, Anoka Ramsey Community College, University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge Music Conservatory. Dr. Kovago currently teaches more than 45 voice and piano students a week around the Ottawa region. In addition, she finds time to adjudicate the Kiwanis Music Festival, NATS competitions and coaches singers/actors in straight and musical plays.

Ghislaine Deschambault, mezzo-soprano Montreal, Quebec A versatile singer whose voice has been described as “honey-like” and “sensual”, Ghislaine Deschambault is known more and more for her musicality and a captivating stage presence. Recently, the mezzo-soprano sang the role of Poppaea “The Coronation of Poppaea” (Monteverdi) at the

Orford Arts Centre, La Femme in l’Enfant des Glaces (Zack Settel) with Chants Libres and Céphise in Pygmalion (J.P. Rameau) at the Rialto Theater in Montréal. Other collaborations include the professional chorus of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal, the Compagnie baroque de Montr-Royal, the Chœur de Chambre du Québec and the Caprice Ensemble. Her upcoming activities include a French baroque music concert with the Toronto Continuo Collective and in the Vivaldi Gloria at the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Bonsecours in Montreal. Ghislaine holds a masters degree in classical and baroque voice performance from Université de Montréal where she studied with Catherine Sévigny and Suzie LeBlanc. She also holds a bachelors

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degree in harpsichord from McGill University. She is presently studying with the renowned pedagogue from New York, Neil Semer.

Guillaume Boulay, tenor Quebec City, Quebec Guillaume Boulay studied voice with Hélène Fortin at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec and with Michel Ducharme at Université Laval. He also studied composition and orchestral conducting at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec. As a composer, he has collaborated with Pierre

Lapointe, Loco Locass and Marie-Jo Thério. He’s also had lessons with well-known conductors such as Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Julian Wachner and Robert Ingari. He is presently assistant to Josée Vaillancourt, choral director at the music faculty of Université Laval, with whom he has begun a masters in music education. Mr. Boulay has also been a soloist with the chorus Les Rhapsodes, the chorus of the Orchestre Symphonique de Lévis as well as the Conservatoire de musique de Québec, and in numerous opera and musical comedy productions in the Quebec City region. As a professional chorister, he sings with the Chœur de chambre du Québec, and since 2005 a member of the professional chorus of the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec with David Rompré and the chorus of Opéra de Québec, among others. After having conducted the men’s chorus Anamnèse from 2005 to 2008, with whom he participated in the Symphony of 1000 of Gustav Mahler, he was the conductor of the Chœur Les Loriots de Cap-Rouge from 2010 to 2012. He holds the post of musical director at the Cathédrale-Basilique de Québec and since 2012 is director of musical programming for the celebrations of the 350th anniversary of Notre-Dame de Québec.

Jean-Charles Côté, tenor Bromont, Quebec Jean-Charles Côté holds two masters degrees and two bachelors degrees in choral conducting, composition and musical education. He earned his masters degree in choral conducting in 2012 from Université de Sherbrooke. He conducts four choirs, teaches elementary school music and is a founding

member of the Chœur de chambre du Québec. He also sings with the singer, Nicole Filiatrault. He has written numerous arrangements and original choral and instrumental works. Additional professional conducting experience includes the direction of the Nouvel Ensemble Vocal de la Renaissance, Chœur Vox Luminis Choeurisma, Chœur Myosotis, Chœur Midissimo, Ensemble vocal Amadeus and Les Gondoliers, Vancouver Chamber Choir and Échos du Pacifique. In all, he’s conducted 11 ensembles (mixed chorus, women’s chorus, adolescent and children’s chorus, instrumental ensemble) for more than 100 concerts. ,

Philip Dutton, tenor Montreal, Quebec Born in Sherbrooke, tenor Philip Dutton earned his Bachelors in Music with Honors from Bishop’s University where he studied with Philip Cohen. His passion for choral music brought him to Montreal where over the past seven years he has sung with several choral ensembles, notably the Chœur de

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Chambre du Québec, voces boreales, The Montreal Consort, Ensemble Telemann, et Vox Luminosa. He is presently the tenor soloist at Saint Matthias Church in Westmount, Quebec.

Julien Horbatuk, baritone Montreal, Quebec

In May 2014, Julien Horbatuk completed a post-graduate diploma from Université de Montréal where he studied with baritone John Fanning. He also holds a bachelors degree in vocal performance from Université de Sherbrooke. From 2012 to 2014, he sang the roles of Golaud (Debussy’s

Pelléas et Mélisande), Marquis de la Force and Geôlier (Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites) and Gianni Schicchi (Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi) with the opera workshop of Université de Montréal. Since 2013, Mr. Horbatuk works regularly with the new Montreal opera company Opéra Immédiat where he has sung the roles of Pâris (Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette), Schaunard (Puccini’s La Bohème) and Enrico Ashton (Donizetti ‘s Lucia di Lammermoor). He is a founding member of the Choeur de chambre du Québec. His future engagements include solos in Mozart’s Requiem at the Orford Arts Centre under the direction of Jean-François Rivest and the role of Eisenstein in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus with the Musaka Opera Festival in Ontario. In the fall of 2014, he will participate in a tour of Eastern Canada with Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, where he will sing the role of in Donizetti’s Don Pascuale.

Jean-Sébastien Baril, baritone Sherbrooke, Quebec A recent graduate of the masters in choral conducting from Université de Sherbrooke where he studied with Robert Ingari, Jean-Sébastien Baril has a particular penchant for sacred music and the repertoire for men’s chorus. As an undergraduate he studied voice with Gail Desmarais where he acquired

an interest in the solo repertoire. Having had the privilege of singing under the direction of such renowned conductors as Robert Ingari, Jean-François Sénart, Ivars Taurins and Marika Kuzma. His passion for choral music has permitted him to participate in large scale musical events such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Festival international de musique de Lanaudière, the Festival de musique sacrée de Québec and the Festival de musique sacrée d’Aix-en-Provence.

Marc-Olivier Lacroix, baritone Terrebonne, Québec Marc-Olivier Lacroix is a choral conductor and high school teacher. In 2006, he formed the ensemble À Contrevoix and is also the musical director of the Montreal vocal ensemble Les Fous de la Gamme. He’s been involved in choral music for the past ten years and holds a masters degree in choral

conducting from Université de Sherbrooke. He’s sung with the Chœur de Chambre du Québec since 2011 under the direction of Robert Ingari.

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Guillaume Poulin, bass-baritone Sherbrooke, Quebec Guillaume Poulin holds a masters degree in voice from Université d Montréal and a bachelors degree from Université de Sherbrooke, where he studied with Gail Desmarais. He has been an invited soloist with the Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke.under the direction of Stéphane

Laforest. In opera, he has sung the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the Opera Workshop of Université de Montréal under the musical direction of Jean-François Rivest and scenic direction of Benoît Brière. Mr. Poulin has stood out for his performances in the oratorio repertoire, particularly for Handel’s Messiah and Haydn’s Creation under the direction of Robert Ingari. As a professional chorister, he has sung in the professional chorus of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Montreal Opera. He is a founding member of the Chœur de chambre du Québec.

John Giffen, bass-baritone Montreal, Quebec Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, the baritone John Giffen is a graduate of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal where he studied voice. Mr. Giffen has quickly made his mark as a captivating and moving vocal artist. He is a member of several ensembles including the Chœur de Chambre du

Québec, the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, the Chœur de l'Opéra de Montréal, the Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and the choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul. As a soloist, he has sung the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with the Orchestre philharmonique des musiciens étudiants de Montréal, in the role of Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the Theatre of Early Music, a Tibetan monk in the new opera Alexandra by Muckle et Settel, with Chants Libres, Cadmus and Somnus in Handel’s Semele with Compagnie Baroque Mont Royal, and in June 2014 he will sing the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Chœur Classique de Montréal at the Maison Symphonique in Montreal. 6. Conclusion When we speak of talent, of course we’re referring to voices, but also to our composers from Quebec and Canada. Therefore, we are filled with the idea, or perhaps we should say with the dream of an ensemble that can continue to bring life to the music of our province and country, not only at home in Quebec, but throughout Canada, the United States and abroad. From now on, the flourishing of the Chœur de chambre du Québec seems inescapable. The vision is grand, but you will agree that one must be bold to transform dreams into reality. 7. Contact Robert Ingari, Artistic and General Director Associate Professor, Université de Sherbrooke Telephone : (819) 821-8000, extension 63855 Email: robert.ingari@usherbrooke.ca ; lechoeurdechambreduquebec@gmail.com Website: http://choeurdechambre.ca