Role

:

Conductor

Country

:

Canada

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Lorraine Vaillancourt is a Canadian conductor and pianist who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene. Born on June 26, 1947, in Montreal, Quebec, Vaillancourt showed an early interest in music and began studying piano at the age of six. She went on to study at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, where she earned a diploma in piano performance. After completing her studies, Vaillancourt began performing as a soloist and chamber musician, but she soon became interested in conducting. In 1978, she founded the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM), a contemporary music ensemble that has become one of the most respected in Canada. Vaillancourt served as the ensemble's artistic director and conductor for over 30 years, during which time she commissioned and premiered numerous works by Canadian and international composers. Vaillancourt's conducting career has taken her around the world, and she has worked with many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles. She has conducted the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has also been a guest conductor at many international festivals, including the Warsaw Autumn Festival, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, and the Festival d'Automne à Paris. One of Vaillancourt's most notable achievements as a conductor was her work on the opera "Nelligan," which premiered in Montreal in 1990. The opera, which was composed by André Gagnon with a libretto by Michel Tremblay, tells the story of the troubled Quebec poet Émile Nelligan. Vaillancourt conducted the premiere and subsequent performances of the opera, which received critical acclaim and was later recorded for CD. In addition to her work with NEM and as a guest conductor, Vaillancourt has also been a dedicated educator. She has taught at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, the Université de Montréal, and the Université Laval, and has given masterclasses and workshops around the world. She has also been a mentor to many young musicians, and has helped to launch the careers of several successful composers and performers. Vaillancourt's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1992, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec, and in 2001 she was awarded the Prix Denise-Pelletier, the highest honor for the arts in Quebec. She has also received the Prix Opus for "Conductor of the Year" on several occasions, and in 2017 she was awarded the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Despite her many accomplishments, Vaillancourt remains committed to pushing the boundaries of classical music and promoting new and innovative works. She continues to conduct and perform around the world, and her dedication to contemporary music has inspired countless musicians and audiences alike.

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