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La Petite Bande de Montreal is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1979 by a group of musicians who shared a passion for Baroque music. The ensemble has since become one of the most respected and renowned Baroque ensembles in Canada, and has performed extensively throughout North America and Europe. The founding members of La Petite Bande de Montreal were all graduates of the Montreal Conservatory of Music, and had previously played together in various other ensembles. They were inspired to form their own ensemble after attending a performance by the Belgian Baroque ensemble La Petite Bande, which was led by the renowned conductor Sigiswald Kuijken. The ensemble's early years were marked by a focus on the music of J.S. Bach, and they quickly gained a reputation for their virtuosic performances of his works. They also began to explore the music of other Baroque composers, including Handel, Vivaldi, and Telemann. In 1982, La Petite Bande de Montreal made their debut performance at the Montreal Baroque Festival, which was a resounding success. This led to further performances at other festivals and concert series throughout Canada, and the ensemble began to gain a following among Baroque music enthusiasts. In 1984, the ensemble was invited to perform at the prestigious Utrecht Early Music Festival in the Netherlands, which was a major milestone in their career. This led to further invitations to perform at other European festivals, including the Festival de Musique Baroque de Versailles and the Festival de Musique Ancienne de Saintes. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, La Petite Bande de Montreal continued to perform extensively throughout North America and Europe, and their reputation as one of the leading Baroque ensembles in Canada continued to grow. They also began to record their performances, and released several critically acclaimed albums on the ATMA Classique label. In 1998, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Prix Opus by the Conseil québécois de la musique, which recognized their contributions to the development of early music in Quebec. This was followed by several other awards and nominations, including a Juno Award nomination for their album "Bach: Concertos for Harpsichord and Strings" in 2001. In recent years, La Petite Bande de Montreal has continued to perform and record, and has expanded their repertoire to include the music of the Classical and Romantic periods. They have also collaborated with other musicians and ensembles, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street in New York City. Today, La Petite Bande de Montreal remains one of the most respected and renowned Baroque ensembles in Canada, and their performances continue to inspire and delight audiences around the world. Their dedication to the music of the Baroque period, and their commitment to excellence in performance, have made them a beloved fixture in the world of classical music.

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