Meet our musicians

Dorothy Fieldman Fraiberg, piano

Pianist, founder and Artistic Director of Allegra Chamber Music and Bach Before Bedtime, Dorothy Fieldman Fraiberg studied with Paul Loyonnet and Nadia Reisenberg of New York. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Montréal. Co-founder of the River Tree Arts Festival in Kennebunkport, Ms. Fieldman Fraiberg taught at Sir George Williams University and was Director of Music at the Saidye Bronfman Centre. She has performed as a soloist with the McGill Chamber Orchestra and as a chamber musician in Canada, the United States, India, Singapore and Russia, as well as recorded on the Atma label.

Yannick NÉZET-SÉGUIN, PIANO

4 time grammy winner, Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a renowned conductor and pianist from Montreal. He is currently music director of the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was also principal conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008 to 2018.

Simon Aldrich, clarinet

Called "a spectacular player" by The Los Angeles Times, holder of a doctorate and two masters degrees from Yale University and nominated for an Opus Award as "Discovery of the Year", Simon Aldrich is currently Principal Clarinet of l'Orchestre Métropolitain and Assistant Professor of Music at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. He has also been Principal Clarinet of the Chicago Classical Symphony and the Colorado Philharmonic. Aldrich has performed as soloist with the Toronto Symphony among other orchestras. With Nouvel Ensemble Moderne he has performed across Canada, the United States, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Australia and Japan. He is heard regularly on CBC and has recorded for the Deutsche Grammophon, Atma and Analetka labels, among others.

Alexander Lozowski, violin

Alexander Lozowski completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at McGill University and the University of Toronto. He has performed on tours of Asia, Europe and the United States with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has also played in Carnegie Hall. Avidly interested in musical outreach, he plays regularly in hospitals, extended care facilities, and other non traditional venues. Awards have included grants from the Anne Burrows Foundation, the Winspear Foundation, the Chalmers Foundation and the Alberta Arts Foundation.

Amélie Benoit Bastien, violin

Amélie Benoit Bastien holds a doctorate in performance from the University of Montreal under the supervision of Mr. Claude Richard. Her musical development led him to play for renowned violinists such as Pinchas Zukerman, David Cerone, Paul Kantor, Pierre Amoyal, Mark Fewer and Andrew Dawes. Winner of a prestigious scholarship from the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Montreal from 2005 to 2008, she has also won several prizes and scholarships, including those from the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, the Festival de musique du Royaume, the Radio-Canada Young Artists Competition and the Canadian Music Competition.

Since 2009, Amélie Benoit Bastien has collaborated with the most renowned groups in Quebec, including the Orchestre Métropolitain and the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec. In 2017, she officially joined the Montreal Imusici Chamber Orchestra.

A very versatile musician, she is called upon to fill several different roles, both as guest solo violin, for example with the Orchestere symphonique de Gatineau during the 2016-2017 season, as a chamber musician with Allegra since 2015, as well as as a studio musician. In 2016-2017, she took part in Céline Dion's Quebec and European tour.

Amélie Benoit Bastien plays on a Jean-Nicholas Vuillaume violin from 1850 and a Sartory bow generously loaned by Canimex.

LIZANN GERVAIS, violin

Violinist originally from La Tuque, Lizann Gervais obtained, in 2007, her unanimous prize from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal in the class of Sonia Jélinkova, and in 2010, her 5th cycle improvement diploma in improvisation with the violinist Helmut Lipsky. She also perfected her studies at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Denise Lupien's class. In June 2018, she won a position with the Orchestre Métropolitain directed by Yannick-Nézet Séguin. Since 2013 she has also worked mainly with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal as a freelance musician and with whom she has participated in four major international tours, notably in Europe, the United States and South America. She also plays with several orchestras and ensembles in Quebec such as I Musici de Montréal, Les Violons du Roy and the Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal. In 2009, Lizann won a position as first violin with the Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke and joined the ensemble La Pietà for the year 2010-11. She has also participated in several contemporary music festivals including Luigi Nono, Montréal Nouvelle Musique and Cerventino. Known for her versatility, Lizann has also performed with many popular and jazz artists, as well as on several album recordings and film scores.

Lizann is a recipient of the McAbbie Foundation and Young Artist Program scholarships. She has also performed solo with the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières and in a master class at the Jeunesses Musicales du Canada International Competition. Lizann is currently playing on an instrument kindly loaned by the company Canimex Inc. of Drummondville.

RYAN TRUBY, violin

Ryan Truby, a member of Yannick Nézet-Séguin's Orchestre Métropolitain since 2017, is an accomplished musician. He holds a prize with great distinction from the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal under Johanne Arel's guidance and a master's in violin performance from Yale University with Ani Kavafian. Known for his versatility as an orchestral and chamber musician, Ryan has graced numerous orchestras and music festivals across Canada and the United States, showcasing his exceptional talent and passion for music.

Antoine Bareil, violin

Violinist Antoine Bareil has played in more than a dozen countries. A graduate from the Music Conservatory of Trois-Rivières, a scholar of the Wilfrid-Pelletier Foundation, winner of the Canada Music Competition, he also studied at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria. As a soloist, he performed with the orchestras of Drummondville, Halifax, Longueuil, Trois-Rivières, Saskatoon, Sudbury, the Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra, I Musici de Montréal and the Aspekte Ensemble für Neue Musik in Salzburg. He played the works of Philip Glass and Karlheinz Stockhausen in front of the famous composers, notably the famous Helicopter Quartet by the late German composer. He wrote the music for a few short films produced by the National Film Board of Canada; sought-after arranger, his works are played and recorded by Alain Lefèvre, the Sinfonia de Lanaudière and Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà among others. Versatile musician, he can be heard on many recordings of various styles, counting four with harpist Valérie Milot. He is a member of Quartango, solo violin of the Laval Symphonic Orchestra and plays regularly with the Violons du Roy. He won various prizes, namely the Juno Award for best instrumental recording in 2015 for Quartango’s “Encuentro”. Antoine Bareil plays on a violin by Vuillaume and with a bow by Voirin, loaned by Canimex.

Vanessa Marcoux, violin

Vanessa Marcoux holds a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from McGill University as well as a Master’s degree in violin from the University of Montreal. She also perfected her training at the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon (France). She then pursued a second bachelor’s degree to study instrumental composition with Ana Sokolovic. Throughout her studies as a violinist and composer, she has received numerous grants and awards and is now performing regularly as a soloist and a chamber musician in an array of musical activities ranging from classical and contemporary music to world music, jazz and improvisation. As a soloist, she has been heard with ensembles such as the McGill Chamber Orchestra (2014) and the Orchestre Métropolitain (2016). She has also toured extensively with the Juno-nominated Klezmer band Oktopus, and her improvisation skills have led her to work with many other renowned Montreal-based ensembles. These collaborations have led her to play numerous concerts across Canada and Europe, all the way to China. She is also a founding member of Duo Cordelia, a duo that features lesser-known works of the violin-piano repertoire, as well as original compositions.

Vanessa Marcoux plays a violin by Carlo Giuseppe Testore, Milan, ca. 1712, and a violin bow by Louis Morizot (père), graciously provided to her by the company CANIMEX INC. from Drummondville (Québec)

Elvira Misbakhova, viola

Elvira Misbakhova is known for her versatility: passionate about chamber music,
she also performs as a soloist and orchestra musician.Throughout her distinguished career, Elvira has performed with many orchestras in Canada and abroad. She is currently the Principal Viola of the OrchestreMétropolitain under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She joined I Musici in June 2022 and is also the Principal Viola of the Nouvelle Génération Chamber Orchestra. Elvira has founded various chamber music ensembles in Montréal and she continues to travel to give masterclasses and workshops. Her recordings on Chandos Records got high acclaim by such magazines as “The Strad”, “Gramophone”, “Classical Source”, “The MusicWeb”, BBC classical music and others.

Pierre Tourville, viola

Pierre Tourville studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, where he obtained first prizes in viola and chamber music in the class of Robert Verebes. He also studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Pierre is very active in the musical life of Montreal as a chamber musician and orchestra player. He is assistant principal viola in the Orchestre Métropolitain and is also the choir conductor of his beloved orchestra. Pierre also regularly joins musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra for various musical projects. He also collaborates regularly with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Jean René, viola

Jean René, violist, spent several years working in Italy before returning to study composition and conducting. Associate Principal Viola with the Orchestre Métropolitain from 1991 to 2002, he collaborates with chamber music groups, orchestral groups and numerous studio projects involving improvisation and exploration for dance, theater, film and instrumental music. His performance and improvisation skills have been sought for dance projects (Bataille, Ani-mâles, Treize lunes, Les chemins de travers), as well as theatre (Zulù Time, La nuit des Rois, The Busker’s Opera, La cerisaie). Improvisation is now an essential element of his musical life.

Bojana Milinov, viola

Bojana Milinov was born in Belgrade, Serbia. In 2000, she came to Montreal to pursue her studies at the University of Montreal under professor Eleonora Turovsky, with whom she completed her doctorate in performance. Violist of the Voxpopuli String Quartet, Milinov is now established in Montreal and pursues a career as a soloist, chamber musician and an orchestra musician collaborating with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montréal, and many more. She plays on a viola made by Isabelle Wilbaux/Martin Heroux, La Charterelle 2001.

SEBASTIAN GONZALEZ MORA, viola

Violist Sebastian Gonzalez Mora is currently studying at McGill University with Victor Fournelle-Blain. In addition to the Pirastro Prize for an Outstanding Young Talent at the 2021 Oskar Nedbal International Viola Competition, the young violist is also the winner of the grand prizes at the 2021 & 2018 Chœur de la Montagne Competition, 2018 MDA-Québec Competition, the 2022 Sherbrooke competition, and the second prize at the 2019 Festival de Lanaudière Concerto Competition. Sebastian is also a founding member of the Vatra Piano Quartet, winner of the grand prizes at the 2021 Canadian Music Competition, the 2022 Classival competition and the 2022 Sherbrooke competition. Sebastian is often heard as a soloist and chamber musician at the Montée des Arts, for which he was artist in residence for the 2019-2020 season, at the Festival Unisson and the Montreal Chamber Music Festival. The violist often joins the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre Métropolitain as a substitute violist. Sebastian plays on a Francesco Presbler viola (1700-1730) and a Roger François Lotte bow courtesy of Canimex.

Sheila Hannigan, cello

Sheila Hannigan graduated from the Université de Montréal with a Master’s in Performance under the direction of M. Yuli Turovsky. She also participated in masterclasses in Banff and Switzerland, and is heard regularly with many Montreal ensembles such as l'Orchestre Métropolitain, I Musici, and l'Opéra de Montréal. Ms Hannigan is a member of the ensemble Cordâme, prix Accès culture 2016, the Romulo Larrea Tango Ensemble, with whom she has toured Europe and the United States, and PPS Danse, touring Quebec and Canada with Corps Amour Anarchie and Danse Lhasa Danse. Sheila Hannigan plays on a Concetto Puglisi cello, Catania c. 1923 generously loaned by Canimex.

Marc Denis, Double Bass

 Marc Denis completed his studies at the University of Montreal, where he obtained his Master’s degree in 1991. Very active in the orchestral scene, Mr. Denis has been associate principal double bass with the Orchestre Métropolitain since the inauguration of the ensemble. He is also principal double bass with the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval and the Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens. He has appeared as a soloist at the Maison des Arts de Laval as well as with the Longueuil Chamber Orchestra. An active chamber musician, Marc has performed with Violons du Roy, I Musici, Sinfonia de Lanaudière, KIOSQUE ensemble, Appassionata ensemble, SMCQ and McGill Chamber Orchestra.

Robin Best, harp

Robin Best, a native of Ottawa, is a laureate of the OSM Competition, winner of the Elora Festival Young Performers competition and recipient of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary. She is Principal Harpist with the Drummondville Symphony Orchestra. Robin has presented solo recitals at the National Arts Centre, the Elora Festival, and the University of Toronto and has performed at the World Harp Congress in Vancouver. She has performed at the Aldeburgh Festival in England and the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. Robin holds a Bachelor of Music degree and an Artist Diploma from McGill University, and a Performer Diploma from Indiana University. She enjoys an active freelance career based in Montreal.

Antoine Malette-Chénier, harp

An innovative and creative harpist, Antoine Malette-Chénier, from Canada, plays a repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary creations, on period instruments. He has won many awards, including a first prize at the 2013 Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Standard Life Competition, and the 2014 Michael Measures prize from the Canada Council for the Arts. Principal harp of the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières, in Québec, Antoine is an avid recitalist, and has performed as a soloist, orchestral, chamber, and basso continuo player in France, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the United States and Canada. Antoine holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, McGill University, the University of Montréal and the Conservatoire National supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon.

Lara Deutsch, flute

Named one of CBC Music’s “Hot 30 Under 30 Canadian Classical Musicians”, flutist Lara Deutsch is a versatile soloist, orchestral, and chamber musician.  Lara recently acted as Assistant Principal Flute & Piccolo in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra during the 2016-2017 season and has since returned to the Ottawa-Montreal area, where she performs regularly with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Montreal Symphony.  A passionate competitor, Lara was a first prize winner of the OSM’s 2014 Standard Life Competition. Additionally, she was the Grand Prize Winner of both the National Arts Centre Bursary Competition and the Canadian Music Competition.

To learn more, visit www.laradeutsch.ca