Gabrielle Gaudreault is the Artistic Director of the Ottawa Choral Society and the Saint-Lambert Choral Society. She is also an instructor in the Choral Department at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, where she directs the choral ensembles and supervises the graduate students in choral conducting. A sought-after conductor, pedagogue and collaborative pianist, Dr. Gaudreault has previously served as Assistant Conductor to Maestro Kent Nagano at the Staatsoper Hamburg, Associate Conductor of the National Children’s Chorus in Washington, D.C., Artistic Director of the South Shore Children’s Chorus in Saint-Lambert, QC, Music Director of the St-Augustine’s Church Choir in St-Bruno, QC, and Apprentice Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Canada.

In 2020, she co-founded CG Music Academy in Arlington, VA with her husband Chris. Gabrielle completed her Doctorate in Choral Conducting at McGill University in spring 2020 and holds an MA in Music Theory and Choral Conducting from Indiana University. Her research focuses on pedagogical approaches to the choral rehearsal and late-20th-century choral works by Québécois composers.

Canadian countertenor Ian Sabourin is known for his unique sound, powerful high notes, and diverse repertoire. He recently appeared as Ottone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea with the Opėra de Montrėal (ODM), as soloist in Handel’s Solomon and Saul with the Ottawa Baroque Consort and Caelis Academy Ensemble, as alto soloist in Messiah with Musique Royale, and in the title role of Orlando (Handel) with Opera McGill. He has also performed with Ensemble Caprice, Harmonie des saisons, the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, and the Ottawa Bach Choir.

Ian has a Masters degree in Early Music from McGill University, and was a top 20 competitor in the 2021 Corneille Competition in Rouen, France. He is a member of the ODM’s 2023-2024 Atelier lyrique program, as its first-ever countertenor. Upcoming performances include solo roles in Mozart’s Requiem with the Orchestre classique de Montrėal and in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Peterborough Singers.

Equally at home in contemporary music, Ian is a baritone with the operatic trio LYRICO and can be heard on the group’s latest album A Very Operatic Christmas.

www.iansabourin.com

Born in France, Caroline studied with Lily Laskine, one of the most celebrated harpists of the 20 th century. She graduated with first prize from the Conservatoire de Paris at age 18. After her arrival in Canada, she completed an Artist Diploma at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music.

As a recording artist, Caroline’s solo CDs include El Dorado, nominated for a JUNO award; Impressions de France, featured on Apple Music’s top selections for solo harp; and Serenata, praised for the “subtlety, virtuosity and incredible dedication” of her interpretations (The Whole Note magazine). Her performances re featured on CBC Radio and USA National Public Radio.

Caroline performs as a soloist and in chamber ensembles, notably the Four Seasons Harp Quartet. She is Principal Harp with the Orchestre symphonique de Gatineau and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. She also has a thriving teaching studio and has developed a number of Canada’s exceptional young harpists, as well as being a jury member at major competitions.

www.carolineleonardelli.com

Jackson Kelly is in his second year of a Bachelor of Music with Major in Physics degree at the University of Ottawa. He was homeschooled from grade 3 and started playing the drum set when he was seven, but switched to orchestral percussion two years later because his mother didn’t want him playing in a rock band. He joined the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy in 2015 and the Parkdale Orchestra in 2017 until the pandemic intervened. Since then, he has participated in the Orchestre de la Francophonie, the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra, the National Youth Band of Canada, and the Pleinchant Choir (playing percussion). He also won first place in solo percussion in the Kiwanis Music Festival three years in a row.

Since enrolling in the School of Music at the University of Ottawa, Jackson has played in the University Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. In addition he works part-time as a video/audio technician for the School of Music. He enjoys building LEGO and making origami in his spare time.