Xavier Brossard-Ménard – Known for his fiery spirit, lively interpretations and innovative programming, Xavier Brossard-Ménard is the artistic director and conductor of the professional vocal ensemble Les Rugissants. Singing Casting Partner of the Cirque du Soleil since 2017, he leads international auditions for the company. In 2018, he conducted the Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil in a Latin program for choir and orchestra, and again in 2019 for the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Saint-Lambert Choral Society in a flamboyant program featuring Vaughan Williams and Bernstein. In the 2020-21 season, he became Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre classique de Montréal and the Brott Music Festival, conducting more than 10 symphonic concerts. In 2022, he conducted the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra in a Vivaldi program, with the violinist Christophe Quatremer by his side. Since September 2022, he is president-elect of Choral Canada, the association that federates and promotes choral singing in Canada. Over the course of his career, he has directed several renowned ensembles including Les Muses Chorale, the Toronto Children’s Chorus, the McGill Conservatory Singers, the Youth Choir of the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal, the choirs of the École de musique Vincent-d’Indy and was artist-in-residence at F.A.C.E school. A seasoned chamber clarinetist, he was artistic director of the ensemble QAT, recipient of the LOJIQ-RIDEAU grant and of the Conseil des arts de Montréal’s Prix de tournée for his show 1938.  

Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is the Founder, Artistic Director and conductor of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada’s first professional chamber choir dedicated to the creation and performance of Afrocentric music of all styles. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Blyden-Taylor immigrated to Canada in 1973. He founded The Chorale in 1998, in response to a musical void in Canada; there had never before been a professional ensemble dedicated to the dissemination of Afrocentric choral music. The response that The Chorale has received in Canada and the United States since its inception has certainly given credence to Mr. Blyden-Taylor’s vision.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor has conducted several university, youth and concert choirs, most notably completing a 25 year tenure with The Orpheus Choir of Toronto. In addition he works frequently as a guest conductor, having appeared with organizations such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Hannaford Street Silver Band, Nova Scotia Youth Choir, Ontario Youth Choir, Central Manitoba Youth Choir and the New Brunswick Choral Federation Youth Sing. He has also worked as artistic director and advisor for the Algoma Festival Choir, the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and the Chatham-Kent Roots Festival.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor has served as a member of the teaching staff of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and the Faculty of Music, Queen’s University. He is a Master Teacher with the Toronto Board of Education, coaching teachers and students in conducting and choral technique, and was recently awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from York University in Toronto.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor is also in constant demand as a Clinician, Adjudicator and Lecturer both nationally and internationally, working extensively across Canada and the United States of America, as well as in Cuba and France. He has also been invited to deliver workshops in Japan, Turkey and Israel. In addition Mr. Blyden-Taylor is an active church musician, serving currently as Music Director of All Saints Kingsway Anglican Church in Toronto.

Trudel has conducted every major orchestra in Canada as well as orchestras in the UK, USA, Sweden, Brazil, Italy, Russia, Japan, Hong-Kong, Malaysia and Latin America. Trudel made his Opera de Montréal debut in 2009 in Mozart’s Magic Flute and conducted the live recording of their 30th anniversary gala. He has been a regular guest since and in March 2017 he conducted to great acclaim (“The entire audience was on its feet for another standing ovation, with concertgoers shouting “wow” and “bravo.” Rolling Stone Magazine, “The Wall Triumphs in Montréal.” Le Figaro, Paris) the world premiere operatic version of “The Wall”. Trudel will also lead the american premiere at the Cincinnati Opera in July 2018.

Always committed to upcoming generations of musicians, Trudel was Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra from 2014 to 2012 and has regularly been invited to conduct the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. From 2011 to 2015 Trudel was Professor and conductor of the orchestra and opera orchestra at the University of Western and is now guess professor for orchestra and opera at the University of Ottawa.

First known to the public as “the Jascha Heifetz of the trombone” (Le monde de la musique), Alain Trudel has been a guest soloist with orchestras worldwide including Philharmonique de Radio-France, Hong-Kong Philharmonic, Austrian Radio Orchestra, Festival Musica Strasbourg (France), Klangbogen Festival (Vienna), Akiyoshidai and Hamamatsu festival (Japan). Alain is also a respected composer with performances across America and in Asia.

Alain Trudel was the first Canadian to be a Yamaha international artist, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Virginia Parker, Charles Cros (France), Opus prize and Heinz Unger prizes. He has been named an Ambassador of Canadian Music by the Canadian Music Centre and received a Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2012.