Members:

Julien Patenaude, Baritone

When Julien was four, his mother, Thérèse Patenaude, introduced him to music. He began his musical training with Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal, whose director, his father Gilbert Patenaude, had the ‘good luck’ of having Julien in the choir for more than 10 years. He continued his musical training at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, the Université de Montréal, the University of Toronto, and McGill as well as through several training courses, notably at the Brevard Music Center, the Orford Arts Centre, and the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. Since then Julien Patenaude has been working as a soloist and chorister with many ensembles, mainly in Quebec. He now divides his time between singing, teaching, choir directing, stage production, and his family.

Benoit Le Blanc, Baritone

Benoit began his musical training as a chorister and soloist with the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal. Following in the footsteps of his idol Julien, he went on to study at the Université de Montréal, where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance. He has become known as a performer of French and religious music, and recorded several discs, including Good News with Les Chantres Musiciens, and Fauré-Gounod and Canticum Novum with Espace 21. He has sung with several ensembles, including the Opéra de Montréal and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, both as soloist and as chorister. He is the brilliant founder of the equally brilliant Quartom.

Philippe Martel, Bass-Baritone

After beginning his musical training with the Maîtrise des petits chanteurs de Québec, Philippe decided to study something serious at university; he got a bachelor’s degree in administration from the Université Laval and then went to the École supérieure de commerce de Rouen in France. Back home, he abandoned the sensible path and registered at the Cégep Sainte-Foy in music. He then moved to Montreal — which he secretly prefers to his former home, Quebec City! — for a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance form McGill. Since then, the high quality of his singing and his legendary work ethic have made him one of the most sought-after of professional choristers. He regularly performs as a soloist with various ensembles and with the Opéra de Montréal. He has provided the vocal foundation of the Quartom quartet since 2008.

https://www.quartom.com/home

Music Director Michael Newnham is best known for his intense and inspiring conducting style, based on a deep knowledge of the score and informed by a strong interest in languages, cultures and history. A born communicator, his open and direct contact with musicians and audiences creates performances full of expression and energy.

Along with his duties at the PSO, he is also presently (since 2018) Music Director of Orchestra Toronto. During his tenure as Music Director of Symphony New Brunswick (2009-2018), Newnham was instrumental in bringing that orchestra to new artistic heights and raising its profile on the national level.

In addition to his performances in his native Canada, Newnham has also appeared at the helm of many orchestras and opera companies throughout Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and South Korea.

Endowed with a special passion and gift for working with young musicians, Michael was the founding conductor of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra and has been a faculty member at Music at Port Milford for several years. His involvement in educating young musicians is not limited to Canada; he spent two years as a guest professor and orchestra conductor at Taegu-Hyosung University in South Korea.

Originally from Hamilton, Newnham is a graduate of the conducting class of prof. Bogusław Madey at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. He also studied at the Indiana University School of Music and at the University of Toronto.

He is a recipient of several awards, including the “Order of Merit” from the Republic of Poland, the “Best Conductor” Award from the East Slovakian State Opera, and the Turzanski Award for his services in promoting Polish music and culture in Canada.

Before taking up the baton, Newnham began his musical career as a trombonist, playing with the Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphonies, as well as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He currently lives in Peterborough with his wife, cellist Zuzanna. He is an avid reader, proud father to two daughters and a passionate home barista.

Our Music Director has assembled some recommendations for those who would like to have a taste of the programmed works ahead of time:

Spotify playlist link