Choral Christmas at the Basilica - Orchestre Métropolitain

Léa Moisan-Perrier

Conductor

Artistic Director and Music Director of the Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, Léa Moisan-Perrier is recognized for her dynamic stage presence, the sensitivity of her interpretations, the originality of her programming, and her outstanding communication skills.

After two years with the Orchestre Métropolitain Conducting Academy, she was appointed Assistant Conductor to Yannick Nézet-Séguin for the 2025–2027 seasons. As part of this invaluable collaboration, she conducts several concerts each year and assists Yannick Nézet-Séguin across a wide range of symphonic and operatic repertoire, including Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, Verdi’s Aida, and Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.

Regularly invited to lead renowned ensembles, she has collaborated with, among others, the Orchestre symphonique de Laval, the Orchestre classique de Montréal, and the Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke. During the 2026–2027 season, she will make her debut with several Canadian ensembles, including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Orchestre philharmonique du Québec, Ontario Philharmonic, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.

Alongside her orchestral conducting career, Léa Moisan-Perrier has developed a distinguished career as a choral conductor. Since 2022, she has served as conductor of the prestigious choir of St. Andrew and St. Paul Church in Montreal. Under her inspired and vibrant leadership, the ensemble explores an ambitious repertoire, including collaborations with Ensemble Caprice and the Musicians’ Association of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Her career also includes significant collaborations as assistant conductor with Jacques Lacombe at the Opéra National du Rhin (2018), Jean-Marie Zeitouni at the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier (2023), and Yannick Nézet-Séguin with the Orchestre Métropolitain (2024). She has participated in several masterclasses, including those with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal under Rafael Payare (2024), and with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Marin Alsop (2026).

Holding a Master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, where she studied with Jacques Lacombe and Jean-Marie Zeitouni, she also holds a Master’s degree in choral conducting from the Université de Sherbrooke, a Bachelor’s degree in classical voice from the Université de Montréal, and a Bachelor’s degree in piano from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. She is the recipient of several distinctions, including the Moulin Seigneurial Scholarship (2016), the Iwan Edwards Prize (2017), and a Conservatoire Excellence Scholarship (2022).

Chœur Métropolitain

Choir

Comprising around 100 members, the Choir joins the Orchestre Métropolitain during its regular seasons to perform the great works of the repertoire.

Along with the Orchestre’s musicians under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Choir has delivered memorable performances of Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass, Bruckner’s Mass No. 3 in F minor and Wagner’s operas Lohengrin and Parsifal at the Festival de Lanaudière. The Choir has also performed Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2 “Lobgesang”, Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor, Brahms’ German Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, and Bruckner’s Te Deum. These performances earned the Choir exceptionally positive reviews.

Over the years, the Choir has performed with many internationally renowned singers, including Joyce DiDonato, Mihoko Fujimura, Peter Rose, Christian Elsner, Diana Damrau, Renée Fleming, Karina Gauvin, Maria Guleghina, Marc Hervieux, Hiromi Omura, Henriette Schellenberg, Bryn Terfel, Julie Boulianne, Heidi Melton, Andrew Foster-Williams, Karen Cargill, Philippe Sly and other great voices from here and elsewhere.

Alongside its activities with the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Chœur Métropolitain has, for several years, produced its Opus concert series, now under the direction of Julie Dufresne and Pierre Tourville. Through this series, it has presented works such as Brahms’s Liebeslieder Waltzes, Rossini’s Petite Messe solennelle, Rachmaninov’s Vespers, the Requiems by Duruflé and Fauré, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Dvořák’s Mass in D major, Bruckner’s Mass in E minor, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. 

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Julie Dufresne

Chorus Master

A native of Montreal, Julie Dufresne discovered choral singing at an early age, beginning to sing at the age of eight. This passion, nurtured over the years, has become a true vocation. She first studied classical singing at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal in Gabrielle Lavigne’s class, then pursued a master’s degree in choral conducting at the Université de Sherbrooke with Robert Ingari.

For more than 25 years, she has conducted various ensembles, including Sympholies vocales, Les Petites voix du Plateau, Le camp musical Infano (co-conductor), the Chœur du Cégep de Saint-Laurent, and many others. A renowned teacher, she has been a lecturer in the master’s program in choral conducting at the University of Sherbrooke since 2012, where she teaches vocal technique for choirs and diction. Since 2025, she has also been collaborating with UQAM in the master’s program in music education. She is also in demand to prepare choirs for major concerts, notably at the Festival de Lanaudière and the Maison symphonique de Montréal, as well as to lead workshops at events such as PODIUM, the FAMEQ conference, Kodály Canada, Chorissimo, and several Choralies throughout the province.

A native of Montreal, Julie Dufresne discovered choral singing at an early age, beginning to sing at the age of eight. This passion, nurtured over the years, has become a true vocation. She first studied classical singing at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal in Gabrielle Lavigne’s class, then pursued a master’s degree in choral conducting at the Université de Sherbrooke with Robert Ingari.

For more than 25 years, she has conducted various ensembles, including Sympholies vocales, Les Petites voix du Plateau, Le camp musical Infano (co-conductor), the Chœur du Cégep de Saint-Laurent, and many others. A renowned teacher, she has been a lecturer in the master’s program in choral conducting at the University of Sherbrooke since 2012, where she teaches vocal technique for choirs and diction. Since 2025, she has also been collaborating with UQAM in the master’s program in music education. She is also in demand to prepare choirs for major concerts, notably at the Festival de Lanaudière and the Maison symphonique de Montréal, as well as to lead workshops at events such as PODIUM, the FAMEQ conference, Kodály Canada, Chorissimo, and several Choralies throughout the province.

Pierre Tourville

Chorus master

Born in Trois-Rivières, Pierre Tourville first studied viola in his hometown and then at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal where he obtained first prize in viola and chamber music under the tutelage of Robert Verebes.

A scholarship holder of the FCAR Fund in 1997-1998, he studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston, with Marcus Thompson. Co-founder of La Chapelle de Montréal in 1995, Pierre Tourville is actively involved as a violist, singer and administrator.

He also held the position of principal viola for a few years at the Orchestre Réseau des Conservatoires, the Orchestre Mondial des Jeunesses Musicales and the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. In 2002, he obtained a regular position at the OM where he is currently Assistant Principal Viola. A member of Allegra Chamber Music, he has also been a member of the Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal and the Ensemble Appassionata. He also regularly collaborates with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra for various concerts, including the Summer Festival in Baden-Baden, the Chamber Music Society of Philadelphia and the Lucerne Festival.

In addition to his orchestral and chamber music activities, he teaches viola and prepares choirs. Since 2000, he has been one of the two official conductors of the Metropolitan Choir.

HUMPERDINCK

Hansel and Gretel: Prelude

MENDELSSOHN

Vom Himmel hoch

BERLIOZ

The Shepherds’ Farewell to the Holy Family

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Winter

PRICE

Song for Snow

RIMSKI-KORSAKOV

Christmas Eve (Suite)

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Fantasia on Greensleeves

RUTTER

Gloria