Pierre-Paul Provencher

Originally from Quebec City, Pierre-Paul Provencher is the only Canadian to hold a Brevet d'Exécution, a Diplôme d'Exécution and a  Diplôme Supérieur d'Exécution in concert accordion from the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He also plays the bandoneon. He has performed in Canada and in France as soloist, and chamber musician and has been guest artist for numerous important festivals and has performed for such diverse audiences as those of the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival (opening for Branford Marsalis), the Pan American Games (in 1999, for an audience of 20,000), Place des Arts (Montreal), the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) and many others. He has performed as soloist with the Victoria Symphony (British Colombia), the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval (Quebec), l’Ensemble Instrumental Appassionata (Quebec), the Orchestre de Chambre de Hull (Quebec) and many other large ensembles.  Many of his concerts have been recorded by Radio-Canada (radio and television, live, and pre-recorded) and CBC . His repertoire extends from Bach to Piazzolla, with premieres of contemporary music, and his own music.  He is a founder of the concert accordion duo ARCANA, and the tango nuevo quintet NORTEÑO (www.norteno.ca), for which he composes and assumes the musical direction. The release of the CD Milonga d’automne (ECLECTRA label, 2004) was praised unanimously by the musical community (5 stars out of 5 by the SCENA MUSICALE). The third CD of the ensemble, Cato's Life, is dedicated to his own compositions.  Specializing in the music of Astor Piazzolla, he has had the privilege of performing the entire output of this composer, in ensembles as varied as soloist with orchestra, chamber music, quintet with bandoneon, and solo.  In 2012, he had the privilege of realizing the Quebec premiere of Astor Piazzolla's only chamber opera, María de Buenos Aires, conducting and performing on the bandoneon. He taught in France, and since 1996, has taught harmony, counterpoint and solfège at the University of Ottawa.  He is the artistic director of Les Concerts Ponticello (www.ponticello.ca), a classical concert series in the Outaouais region. Mr. Provencher has received numerous grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec, and the Canada Council, including composition grants for Norteño. He also serves frequently as a jury member for various competitions and grant organisations.