A trumpeter by training and a graduate in performance of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal (bachelor’s and master’s equivalent), Stéphane Forgues has had the privilege of studying with renowned musicians and educators including Jean-Louis Chatel, Alain Cazes, Vincent Chicowitz, Albert de Vito, Daniel Doyon and Joseph Zuskin.

A freelance musician, he has played with various musical ensembles, including the Mount Royal Symphony Orchestra and the Montréal Baroque Orchestra, as well as with different chamber music, jazz and pop formations. It was during this period of freelance work and of teaching in several schools that he discovered his true passion for education. He subsequently decided to pursue a bachelor’s in music education at UQÀM, which he completed in the spring of 1999. He returned to his alma mater a few years later as a guest lecturer in the training of new music teachers.

He began his career as a music teacher at Curé-Mercure secondary school in Mont-Tremblant, then at Joseph-François-Perrault, where he taught for two years before being hired at the Saint-Luc secondary school administered by the CSSDM and appointed as Director of the music department and Artistic Director, a position he held for several years. His many accomplishments as an educator include the production of musicals, a performance on the main stage of the Montréal International Jazz Festival and directing a special project for the MELS production studio that was circulated in all Francophone schools throughout Québec. His work as a conductor for these various music programs has led him to direct different kinds of formations, including wind ensembles, large brass bands, symphony orchestras and jazz ensemble, to name only those.

Stéphane Forgues returned to Joseph-François-Perrault school in 2009, where he currently teaches students in the Art Studies program. His dedication, passion and high-quality teaching have contributed to the distinction of this highly reputed music program, whose large ensembles, chamber music ensembles and soloists earn awards year after year.

A guest conductor and clinician with various ensembles, for the past 10 years he has served as Music Director of the Philharmonie jeunesse de Montréal. This summer, he will have the pleasure of conducting the Harmonie des jeunes de la Virée in its performance at the Virée Classique the OSM’s signature summer event.