Musical Improv Match ^{Summer 2025}

André Moisan holds the position of bass clarinetist and saxophonist in the woodwind section of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. A member of the OSM since 2000, he earned a Doctorate in Clarinet Performance from the Université de Montréal. His teachers and mentors have included Gilles Moisan, Bob Crowley, Karl Leister, and Larry Combs. He also studied conducting with Pierre Boulez and Osmo Vänskä. Among his many awards and distinctions are an Opus Prize for his conducting performance with the OSM’s School Matinees, as well as four Opus Prize nominations as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition to his orchestral career, he has been a clarinet professor at the Université de Montréal since 1989. André chose a career in music in part because he has been immersed in it since birth: his father held the same position as him in the OSM for 46 years, and his paternal grandmother was one of the first silent film pianists in Montreal!

He has released nine albums under the ATMA label, including one as a conductor. He has frequently appeared as a guest soloist with the OSM since 1996 and served as conductor for the Jeux d’enfants and School Matinees series from 1998 to 2008.

A jazz trombonist and experienced artistic director, Hélène Lemay performs regularly on the Quebec scene with many of today’s leading jazz, pop and classical artists. Recognized for her versatility as a musician, this Université de Sherbrooke music graduate has received several grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec awarded for large-scale creations involving an interdisciplinary approach. In 2017, she was awarded a subsidy for the conceptualization of a new performance combining improvised music with literary creation.

Founder and president of Productions Tuxedo Swing, Hélène enjoys a solid reputation for creating large-scale cultural events with leading national and international artists. At the helm of GEMU – Grand Ensemble de Musiques Urbaines – she leads tours that feature diverse artistic productions, including La vie est musique, which received the Prix Initiative Jeunesse in 2018. Thanks to the support of major funding bodies and partners, these productions are now presented in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Her passion for promoting Quebec artists from different musical horizons has also driven her to create the regional Série Culturelle de Warwick, a reflection of her eclectic outlook.

Jimmy Lahaie is a professional guitarist, composer, performer and arranger. He began playing his instrument at the age of nine, under the guidance of his father.

He grew up in a musical family where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather all devote themselves to careers in music.

After pursuing advanced music studies, he taught the guitar at the Cégep in Alma from 2005 to 2008, and subsequently at the Université de Sherbrooke since 2023.

His versatility and creativity are manifest in a variety of musical styles, from rock, jazz and country to pop, acoustic, fingerstyle and flamenco.

He has worked as an arranger on over 100 albums with artists from Canada, the United States, Europe and Africa.

Since 2004, he has toured with many Canadian and international artists, including Lara Fabian, Luc de la Rochellière, Mario Pelchat, Michel Legrand and Sebastian Demrey of the group Héritage. Héritage albums Cantiques et Hymnes and their Christmas album Cantiques de Noël garnered numerous awards.

Lahaie tours regularly throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, the West Indies, Indian Ocean locations, as well as other global destinations, where he performs in public and gives master classes. He has worked on four of five Québecissime shows as a guitarist, from 2002 to the present.

Emmanuelle Fadin is an accomplished international player, both calm and funny. Nurse by profession, she writes pragmatically but knows how to step outside her comfort zone for the enjoyment of her teammates and the audience. Generous and cheerful, every show with her is a shared joy!

A trained set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, and puppeteer, Marie-Lune has been improvising for nearly twenty years. Versatile, she moves easily from comedy to drama. Passionate about all aspects of the stage, she will gladly sing along for a musical improvisation!

Julien, comedian and actor, has been improvising for over 15 years. With a combination of tournaments, coaching, and European tours, Julien stands out for his colorful characters.

William Bernaquez is a comedian who has been improvising for over a decade. He has developed a unique style, humor, and characters that reflect his personality, which he always uses in his comedy. He continues to find pleasure in the art of improvisation.

Martin has been involved in the world of improvisation for 28 years now. An experienced player, coach, and game master, he has demonstrated his creativity, wit, and quick thinking throughout Quebec and across Europe during numerous show tours. As a game master, he will share with you his contagious passion for the beautiful art of improvisation.