Musical Storytime ^{Summer 2025}

Catherine Lévesque remembers telling herself as a child, “I have to remember how I feel: the joy of discovering life and being amazed; the feeling of being grown up even if adults don’t see children that way.”

Having worked as an actress, pianist, teacher, singer, and host, Catherine became a librarian at the Grande Bibliothèque de Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ). She uses her artistic background and her love of children to tell them stories that speak to them and stimulate their imagination.

Mathieu Harel has served as the associate principal bassoon with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 1998. After completing his studies at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, he furthered his training at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under the mentorship of Bernard Garfield.

Previously, he held positions with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec and the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago. Since 2004, he has been teaching at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. He has also taught at McGill University, Domaine Forget, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.

Recognized as one of the finest bassoonists of his generation, Mathieu Harel has performed as a soloist with several orchestras across Canada. His elegant playing and warm personality make him a sought-after chamber musician.