2024 Adjudicators

Maestro Stéphane Potvin was born and raised in a small town near the city of Québec. He received his early music training in piano from the age of seven. During high school he became interested in music leadership and more specifically choral and orchestral conducting. That desire brought him to Nicolet where he studied with the highly talented and dedicated soeurs de l'assomption. He then went on to McGill University to study piano performance and choral conducting. He later received a master's degree in choral conducting from the University of Illinois under the tutelage of Fred Stoltzfus. He is very privileged to have further studied conducting with Frieder Bernius, Otto Werner Mueller, and Gustav Meier to name a few.

Stéphane Potvin is a multi-talented individual. First and foremost a choral and orchestral conductor, he is also an experienced arts manager, a skilled graphic designer, and a proficient audio and video editor.

As a conductor, he is recognized for his impeccable technique, highly efficient rehearsals, and his profound and inspirational approach to music making. With over thirty years of experience, he is able to coax lyrical performances from orchestras, choirs, and chamber ensembles alike. Maestro Potvin's approach to music making marries the technical precision of the German culture, the silkiness of the Anglo Saxons singing, and the passion, fervour, and exuberance of his French-Canadian heritage. A respected composer, arranger and clinician, he also has a wealth of experience in education and adjudication. Above all he loves sharing his passion for music with colleagues and audiences.

Maestro Potvin is the Founder and Artistic Director of Musikay, a professional vocal and instrumental ensemble dedicated to the performance of classical music in and around Hamilton, with the goal of making that music accessible and relevant to today's audience.
Maestro Potvin's career has taken him throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. He has conducted the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra London, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra—where he served as Resident Conductor and Artistic Administrator—the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, the Canadian Armed Forces Band, and the National Academy Orchestra. As a well-established choral conductor, he has led numerous choirs including the Niagara Children's Chorus, the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir, the Brott Music Festival Choir, and has worked with the McGill Chamber Singers.
Mr. Potvin is an excellent communicator with a sparkling sense of humour. Fully bilingual, he connects equally with audiences in French and in English. A devoted communicator, he knows how to engage audiences young and old alike.