Marie Bérard
Marie Bérard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 (age 62–63) |
| Genres | Classical music |
| Occupation | Concertmaster |
| Instrument | 1767 Pietro Landolfi violin[1] |
| Years active | 1982-present |
| Member of | Canadian Opera Company, ARC Ensemble, Trio Arkel |
| Formerly of | Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Mainly Mozart |
| Website | www |
Marie Bérard is a French-Canadian violinist, best known as the concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company (COC) Orchestra.[2][3]
Early life and education
Bérard was born in Trois-Rivières in 1962, and educated at Collège Marie de L’Incarnation, the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, where she studied with David Zafer.[4][5]
In 1982, at the age of 20 and still in her second year of studies with Zafer, Bérard made her debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) at Massey Hall, playing Felix Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 on a 1717 Stradivarius violin; it was reported to have been the first time that particular instrument had been played by a student.[6]
Career
In 1989, Bérard was appointed concertmaster of the COC Orchestra; she has held that chair since.[3][7]
Until 2025, she was also Associate Concertmaster of the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego.[4][5][7]
In addition to her permanent chairs, she is a noted interpreter of contemporary classical music, performing with Art of Time Ensemble,[8] Esprit Orchestra,[9] Amici, Array Music, and New Music Concerts, and has performed at international festivals including Domaine Forget, Strings Music Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, and The Blair Atholl Festival in Scotland.
With TSO cellist Winona Zelenka, Bérard co-founded Trio Arkel (now Arkel Chamber Concerts) in 2008.[10][11][12]
During the COC’s search for a new music director that same year, she led the company’s orchestra in championing the hiring of Johannes Debus (Dirigent), after he had conducted their performance of Prokofiev’s 1946 opera War and Peace; Alexander Neef, then general director of the COC, “famously” ended the search early and “immediately offered [Debus] the job.”[13]
Bérard teaches at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, The Royal Conservatory of Music, The Glenn Gould School, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Biography: Marie Bérard". Royal Conservatory of Music. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ Siegel, Alisa (20 December 2023). "Exiled composer's music performed nearly a century after fleeing Nazis". CBC Radio. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
ARC Ensemble violinists Erika Raum and Marie Bérard perform at Mazzoleni Concert Hall in Toronto. Bérard is the concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra.
- ^ a b "Canadian Opera Company: Orchestra". Canadian Opera Company. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ a b Buell, M. J. (2011). "April's Child Profile: Marie Bérard". The WholeNote. 16 (7): 60.
- ^ a b Anonymous (27 February 2009). "Violinist glides through her love of music". The Villager. Toronto, Ontario. p. 1.
Bérard came to Toronto in her late teens to pursue an education at the University of Toronto, where she studied under David Zafer. […] Now, as concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and as assistant concertmaster of the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego…
- ^ Jones, Gaynor (14 May 1982). "Student makes Stradivarius sing". Toronto Star. p. D3.
…the [Toronto] Symphony is presenting something special. Last night was particularly memorable…Violinist Marie Berard soared through… It was difficult to accept that she is only 20, such is the maturity and musicianship of her playing. She made the piece sound so easy with her flexible technique. Born in Trois-Riveires, she has just completed her second year at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music… and this is the first time it [the 1717 Stradivarius] was played by a student. Berard was a fitting recipient, making her debut with the Symphony.
- ^ a b Terauds, John (16 October 2006). "Orchestra changes gears quickly: Opera players go from Wagner to Mozart, Concertmaster Marie Berard takes it in stride". Toronto Star. p. B5.
…Marie Berard, the orchestra's concertmaster (the principal violin and No.1 player)… has been the COC's concertmaster since 1989… The 44-year-old native of Trois-Rivieries, Que. came to Toronto as a 17-year-old student…
- ^ Bradshaw, James (12 March 2009). "Where words, notes, steps meet". The Globe and Mail. p. R4.
- ^ Everett-Green, Robert (17 May 2011). "A pop hit gets a cunning remix". The Globe and Mail. p. R4.
- ^ Terauds, John (13 January 2009). "Trio delivers intellectually stimulating program: Three exceptional artists come together to beautifully execute first of 'Five Small Concerts'". Toronto Star. p. L6.
…Trio Arkel, better known… as Canadian Opera Company Orchestra concertmaster Marie Berard, Toronto Symphony Orchestra principal viola Teng Li, and [TSO] acting principal cello Winona Zelenka.
- ^ "Arkel Chamber Concerts". Retrieved 14 December 2025.
Arkel Chamber Concerts… Co-founders Marie Bérard, Concertmaster of the COC Orchestra, and Winona Zelenka, a lead cellist of the TSO, began their journey as Trio Arkel, and now as Arkel Chamber Concerts…
- ^ "Arkel Chamber Concerts: About Us". Retrieved 14 December 2025.
Trio Arkel, originally founded in 2008, is composed of Marie Berard, violinist, Rémi Pelletier, violist, and Winona Zelenka, cellist…
- ^ Taylor, Kate (31 January 2015). "A challenge of Wagnerian proportions: The Canadian Opera Company's Johannes Debus faces the ultimate test". The Globe and Mail. p. R5.