Jean-Sébastien Vallée

Academic title(s): 

Associate Professor, Area Coordinator (Sabbatical leave, Winter '24)

 

 

Jean-Sébastien Vallée
Department: 
Music Performance
Area(s): 
Ensembles & Conducting
Contact Information
Email address: 
jean-sebastien.vallee2 [at] mcgill.ca
Group: 
Area Coordinator
Faculty
Office: 
Elizabeth Wirth Music Building | Room 632
Salutation: 
Dr.
Degree(s): 

D.M.A.  | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

M.Mus | University of California, Santa Cruz

Graduate Diploma | Université de Sherbrooke

B.Mus | Université Laval

Unit: 
Choral Studies & Conducting
Biography: 

Prof. Jean-Sébastien Vallée is a renowned Canadian-American conductor, scholar, and pedagogue known for his expertise in vocal, choral, and orchestral repertoires. With an illustrious career spanning over several decades, Dr. Vallée has conducted numerous ensembles across North America, Europe, and Asia, and has prepared choruses for some of the world's most prestigious orchestras including the Toronto Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Currently serving as Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Studies, and Coordinator of the Ensembles & Conducting Area at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, and as Artistic Director of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Dr. Vallée is a sought-after conductor and pedagogue. He has previously served as the Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, and was on the choral faculty of the University of Redlands.

Maestro Vallée's passion for contemporary music is evident in his work, as he makes it a priority to premiere and commission works by young composers and program rarely performed repertoire. His research interests are varied and focus primarily on Renaissance French music, the oratorical works of Michael Tippett, and conducting pedagogy, more specifically the connection between audiation and gestural communication. Dr. Vallée has presented his research at several national and international conferences, including the American Choral Directors Association Conventions, Festival 500 in Newfoundland, the National Collegiate Choral Organization conference, Podium—the national convention of Choral Canada, the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, and the World Symposium on Choral Music in Spain (2017), New Zealand (2020), and Portugal (2022).

Maestro Vallée's recordings have been broadcast internationally and include Lux (ATMA, 2017), Requiem (ATMA, 2018 – requiems by Fauré and Duruflé), and Distance (ATMA, 2021). His recent engagements include concerts at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, a tour with the National Choir of Canada, and concerts with l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. 

www.jsvallee.com

Program: 

D.Mus |  Conducting

M.Mus | Conducting

Graduate Certificate | Choral Conducting

B.Mus Minor | Conducting

Choral Studies & Ensembles

 

 

Courses: 

Choral Literature

Schulich Singers

Concert Choir

Conducting Workshop & Tutorial

Teaching areas: 

Director of Choral Studies & Ensembles & Conducting

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