Jean SAULNIER

Piano

Faculté de musique de l’Université de Montréal

Jean Saulnier leads an active career as a recitalist, chamber musician and teacher, with broad experience in both the solo and the chamber music repertoire. He is a sought-after collaborator by the best musicians from Canada and abroad, speaking eloquently to the flexibility, natural playing ability, and spirit of partnership he brings to every performance.
A recipient of numerous prizes in national and international competitions, including  the William Kapell International Competition, the Prix d’Europe and the Leschetizky
Competition, Jean Saulnier has performed in Canada, United States, South America and  Europe.
He has been guest soloist with renowned orchestras such as the Orchestre symphonique  de Montréal, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Orchestre Métropolitain, the  Rochester Philharmonic and I Musici de Montréal. He is frequently heard in major Canadian  music festivals and on CBC radio.
Performing with his long-time partners’ cellist Yegor Dyachkov and clarinetist André  Moisan, Jean Saulnier has recorded many major works from the chamber music repertoire  on the Pelléas, ATMA, Analekta and Doberman-Yppan recording labels. His 2002  recording of a Chopin recital on an 1848 Pleyel has also been praised for its refinement  and originality. Since then he has had many opportunities to play this rare and wonderful  instrument. Over time these investigations gave shape to a deeper awareness of the esthetics of Chopin’s music.
Jean Saulnier studied with Marc Durand, Leon Fleisher, and André Laplante. His doctorate  from the University of Montreal was saluted with the Governor General’s Academic  Gold Medal. He is currently Associate Professor at the Music Faculty of the University of  Montreal where he has been teaching for over 20 years. He is regularly invited to give  master classes at institutions of higher education. He frequently serves as a jury member  for national and international competitions, higher education institutions and government  agencies.