Draft:Jean-Sébastien Vallée

Jean-Sébastien Vallée (born 1979 in Quebec City) is a conductor, scholar, and pedagogue known for his work in vocal, choral, and orchestral repertoires. He has conducted ensembles across North America, Europe, and Asia and has prepared choruses for orchestras such as the Toronto Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Education
Vallée holds degrees from Université Laval, Sherbrooke University, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a doctorate in conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Career
Vallée currently holds positions as Full Professor of Music, Director of Choral Studies, and Coordinator of the Ensembles & Conducting Area at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. Additionally, he serves as the eighth Artistic Director of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir since its foundation in 1894. Previously, Vallée worked as the Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, and as a member of the choral faculty at the University of Redlands.

Research
Vallée's scholarly interests include Renaissance French music, the health effects of choral singing, the oratorical works of Michael Tippett , and conducting pedagogy.

Recordings and engagements
Vallée has conducted three recordings for ATMA Classique, including Lux, Requiem(Fauré & Duruflé) , and Distance. Recent engagements include performances at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest and collaborations with ensembles such as the National Youth Choir of Canada, l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec , the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

Recognition and affiliations
Jean-Sébastien Vallée served as Music Director of the Ottawa Choral Society from 2016 to 2022 and was Director of Choirs at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montréal from 2015 to 2022. Currently, he serves as the 8th Artistic Director of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.