Located in the heart of the region which he proudly bears the name, the Orchestre Symphonique de la Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent (OSVHSL) defines itself as a dynamic response to the various challenges facing it in terms of its cultural professional structures. Thus, it is positioned as a tour orchestra and plans to diffuse each of its programs in various cities of the VHSL who could technically afford it.

It consists of 15 to 45 professional musicians plus the conductor, divided among the sections of strings, winds and percussions, depending on the repertoire played. It envisages, in a fairly short amount of time, the production of three to five concert programs a year.

The OSVHSL is dedicated to the interpretation of classical music. It is not excluded that it addresses, on the occasion, some popular music, particularly in the context of benefit concerts or performances of intrinsic artistic quality.

What is a "Period orchestra"?

The idea of interpreting the baroque, classical and romantic repertoires on instruments and with ways of playing qualified as "period" — the very ones that were used to create the works of these ancient times — was born about 50 years ago and allowed to dust off how to perform symphonic music.

The most striking features of this "new" approach correspond to a way of playing which is in general softer and more velvety, but also more expressive, and the use of instruments which shapes and construction meet that of past centuries. The balance of sound masses of the orchestra is thereby facilitated.

Thus, for example, the horns and trumpets, baroque and classical do not have the pistons of our modern instruments. This complicates the work of musicians but allows them to use sounds and intensities that the brass of today have lost.


The same remark applies to the woods, including the flute, made?of wood until the nineteenth century.


The use of classical or baroque bows and gut strings instead of steel ones are also a main characteristics of violins, violas, cellos and basses against period.



In this way, the OSVHSL positions itself as a phalanx symphony at the forefront of global trends in terms of interpretation of classical music. Moreover, this vision fits perfectly with the historic character of the Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent.

OSVHSL musicians

Concerts of June 2012

Classical clarinet : Mark Simons, soloist
Violins I : Olivier Brault (solo), Marjolaine Lambert, Tanya Laperrière, Sari Tsuji
Violins II : Jacques-André Houle, Natalie Cadotte, Émilie Brûlé, Jiwon Kim
Violas : Ellie Nimeroski, Isaac Chalk, Bennett Mahler
Cellos : Pierre-Alain Bouvrette, Amanda Keesmat
Double bass : Francis Palma-Pelletier

Concerts of March 20 and May 1rst, 2011

Violins I : Julie Triquet, Hélène Plouffe, Clemens Merkel,
Charles-Étienne Marchand, Sari Tsuji
Violins II : Olivier Brault, Natalie Cadotte, Jacques André Houle,
Marjolaine Lambert
Violas : Stéphanie Bozzini, Pemi Paull, Kathia Robert, Jasmine Schnarr
Cellos : Isabelle Bozzini, Pierre-Alain Bouvrette
Double bass : Francis Palma-Pelletier

Concert of Octobre 31, 2010

Violins I : Hélène Plouffe, Julie Triquet, Rachel Jones, Natalie Cadotte
Violins II : Olivier Brault, Tanya Laperrière, Sari Tsuji, Marjolaine Lambert
Violas : Jacques André Houle, Kathia Robert, Stéphanie Bozzini
Cellos : Isabelle Bozzini, Pierre-Alain Bouvrette
Double bass : Nicolas Lessard
Flute : Grégoire Jeay
Oboes : Graham Saint-Laurent, Josée Marchand
Horns : Louis-Philippe Marsolais, Jocelyn Veilleux
Trumpets : Stéphane Beaulac, Aline Théry
Bassoons : Anna Marsh, Lise Millet
Timpani : Vincent Dhavernas

Administration

General and Music Director : Daniel Constantineau <
Director Assistant : Sophie Cusson <
Orchestra Contractor: Hélène Plouffe <
Development Consultant: Pierrette Dumas

Board of directors

• Jean-Pierre Leduc, Vice-president Director of Valspec - founding member and president.
• Jacques Lemieux, Acting Vice-president of CRÉ VHSL - Vice-president.
• Daniel Constantineau, Music teacher at Cégep de Valleyfield, General and Music Director of OSVHSL - founding member and treasurer.
• Nicole Delorme, Manager, co-owner of Galerie Pierre Séguin, Île Perrot - secretary.
• Guy Laperrière, General director of Cégep de Valleyfield.
• André Mooney, Director of the Soleil de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

Musicians recruiting

ELIGIBILITY

The criteria prior to any audition or acceptance within the band are:
• Being member of the Guild of Musicians in Quebec, the FMC or FMA — musicians' salaries being those prescribed by these bodies;
• Having an university recognized education in music — or its equivalent at the Conservatory —, preferably graduate (master's or doctorate);
• Providing experience in professional or university orchestras;
• Since OSVHSL is not confined to historical repertoire, being able to play old and new versions of your instrument (eg drums and timpani modern baroque trumpet / horn with and without pistons, violin / cello / bass baroque / classical and modern with attached bow, etc.) is an asset.
• At equal talent, the hiring of musicians born or living in Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent could be an element of positive discrimination.

AUDITIONS

The recruitment at OSVHSL is proceeding by invitation. A curriculum vitae, as well as three recent audio clips (CD or mp3) — one of which must be accompanied (piano, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ, orchestra — whatever) — are required. The material must be sent to the following address:

Artistic director OSVHSL
7-639, de l'Epee Avenue
Montreal (Quebec) H2V 3T7

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