Stéphan Sylvestre

Stéphan Sylvestre ranks among the most sought-after Canadian pianists and pedagogues of the new generation. Compared by critics to Artur Rubinstein for his natural talent and flawless technique (La Presse, Montreal), he has given performances across Canada, the United States, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Asia. He performed in concert halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Place des Arts, the National Arts Centre, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and recorded live for the BBC. Mr. Sylvestre appeared with leading orchestras, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Métropolitain among others, and performed in major national and international festivals in Canada.

Highly praised as a chamber musician, he regularly collaborates with artists and ensembles such as James Campbell, James Sommerville, Martin Beaver, Michel Strauss, Alain Trudel, Ransom Wilson, Rivka Golani, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Penderecki, New Zealand, New Orford, Alcan and Arthur-Leblanc string quartets, as well as with first chairs of the Israel Philharmonic. His
discography has been recognized with outstanding reviews worldwide. Nominated for two Prix Opus awards in Quebec, his recordings of Brahms’ late piano pieces were placed alongside Murray Perahia’s interpretations by WholeNote magazine, and the Strad Magazine in the UK gave a stunning review of his recording of Szymanovski’s complete works for violin and piano with violinist Jerzy Kaplanek.

Mr. Sylvestre regularly gives master classes and sits on juries of national and international competitions and adjudicates for leading music institutions including the Glenn Gould School and the network of Conservatoire de Musique du Québec. Stéphan Sylvestre is a faculty member of the Orford Musique Academy where he teaches in the summer. Highly in demand as a pedagogue, his research on the art of performance focuses on the interconnection between the instrument, the awareness of the body and the mental state of the performer. His students are frequent prizewinners of leading competitions and have been awarded prestigious research grants. Mr. Sylvestre is Associate Professor and head of Keyboard Studies at Western University Canada. His teachers have included Leon Fleisher, John Perry, Marc Durand and Marek Jablonski.