Mireille Proulx

Career

Concerts

ACCO0004
In Montreal, Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur, Maisons de la culture Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Frontenac, Marie-Uguay and Pointe-aux-Trembles; Stewart Hall in Pointe-Claire; Auditorium Montignac in Lac-Mégantic; Maison Lachaîne in Sainte-Thérèse; National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa; Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne.
In Montreal, Maison de la culture Rivières-des Prairies and four concerts in the “Hors les murs” series at Maison de la culture Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension; Centre culturel de Drummondville; Centre culturel Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu; Stewart Hall in Pointe-Claire; Salle Anthony-Lessard in Saint-Jérôme.
In Quebec City, at Kiosque Edwin-Bélanger; in Port Hope, Ontario, at the All-Canadian Jazz Festival; at Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur in Montreal; and at the Georges-P. Vanier Cultural Center in Châteauguay.
Concerts in Eastern Canada at Théâtre du Cuivre, Rouyn-Noranda; at Salle Félix-Leclerc in Val-d’Or; at Théâtre des Eskers in Amos; at Barachois Historical Church in New Brunswick; at the Indian River Festival (now Under the Spire) in Prince Edward Island; at Féerie musicale de Tremblant; and at Centennial Theatre in Lennoxville.
Concerts in Quebec at Maison de la culture de Gatineau; at Église de la Visitation in Ste-Foy; at Auditorium Montignac in Lac-Mégantic; at Maisons de la culture Plateau Mont-Royal and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in Montreal; at Centre culturel de Pointe-Claire (Stewart Hall); and at Concerts de la Promenade in Saint-Eustache.
Concerts in Montreal at Café-théâtre in Place des Arts; at the Montreal International Jazz Festival; in the Maisons de la culture Marie-Uguay and Côte-des-Neiges; and at Centre des arts de la scène Pauline-Julien. Also in Quebec in Joliette, Mont-Tremblant, Longueuil, Drummondville, Ville LaSalle and Louiseville, as well as at the Westben Arts Festival Theatre in Campbellford, Ontario.
Performance at the 2003 National Jazz Awards, which coincided with the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), with more than 7,000 participants from 35 countries. Gala broadcast across Canada by the CBC and Société Radio-Canada.
Canadian tour: concerts in Montreal at Maisons de la culture Villeray/St-Michel/Parc Extension, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Mercier, and at Piano Nobile in Place des Arts; in Quebec City at Grand Théâtre de Québec and at Kiosque Edwin-Bélanger; at Emmanuel United Church, Cowansville; at Théâtre de Sept-Îles and at Théâtre de Baie-Comeau. Also at the Markham Jazz Festival, Ontario.
Concerts in Quebec at Terrebonne, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Camp Musical du Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean, Pointe-Claire, Joliette and Montreal; and also in Ottawa.

  • Quebec tour: Richmond, Lévis, Lac-Mégantic, Repentigny, Sainte-Adèle, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Val d’Or, North Hatley, LaSalle, Longueuil and Beloeil. Several concerts in Montreal.
  • The du Maurier outdoor stage at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
  • In the “Jazz d’ici” series at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, at Théâtre du Nouveau Monde.
Tours in Eastern Canada taking in these locations: Quebec City, Lévis, Baie-Comeau, Rouyn, Magdalen Islands, Ottawa, Valleyfield, Montreal International Jazz Festival.
American tour: Newport, Providence and Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and New York City (at Trinity Church, 28th edition of that concert series).
Invited to perform at the international Jazz à Vienne festival, France, and to launch the 34th edition of the Festival international de jazz d’Antibes–Juan-les-Pins, France.
The Union européenne de radiodiffusion’s international jazz festival, twinned that year with the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy.
Invited by RAI director Adriano Mazoletti to present two concerts at the Jazz by the Sea festival in Fano, Italy.
First part of the Dave Brubeck concert at the gala evening of the Ballets jazz de Montréal at the Spectrum.
Performances at the jazz festivals in Montreal and Ottawa, as well as in the following venues: La Licorne, Grand Théâtre de Québec, Théâtre le Vieux Treuil, Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts, the National Library of Canada and the National Gallery in Ottawa, Palais Montcalm, Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City, Théâtre du Cuivre, Maisons de la culture, Atelier à l’Écart, Maison du Citoyen, Salle Rolland-Brunelle, Salle Félix-Leclerc, L’Anglicane and Pavillon des Arts.

Career

Training

DIPLOMAS

  • D.É.S., Conservatoire de musique du Québec in Montreal
  • D.É.C., Conservatoire de musique du Québec in Montreal
  • Advanced training: course with Sonia Jelinkova (Ivan Galamian school)
Awards, Grants and Recognition in Artistic Circles
  • 2007. “Les Plans de Barbara”, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. (composition grant)
  • 2003-2008. Nomination at the National Jazz Awards
  • 2004. “Les Maîtres du feu”, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (composition grant)
  • 2001. “Triptyque”, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (composition grant)
  • 1998. Infini Rendez-vous featured in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine as one of the year’s 24 best discs according to Jurgen Gothe of the CBC
  • 1998. “Mouvements d’une statue en liberté”, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (composition grant)
  • 1995. “Bacagnole”, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (composition grant)
  • 1994. Invited to kick off the 34th Festival de Jazz d’Antibes–Juan-les-Pins, France
  • 1994. Grant for performance outside Québec and composition grant for “Allegoria”, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
  • 1993. Chosen by Radio-Canada’s cultural radio network to represent Canada at the European Broadcasting Union’s international jazz festival held in Italy
    “Clair-Obscur”,     Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (composition grant)
  • 1992. Nomination of the disc Il y avait des pélicans at ADISQ in the Best Jazz Album of the Year category
    The disc Il y avait des pélicans qualified as “exceptional” by Dave Brubeck
  • 1990. “Miranda”, Ministère de la culture du Québec (composition grant)
  • 1988. Chosen as the “Discovery” of the Ottawa Jazz Festival
Masterclasses, workshops and lectures

  • 2004-10. Lecturer (jazz violin) at Université de Montréal
  • 2004. Edinburgh School in Côte-St-Luc
  • 2002. At the performing arts hall in Sept-Îles for the music school and at Baie-Comeau for the École de musique Côte-Nord
  • 1996. Invited to give workshops at a music specialty high school (for Cranston Schools) in Rhode Island, U.S.
  • 1994. At Théâtre de Baie-Comeau for eight regional elementary and secondary schools

Commissions

Five themes for Maison de la culture Marie-Uguay in Montreal on the occasion of that institution’s tenth anniversary (two of the themes can be found on her discs).
A piece commissioned by the painter Jean-Marc Blier, which served as inspiration for “Infini Rendez-vous.”
Jury member
  • 2004–2010. Université de Montréal, exams and auditions in jazz violin
  • 2001. Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec 
           Gala du Griffon d’or
  • 2000. Musicaction
Member
SOCAN, SODRAC, ARTISTI, CONNECT Music Licensing
Collaborations
Collaborated with Canadian pianists John Sadowy, François Bourassa, Guy Dubuc, Jeff Johnston, Daniel Thouin, Bryn Roberts and Eric Harding.

DISTRIBUTION OF WORKS

(original material in a violin-piano formation)

Discs

  • Volutes, 2010, Ars Musica 
  • Le jardin de nuit, 2003, Ars Musica
  • Infini Rendez-vous, 1997, Ars Musica
  • Il y avait des pélicans, 1992, Ars Musica.
    Digital distribution : Amplitude
    Videos
    (aired primarily on Radio-Canada, TéléQuébec, Musimax, Musique Plus, Bravo!, TV5 and ARTV, as well as in Europe and in the U.S.)
    • “Cumulus,” 2011, Ars Musica
    • “Rouge et bleu,” 2005, Ars Musica
    • “Lumière dans la coulée,” 1999, Soma Productions
    • “Infini Rendez-vous,” 1997, Zara Films
    • “Vacances,” 1993, Cinoque Films
    • “Il y avait des pélicans,” 1992, Transfilmanie
    These videos have been broadcast since fall 2003 on over 60 television channels in the U.S. via the program Classic Arts Showcase.
    Radio and television

    Pieces from the four discs have regularly been broadcast over Radio-Canada, Espace Musique, Ici Musique, CBC, Planète Jazz, CJPX, 98.5FM and Radio Ville-Marie. A number of concerts were recorded in the series Jazz sur le vif and Concerts d’été, both on Radio-Canada.
    • 2012. “Cumulus” aired on Télé-Québec in the series Court-Métrage. 
    • 2004–2010. Reports on RDI, Télé-Québec and MusiMax.
    • 2005. “Rouge et bleu” aired on Télé-Québec in the series Court-Métrage.
    • 2004. “Roc, vent, sel” aired on Norwegian radio.
    • 2003. “Roc, vent, sel” aired on Swedish radio.
    • 2002. “Vacances” aired on television in the Czech Republic.
    • 2000-2002. An excerpt from the piece “Infini rendez-vous” was chosen as the opening theme of the Radio-Canada TV program Info Service. And as of October 2000, excerpts from the three discs were used as incidental music for various TV programs of the public broadcaster.
    • 1993–1996. “Vacances” became the signature tune for the cultural radio program Aux premières loges, broadcast by Radio-Canada in Quebec City.
    • 1994. TV reports and magazines: France 2, France 3, MCM, M6 Monaco (broadcast of the concert at Juan-les-pins).
      Radio broadcast: Radio France, France Inter, France Inter Izère, Croque-Radio (Vienne), BBC Cardiff, Cannes Radio, Agora Cannes Radio, Radio Palace, RTHK Radio 3 (Hong Kong), Vermont Public Radio.

    • 1993. Broadcast of the Perugia concert over RAI and excerpts over the radio in Denmark (DR), Sweden (AB), Belgium (BRTN), England (BBC), Hungary (MR), Germany (HR), the Netherlands (NOS), Slovenia (RTV), Austrian radio and Radio France.
    Cinema
    1998. Japanese filmmaker Hiro Konishi, based in Los Angeles, used excerpts from Il y avait des pélicans (“Vacances,” “Une salamandre” and “Gargouilles et chimères”) in the soundtrack to his motion picture Hanging Nowhere.

    Reviews

    “In wedding a classical training to jazz music and by adding her personal touch, she has succeeded in creating a unique style.” 
    – Châtelaine Magazine
    “No telling how much further your talent will take you” 
    – Dave Brubeck to Mireille Proulx after hearing her first recording, Il y avait des pélicans.
    “[Infini rendez-vous] is a finely worked, sumptuous music that’s just right for a champagne-and-caviar evening, or for the sort of rendezvous you wish would be ‘infinite.’” 
    – La Presse, Montreal
    “When Mireille Proulx plays the Festival, suddenly it’s a more refined, well-bred, elegant event. No one in jazz produces more exquisite sounds on the violin than Proulx: her classical training comes through in a lyricism, an impressionism and a simple beauty as she interprets compositions of her own making, streaked with dark/light shadings of emotion.” 
    – Montreal International Jazz Festival program notes
    “Any fan of Jazz violin should definitely seek out this recording [Le jardin de nuit]. It’s a violin lover’s delight.” 
    – Cadence, The Review of Jazz & Blues
    “Proulx’s work has a unique place in jazz from these parts. She brings out the affinities between painting and music, between sounds and colors…. The violinist’s playing emanates energy, sensitivity, sensual delight.” 
    – Voir (Montreal)
    “Violinist Mireille Proulx’s exuberant worldview, reflecting classical influences, is front and center in these eight impressionist vistas…” 
    – Montreal Mirror
    “Coupled with formidable technique, well-shaped structures and teeming ideas, she presents a good package on her third album [Le jardin de nuit] alongside busy accompanist John Sadowy on piano…. This is ambitious music that works.” 
    – Toronto Star
    “Hard to define the styles here [in Infini rendez-vous]: quirky, highly original compositions based on classical, jazz and world music. The three-part Québécois suite ‘Bacagnole’ is fine local color. The overall sound is atmospheric, fiery and folky all at once.” 
    – Jurgen Gothe, enRoute (Air Canada magazine)
    “Montréal violinist Mireille Proulx impresses both as a composer and improviser.” 
    – Marke Andrews, The Vancouver Sun
    “…Canadian violinist Proulx’s second album with an unanticipated poignancy and significance: Proulx’s CD is proof Grappelli’s legacy will live on and evolve and a fine example of jazz violin in its own right.” 
    – Ross McLennan, Winnipeg Sun
    “ Jazz violinists are a rare breed... This is music of high order, played with feeling.” 
    – Len Dobbin, Montreal Mirror