Uliana Drugova and Michel-Alexandre Broekaert

Biography

Uliana Drugova, D. MUS, violin
Violinist - Chamber musician - Educator

Finalist and prize-winner in many different competitions such as the Canadian Music Competition, recipient of numerous prizes and grants, Uliana Drugova's performance on stage has obtained considerable success throughout Québec. As a guest soloist for the Laval Symphony and the Arkea Ensemble, as a founding member of the Voxpopuli quartet and of the Trio de l'Île, Uliana is able to communicate true emotions to her audience through her dazzling playing and masterful technique.

During her doctorate studies, performance and musicology were intertwined, and this had her wandering in every dusty corner of the archival areas of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The result of her research - on the evolution of the American School of Violin through its Russian and Franco-Belgian roots - continues to create the interest of the musical community throughout the world. Uliana Drugova is a sought after conference speaker, her presentation at the renowned La Spezia international music conference received great reviews.

Uliana Drugova currently teaches violin at the Faculty of Music of the University of Montreal as well as at the Collegial level at the Ecole de Musique Vincent d'Indy (violin and chamber music). She is also an academic advisor at the Ecole des Jeunes of the University of Montreal on behalf of the administration and professors. She is regularly invited to to be on jury panels for competitions/exams and to give masterclass at various academic institutions across Quebec.

Uliana plays a Louis Joseph Morizot, Père (v. 1925) bow, graciously made available to her by Canimex Inc from Drummondville (QC), Canada.

www.ulianadrugova.com

Michel-Alexandre Broekaert, piano

Recognized for his profound and spectacular interpretations, Quebec pianist Michel-Alexandre Broekaert is one of the most promising musicians of his generation. Early on, he developed a passion for accompaniment and chamber music, making his experience vast and eclectic. At ease both on stage and in the studio, he divides his time between the instrumental repertoire and the world of opera with equal pleasure. A pedagogue at heart, his activities as a coach / pianist-collaborator at the Université de Montréal and McGill University nourish his passion for passing on knowledge to generations of young musicians. He is also committed to the future of classical music, actively engaging with established organizations and collectives of experienced musicians to present this art form in an accessible and casual way. Michel-Alexandre is very active on the Quebec scene and regularly collaborates with many organizations, such as the Canadian Institute of Vocal Art, Opéra de Montréal, the OSM-Manuvie competition, The Prix d'Europe Competition, Jeunesses Musicales Canada, as well as the collective Un Opéra Une Heure.

Michel-Alexandre has collaborated for many years with Jeunesses Musicales of Canada in several tours across Canada as a chamber musician and artistic director. As an organization with multiple missions, including bringing high-quality classical music concerts to audiences far away from major urban centres, JMC had a significant impact on his conception of the musician's role in our society.

His thirst for excellence and his communicative enthusiasm have also found fertile ground in the world of competitions, as evidenced by his extensive track record. Winner of several national and international competitions, he first distinguished himself as a soloist, winning first prizes in the Canadian Music Competition, the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and the Concerto Competition of Université de Montréal, his Alma Mater. In the world of chamber music, he reveals himself to the world, mainly alongside Quebec soprano Andréanne Brisson-Paquin. In 2011, the duo distinguished itself in Paris, receiving a special jury prize in the Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Piano Singing Competition finals. They were back again in 2013, winning the 2nd Prize of the prestigious Lyon International Chamber Music Competition.

Michel-Alexandre also distinguished himself at the “2016 Mary Trueman Art Song Vocal Competition”, receiving the “Pianist Prize” and in 2018, was awarded the Special Prize for the best accompanying pianist at the Concours International de mélodies françaises du Festival Classica. More recently, he took by storm the Concours d'Interprétation de L'Anthologie de la Musique Québécoise, owning the Prix Janine-Lachance (1st Prize collaborative-pianist), the Prix André-Mathieu (1st Prize (ex-aequo) Solo Piano), as well as the Jury's Coup de coeur.

Alongside cellist Noémie Raymond-Friset, he co-founded in 2018 Duo Cavatine, a duet that has since then established itself as one of the most dynamic chamber music groups on the Canadian scene. Their projects include a tour in the fall of 2021 presented by Début Atlantique and the upcoming launch of their first CD, entitled Nuages, on the KNS label.

He holds a doctorate from the Université de Montréal, under the tutelage of Mr. Jean Saulnier, and perfected his skills in Vienna (Austria) with the renowned pedagogue Avedis Kouyoumdjian.

Short video with Uliana Drugova and Michel-Alexandre Broekaert (In French only).

Back to current season