Stéphan Sylvestre ranks among the most gifted Canadian pianists of the new generation and enjoys a versatile performing career as recitalist, orchestra soloist and chamber musician. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have bestowed lavish praise on his performances:
“…his natural talent reminds one of the great Artur Rubinstein…” (La Presse, Montreal), “…somewhat reminiscent of the young Kempff” (La Scena Musicale, Canada), “… He is one of those musicians who plays a work, first, for its own sake, then for himself, and finally, for the audience, which is privileged to be witness to his search for the very heart of the work.” (Le Droit, Ottawa), “… he is gifted with essential sense of tonal magic, masterly brilliant virtuosity and monumentality,” (Flovo Cultury,Czech Republic), “ …Listening to Sylvestre cradle the keyboard with such effortless simplicity is a joy.” (Edinburghguide.com), “…Some pianists are able to coax their instrument into doing just about anything. With seemingly little effort and a few quiet sorrowful notes they stir up a passionate response. Stephan Sylvestre is such an artist.” (New Winnipeg Magazine
His concert tours and performances have taken place in major concert halls, universities and concert organizations throughout Canada, United States, Brazil, France, Italy, Scotland, England, Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Notable venues include the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), St-Martin in the Fields (London), Place des Arts (Montreal), National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Massey Hall (Toronto). He has appeared with several Canadian orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Metropolitain and the Janacek Academy Orchestra in the Czech Republic and has performed at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, the Lanaudière International Festival and the Domaine Forget International Music Festival. Stéphan Sylvestre is heard regularly on the French and English networks of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Suisse Romande and has performed live for the BBC in the United Kingdom.
He has collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as James Campbell, James Sommerville, Ransom Wilson, Matt Haimovitz, Martin Beaver, the Penderecki String Quartet, the Quatuor Arthur-Leblanc and the Alcan Quartet. Stéphan Sylvestre was also co-founder and member of Trio Contrastes until 2002.
Stéphan Sylvestre has won numerous awards: the Canadian Music Competition, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, the Prix d’Europe, the Canadian Music Centre Special Prize, the du Maurier Grand Prize, the Pro Musica Excellence Award, and twice the Artist of the Year Prize from Jeunesses Musicales of Canada. In addition, he has made a lasting impression at the Dublin International Competition in Ireland.
Stéphan Sylvestre holds a master’s degree from the Université de Montréal and an Artist Diploma from the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. He has studied with Marc Durand, Leon Fleisher and Marek Jablonski, and has perfected his craft in Europe and at the University of Southern California under John Perry.
Stéphan Sylvestre has taught for the Performance Department at McGill University as well as for Sherbrooke University’s Music Faculty. He joined The Don Wright Faculty of Music of the University of Western Ontario in 2005.
