Juliane Gallant, Conductor, appearing courtesy of Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership Program

New Brunswick-born Juliane Gallant is the Resident Conductor of the Calgary Phil and was one of two conductors in the inaugural cohort of Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership program. Since relocating to Canada from the UK in 2021, she has appeared as a guest conductor with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony New Brunswick. She has also worked as an assistant and cover conductor with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

A passionate collaborator, Juliane first trained as a collaborative pianist, répétiteur, and vocal coach, and began her conducting career in opera, leading productions throughout the UK for Gothic Opera (Le loup-garou/Le dernier sorcier), Hampstead Garden Opera (La bohème), King’s Head Theatre (Carmen, Tosca), Opera on Location (L’enfant prodigue, Cinderella, La Traviata, Don Giovanni, Carmen), St Paul’s Opera (Così fan tutte, Orphée aux enfers), Opera Upclose (Carmen, Music oft hath such a charm, Ulla’s Odyssey), and Opera MIO (A Fantastic Bohemian: The Tales of Hoffmann revisited). In 2021, she made her Royal Opera House conducting debut in Mami Wata in collaboration with Pegasus Opera. In Canada, she was Music Director for Eugene Onegin at the Highlands Opera Studio, and conducted a performance of Nicole Lizée’s R.U.R. A Torrent of Light in her capacity of Assistant Conductor with Tapestry Opera.

A strong believer in music as a vehicle for joy and human connection, Juliane worked extensively on community outreach and education projects during her time in the UK. With Opera Holland Park, she explored opera in schools, with residents of care homes, with communities of refugees, and with people living with physical and mental disabilities. With Lost Chord, she brought music to people living with dementia across Yorkshire. With Baseless Fabric, she led interactive opera workshops in schools in underserved London boroughs.

Juliane is a graduate of the National Opera Studio, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique de Montréal, the University of Ottawa, and the Université de Moncton. In London, Juliane was one of only 12 conductors selected for the first Women Conductors Course: Conducting for Opera, run by the Royal Opera House, the National Opera Studio, and the Royal Philharmonic Society, and has received continued support from the Royal Opera House throughout her training. She has participated in a conducting masterclass with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and in the Winnipeg Symphony RBC Canadian Conductors Showcase. Her conducting mentors include regular Calgary Phil guest conductors Karen Kamensek, JoAnn Falletta, and former Calgary Philharmonic Resident Conductor and Chorus Master Rosemary Thomson.

Beginning in the 2023/2024 season, Juliane Gallant takes the podium as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s Resident Conductor. In that capacity Juliane will play a leading role in the evolution of education programs, like PhilKids, Education Concerts, and community concerts throughout the city. She will direct several concerts, including performances with Serena Ryder, Brett Kissell, Traditional Christmas, The Broadway/Hollywood Songbook, and Violins of Hope. Juliane will also lead the CPO for the majority the Symphony Sundays for Kids programs, and will serve as a standby conductor for all Music Director and guest conductor concerts.

© 2018 HA Photography

Ken Lavigne

Singer Ken Lavigne has charmed his way into the hearts of concert goers across North America with his exciting blend of classical tenor sound and modern style. Recognized early for the outstanding timbre of his lyric tenor voice as well as the ease and agility with which he sings, Ken’s career has taken many directions that includes current touring shows: The Road to Carnegie Hall, The Ken Lavigne Christmas Musical Roadshow and a new show, 3 Knights with a Tenor.

Ken was a founding member of The Canadian Tenors and co-founded the successful tenor trio, Romanza.  Over the past decade, Ken shifted his focus to independently producing solo performances and recordings that include eight albums: Believe, Keep Holding On, Showtime, Comfort & Joy, The Ken Lavigne Christmas Roadshow, Closer Than Ever and Let Me Be Frank.