Maxine Thévenot, conductor
…’Thévenot’s direction invariably shapes the music with illuminating and often profound effect, sculpting each phrase with intelligence and understanding. There is an immaculate precision to every gesture.’… –Albuquerque Journal
Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, Maxine Thévenot is one of North America’s leading young choral directors. Equally at home working with amateur and children’s choirs as with adult professional singers, Dr. Thévenot has trained and conducted ensembles across Canada and the USA.
Acclaimed by The American Organist for her “consummate musicianship”, Maxine Thévenot is Director of Cathedral Music and Organist at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of only six women in the USA to hold such a position. Ms. Thévenot has conducted choral ensembles on national and international tours which have included the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral in NYC and the world-famous St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, UK; in 2014 she will take The Cathedral Choirs on residency tours to Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
Since 2006, Maxine Thévenot is Founding and Artistic Director of Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico. She has since led the group, New Mexico’s only resident professional vocal ensemble, in a number of major musical projects, collaborating with the New Mexico Philharmonic, The Santa Fe Concert Association and including sold-out performances of Handel’s Messiah. ‘A group made up entirely and proudly of New Mexico singers, Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, has quickly become the area’s premiere chamber chorus in no small part due to Thévenot’s direction.’ –Albuquerque Journal
Dr. Thévenot is a faculty member at the University of New Mexico, where she directs the state’s only collegiate women’s choir, Las Cantantes, and has made three commercial recordings with the group, whose “sensitive, heartfelt singing” was lauded by the American Record Guide.
Maxine Thévenot holds degrees from the University of Saskatchewan (Bachelor of Music) and the Manhattan School of Music (Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts), where she was twice recipient of the Bronson Ragan Award for “most outstanding organist.” She is also an Associate of the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Royal Conservatory of Music, and an Honorary Fellow of the National College of Music, London, UK.
In addition to her work as a choral director, Maxine Thévenot maintains a distinguished international career as an organ recitalist. Recently praised by The Diapason magazine for her ‘ravishing playing…stunning playing that is both sensitive and musical,’ Ms. Thévenot has performed throughout Europe, Great Britain, and North America at many prestigious churches, concert halls and festivals, including Dijon Cathedral, France; Magdeburger Dom, Germany; Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Cathedral, UK; St. Paul’s and Canterbury Cathedrals, UK; la Cathèdrale de Notre Dame, Paris; Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York City; Princeton University Chapel, Princeton, New Jersey; Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary; L’Oratoire de Saint Joseph, Montréal, and the music festivals of Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna.
A member of the duo, Air & Hammers she concertizes with her husband, acclaimed English baritone Edmund Connolly, specializing in programs which combine song repertoire from the 19th and 20th centuries with new works by living composers.
A recording artist for RAVEN CD, she has 11 discs in their catalog all of which have received excellent reviews from distinguished national and international publications. Dr. Thévenot continues to be in demand as a visiting lecturer at universities across North America and Europe and has also contributed, as a writer and photographer, to several international publications.
For a complete listing of her upcoming performances and information on purchasing her CDs, please visit www.maxinethevenot.com