Maxine Thévenot - Without Boundaries (2006)

Canadian-born organist and choral conductor Maxine Thévenot enjoys a distinguished career performing in Europe, Great Britain, and North America, with a wide-ranging repertoire that includes contemporary works composed for her. Described as “musically sensitive,” “brilliant,” and “full of virtuoso playing,” (Royal Canadian College of Organists) she is known as a consummate musician with an engaging performance style coupled with a flair for exciting programming. Ms. Thévenot received the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan, and the Master of Music degree and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance from the Manhattan School of Music, New York, where she was twice-awarded the Bronson Ragan Award as “most outstanding organist.” She also holds the Associate diplomas from the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Royal Conservatory of Music (piano). Her principal organ teacher was McNeil Robinson. She has also been influenced by the teachings of Dr. Terence Fullerton, Bernard Lagacé, Olivier Latry, Jean-Pierre Leguay, Simon Preston, and Gillian Weir. She also studied with Cécile Désrosiers (harpsichord and piano), Dr. Mary Wedgewood and Hart Godden (organ), Robin Harrison and Merne Amundson (piano), and Sr. Marie-Reine Ricard (counterpoint, theory, history, and piano).

Maxine Thévenot has performed throughout North America and Europe at many prestigious churches, concert halls and festivals, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, London; Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris; Washington National Cathedral; St. Thomas Church, New York; Princeton University Chapel; Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary; Basilica of Notre Dame du Cap, Montréal, the music festivals of Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. She has been a featured performer at the opening night of the American Guild of Organists National Convention in Chicago (2006) and the Royal Canadian College of Organists National Conventions in Winnipeg (2004) and Calgary (1995). The recipient of several competition prizes and scholarships, Ms. Thévenot was unanimously awarded First Prize in the Canada Bach 2000 National Organ Competition. She has broadcast for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio, Pipedreams and has recorded three commercial compact discs: The Seven Joys of Christmas with the Calgary Girls Choir; Hearts Ascending with the Calgary Boys Choir; and Without Boundaries, her début solo recording.

As a concerto soloist, Ms. Thévenot has played with numerous orchestras including performances with members of the Chicago Metropolis Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and the Adelphi University Orchestra. As a chamber musician she has performed with the UBS Verbier Orchestra together with soprano Renée Fleming, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra and has worked with internationally acclaimed conductors Mario Bernardi, Boris Brott, Christopher Lyndon-Gee, Dimitri Sitkovetsy, and Julian Wachner. She has toured internationally with several renowned ensembles including the CBC award-winning Calgary Girls Choir.

Ms. Thévenot has premiered several works including: Stephen Paulus (New Every Morning is the Love, Cathedral Church of St. John, May 2006); Mary Lynn Place Badarak (Petite Suite, Cathedral Church of St. John, March 2006); Malcolm Archer (Missa Omnes Sancti, Cathedral Church of St. John, February 2006); Iain Quinn (Continuum, Notre Dame, Paris, July 2005); Hayes Biggs (Sicut Rosa, Corpus Christi Church, New York, March 2005); Jenny Olivia Johnson (Deux Images, Washington National Cathedral, July 2003). She is also the dedicatée of works written by Hayes Biggs, Noel Goëmanne, and Iain Quinn.

An accomplished and respected conductor, Maxine Thévenot has directed ensembles across North America. Ms. Thévenot has served on the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where in 2004 she founded an auditioned 30-voice women’s ensemble, Concentus. Within their first year, they established themselves as a premiere ensemble attracting distinguished composers such as Hayes Biggs to write and dedicate works for them. In addition to her work with Concentus, Ms. Thévenot has conducted performances with members of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, and musicians of The Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. While at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, NY, 2003-2005, she was the Director of the Cathedral Girls Choir and the Schola Cantorum. In 2004, The Cathedral of the Incarnation Boys and Girl Choirs toured the UK with residencies at the Cathedrals in Edinburgh, Bristol and St. Albans.

In 2010, Dr. Thévenot became Organist-Choir Director at the Cathedral Church of St. John in Albuquerque, where she had been the Associate Organist-Choir Director, then Interim, since September 2005. She has also held positions at Christ Church Episcopal, Manhasset, NY; Parkdale United Church, Calgary; the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary; St. James Anglican Church, Saskatoon; and St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, Saskatoon.

She is a published photographer in issues of The Organ and Choir and Organ magazines. Maxine Thévenot has given lectures, workshops, and masterclasses including presentations on Canadian organ music and organ works of Mozart. Ms. Thévenot has adjudicated for regional choral festivals and competitions, and is a member of the National Board of Examiners for the American Guild of Organists.