PIANO • COMPO • PHOTO
BIOGRAPHIE
Pianist with multiple horizons
Pianist Amélie Fortin is carving out a unique place for herself in Quebec’s music scene. By extending her classical roots into other fields, she has found herself rubbing shoulders with artists as diverse as the audiences who seek them. Indeed, as a result of her many collaborations, Amélie performs regularly on stages throughout Quebec, and Canada, and around the world. Introduced to the piano at the age of five in her native village of Lac St-Jean, Quebec, and the recipient of numerous awards along the way, Amélie holds a master’s degree in performance from the University of Montréal (with Paul Stewart). She continues to deepen her skills via renowned and distinguished training courses.
Amélie Fortin is a fervent advocate of collaborations that both promote classical music and pull it back down to earth. The hearts of her many projects reflect her own personality; where openness, dynamism, creativity and human connection combine.
Duo Fortin-Poirier: from classics to innovative arrangements
In 2005, following their fateful encounter, pianists Amélie Fortin and Marie-Christine Poirier founded Duo Fortin-Poirier, which quickly made a name for itself in international competitions, including 2nd Prize at the 2013 Concorso Pianisto Internazionale Roma. Since then, Duo Fortin-Poirier has enjoyed a very active career, never ceasing to astonish and delight. Within this musical symbiosis, Amélie Fortin tackles a range of demanding work; often contemporary and often commissioned by the two pianists themselves. Four-time Opus Prize nominees and recipients of a dozen awards in Canada and abroad, Duo Fortin-Poirier frequently tours North America. To date, they have released three albums (Vingt doigts et un piano, Mémoires, Nuit blanche) and a dozen music videos. They have also played several solo performances with orchestra.
The composer
More recently, Amélie Fortin, has begun to wear the hat of composer; a natural progression for a woman who routinely improvises on her instrument, but a rare leap for classical musicians in general. Amélie has arranged and composed for fellow artists (La Zarra, Sofia Camara, Preston Pablo) but thanks to a CALQ grant, she has created ***TITRE*** (co-produced by Philippe Brault), an album featuring her own compositions for piano; to be released in spring 2024. ***TITRE*** is a collection of six instrumental pieces for piano, freely inspired by the artist's reflections upon the phenomenon of silence: its effect, its meaning and, above all, what it inspires. "***QUOTE GOES HERE***” NB. the sheet music for ***TITRE*** will be available for download.
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Fortin draws generously and unabashedly from her favorite musical sources, and we soon detect the influences of classical, contemporary, popular and jazz. From these perceptible roots emerges a genre-defying approach, bearing sensibilities and powerful improvisatory maneuvers unique to the composer. Amélie Fortin's music oscillates subtly between depth and lightness, complexity and sobriety.
A sought-after accompanist
Pianist with La Pietà (Angèle Dubeau) for over 10 years, Amélie Fortin is a highly sought accompanist. She has performed with both choirs (Petits Chanteurs de Laval) and solo singers (Gino Quillico, Natalie Choquette). Fortin also works with Pierre Lapointe (La science du cœur, L'heure mauve); as indispensable onstage as she is to his radio program Deux par deux rassemblés (broadcast on Ici Musique), where she accompanies, with arrangements of her own, the biggest names on the Quebec scene.
A dedicated teacher
Alongside her career as a pianist, Amélie Fortin devotes part of her life to teaching her instrument. She is a dynamic instructor, adapting her lessons to the individual needs and potentials of her students. Technique and interpretation are paramount, no less than improvisation, and even composition for those curious to explore this avenue. Amélie is a dedicated and flexible teacher, a virtuoso thrilled to transmit her passion to students of all ages.
Theater, cinema, television
Amélie Fortin is also an actor, donning a costume and brilliantly portraying young Wolfgang in the children's show La récréation de Mozart (Jeunesses musicales du Canada). This little gem, directed and co-written by François Racine and Geneviève Rivard, has been performed regularly in schools and halls across Quebec since 2013. Fortin’s handiwork has been heard on soundtracks (Anne Émond's Lucy Grizzli Sophie) on live variety shows (En direct de l'univers, Zénith, La semaine des 4 Julie) as well as seen on camera in stand-in performances (Bracelets rouges, Sorcières).
To know more about Amélie Fortin, please visit her blog where she explores subjects related to her parallel activities, including photography and other passions.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
• Nomination de l'album Nuit Blanche dans la catégorie Album de l'année - musiques moderne et contemporaine, Gala des Prix Opus (2024)
• Nomination du concert Nuit Blanche dans la catégorie Concert de l'année, Gala des Prix Opus (2023)
• Reçue membre officielle de l'Ordre du Bleuet (2023)
• L'album Nuit Blanche (Duo Fortin-Poirier) figurant au palmarès des 20 meilleurs albums classiques de l'année selon CBC (2022)
• Subvention du Conseil des Arts du Canada pour la production d’un EP en composition instrumentale, co-réalisé avec Philippe Brault (2022)
• Subventions du Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec et du Conseil des arts du Canada pour l’album Nuit blanche avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier (2022)
• Subvention du Conseil des Arts de Montréal pour le CAM en tournée avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier (2022)
• Subventions du Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec et du Conseil des Arts de Montréal pour la création du concert Nuit blanche avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier (2020-21)
• Subvention « Connexion création » du Conseil des Arts du Canada avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier (2020)
• Nomination du concert Mémoires aux Prix Opus dans les catégories Concert de l’année – Répertoires Multiples et Concert de l’année – Régions (2018)
• Sélection du Duo Fortin-Poirier pour une tournée avec Debut Atlantic (2017), Prairie Debut (2016), Les entrées en Scène Loto-Québec (2013-14)
• 2e Prix en deux pianos avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier au Concours International de Piano de Rome, Italie (2013)
• Finaliste avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier Liszt 200 Chicago International Competition for Piano Duos, Chicago (2011)
• Mention spéciale pour l’interprétation des Gazebo Dances (John Corigliano) avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier Concours International Grieg, Oslo (2010)
• Finaliste avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier Concours International de piano à 4 mains de Valberg, France (2009)
• 1er Prix avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier au Concours de Musique du Canada, finale nationale (2009)
• 1er Prix avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier au Festival de Musique du Royaume (2008)
• 1er Prix avec le Duo Fortin-Poirier au Concours de Musique Clermont-Pépin (2006)
• 1er Prix en piano solo à deux reprises au Festival de l’Association des Enseignants en Musique du Québec (2005 et 2006)
• 1er Prix en piano solo au Concours du Prix d’Expression Musicale, Collège d’Alma (2001)
• 8 fois médaillée d’or au Festival de Musique du Royaume (1992-2000)