Canadian conductor Jean-Claude Picard is widely regarded as a communicative and engaging conductor by peers, audiences, and critics alike, known for the natural and collaborative rapport he establishes with his fellow musicians.
A highly committed performer, Jean-Claude’s artistic integrity has led him to work closely with two internationally acclaimed Scottish organizations: the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Ballet, where he served as Associate Conductor and Chief Conductor respectively. A dedicated and respected artistic builder, Jean-Claude will soon guest conduct two orchestras based in the United States as a candidate for their sought-after music director positions.
In Canada, Jean-Claude worked as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières and guest conducts orchestras such as the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Center Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, Calgary Opera, I Musici, and the Montreal Bach Festival Orchestra.
In Europe, Jean-Claude has conducted orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Zürich Tonhalle Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, Geneva Chamber Orchestra, and enjoyed two highly successful visits to the Edinburgh International Festival with the Scottish Ballet. His first commercial CD release with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra received warm praise from the press, as did several commercial releases and streaming worldwide with the Scottish Ballet, featuring works such as Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
Before devoting himself entirely to conducting, Jean-Claude was a sought-after flutist, performing with orchestras such as the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Norway), the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, and Les Violons du Roy. This allowed him to acquire a wealth of experience as an orchestral musician while performing in venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, among others.
Jean-Claude is always eager to share his knowledge through teaching. Among other positions, he served as a Visiting Artist – Guest Lecturer in Conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and taught the flute at the Geneva Conservatory of Music. He is also appreciated as an adjudicator and panellist, having worked with institutions in Scotland and Geneva, and more recently with the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
