THÉRÈSE MOTARD, THE WORSHIPING CELLIST

Born in Cornwall, Ontario, Thérèse Motard graduated with First Prizes in solo interpretation and chamber music performance from the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal.

Following her tenure at the Conservatoire and with bursaries from the Canada Council of the Arts, she pursued advanced cello studies in New York with Bernard Greenhouse, Zara Nelsova and Lynn Harrell.

Madame Motard is the winner of several prizes: La fondation des amis de l'art, the National Competitive Festival of Music sponsored by CIBC (grand award) and the prize Cécile-Mesnard-Pomerleau sponsored by the JMC, all prizes for chamber music.

In 1979, Madame Motard wins the position of principal cellist of the Orchestre des jeunes du Québec where two years later she performs as soloist. In 1980, Thérèse Motard took the position of principal cellist with both the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal (six years) and the Orchestre de chambre de Radio-Canada. She also played with the Montreal Symphony for two years.

In 1987 she was appointed principal cellist with the Jeunes Virtuoses de Montréal and with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She has performed frequently as a soloist with numerous Canadian ensembles such as The New
Toronto Chamber Music Orchestra (1973), Orchestre des jeunes du Québec, L'Orchestre Métropolitain, Les jeunes virtuoses and has appeared in the capacity of chamber musician throughout the country and abroad.

She was a member of the Riverdale String Quartet, The Riverdale String Trio and Piano Trio, Durand-Derouin-Motard Piano Trio, Trio Plus, Morency Quartet, L'Ensemble St-Louis de France, the Claudel Quartet and the Arthur Leblanc Quartet. Since the beginning of her career she has produced many records and is heard frequently on Radio-Canada and on CBC.

In 1998 and 1999 she was invited to coach the World Youth Orchestra of the Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. As well, Thérèse Motard was principal cellist of the highly acclaimed chamber music ensemble "La Pieta" for six years.

She participates in numerous chamber music concerts, solo concerts and classical/worship concerts. She taught at the music faculty of l'Université de Montréal for sixteen years and at Grenville Christian College.

Thérèse Motard's ministry is based in Cornwall.

Thérèse Motard was the musical director of the Riverdale Chamber Music Series 2000 which was sponsored by the Canada Arts Council and took place in the Cornwall Ontario area. This series brought together professional musicians who were born and raised in Cornwall and now pursue careers in various parts of the world as well as invited well-known guest artists.

"Song of the Birds" - Cello Favourites and "Chopin" are two of Madame Motard's most popular classical CDs. They feature pianist Louise-Andrée Baril and herself and are among some 30 others in which she proudly has had a major collaboration.

Madame Motard’s latest CDs and most important ones are «It Is Well with My Soul»,«In the Garden»,volumes one and two and «Hope-Espoir-Hatikva».