(Credit : Jan Vailhé)

Anik Shooner, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) has announced the appointment of Simon Bertrand as Interim Artistic Director.

The composer has been actively involved in the Quebec and Canadian music scene for many years and officially began his position on Sept. 13, 2023.

According to a press release the board chose Bertrand to ensure artistic continuity during the ongoing strategic reflection required by the current post-pandemic cultural context. In his position, he will carry out his mandate in close collaboration with General Manager Aïda Aoun, Assigned Conductor and Musical Advisor Cristian Gort, and an advisory committee for strategic reflection.

In a statement Shooner, “Mr. Bertrand is a renowned composer with a deep understanding of the local music scene and current issues, and brings a structuring vision to the table. We are delighted to be working with him and the entire SMCQ team to ensure the development of our institution.”

Bertrand added, “The influence of composers and their works in our society has long been at the heart of my concerns. In this sense, I am in continuity with the SMCQ’s founding mandate. However, today’s challenges are very different from those of yesterday. With the SMCQ team and the participation of our musical community, I hope to come up with solutions adapted to the evolution of the creative music milieu and relevant to the deployment of the next generations.”

Bertrand is one of the most prolific and active Quebec composers of his generation and has had his music performed by Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.