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Jacques Clément, former artistic director of the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean and former director of the Conservatoire du Saguenay, is to be honoured with the 2016 Hommage Opus award. “The aim of the Hommage award is to highlight the energy and vitality of orchestral concert music through the outstanding achievements of one person,” explains Dominic Trudel, general manager of the CQM. “We’d like to recognize a person’s entire career, although the award could also go to a remarkable event. We try to vary the message year by year. Jacques Clément has worked tirelessly for Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean and is a striking example of commitment to the region during his artistic career and that is why we wanted to pay tribute to him.”
A native of Tours in France, Jacques Clément studied clarinet and chamber music before moving to Quebec, where he trained as a conductor. In 1976 he embarked on a brilliant and fruitful career at the podium of different youth and professional orchestras. In 1979 he co-founded the Association of Quebec youth orchestras, of which he is now the chairman. That same year he became leader of the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean. In 1986 he was appointed director of the Conservatoire de Chicoutimi, moving to the Saguenay and devoting his knowledge and skills, his time and energy to furthering music training and practice in the region.
Clément has promoted a number of longstanding music organizations, including the Orchestre des jeunes du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean in 1988, the Quatuor Alcan, and the Chœur symphonique in 1989. He works with tact, respect and guidance in his position as artistic director and conductor of the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, offering high quality concerts to the community. Jacques Clément makes it his duty and his pleasure to foster the emergence of Canadian talent, and countless homegrown composers have seen their works premiered under his baton. He is a member of the music panel of the Conseil régional de la Culture, and he is often asked to sit on the juries for the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and other music organizations. In 2014 he received two prestigious awards: the Fernand-Lindsay award from the Association des orchestres de jeunes du Québec and the Jean-Guy Barbeau award from the Saguenay arts council. In 2015 he was made a member of the Ordre du bleuet.
Trudel adds: “The timing is good because Mr. Clément retired last spring after more than 35 years as head of the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean.”
Translation: Cecilia Grayson
A gala on February 5 will unveil a list of the other recipients of the Opus award. It promises to be a sumptuous occasion. www.cqm.qc.ca
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