Conductor Simon Rivard is becoming one of the most sought-after conductors on the Canadian music scene. Recent highlights include his debut at the Edmonton Opera with Puccini's La Bohème, and subsequent re-engagement for Puccini’s Tosca, as well as Handel’s Messiah with both the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Classique de Montréal. Since 2018, Simon has been the resident conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, while, from 2018 to 2022, held the title of RBC Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
This season, Simon made his debut with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, and looks forward to upcoming engagements with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, as well as serving as assistant conductor to Barbara Hannigan for engagements in France, Turkey, Sweden, and Iceland.
As a guest conductor, he has joined orchestras across North America and Europe. He recently made his début with Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. He also recently collaborated with celebrated Toronto-based opera company Against The Grain for Holst’s Savitri.
Passionate for all genres of vocal repertoire, Rivard also excels as a choral conductor. In 2020, he became involved with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, one of Canada’s oldest and largest symphonic choirs. He served as their Associate Conductor (2020-2022), and as Artistic Collaborator (2022-present), during which time he led the TMChoir in Against the Grain’s Juno Award nominated Messiah/Complex. In recent seasons, he also served as the Musical Director of the TBSO Symphony Chorus and as Assistant Conductor of the Choir of St. Andrew and St. Paul and the Ottawa Choral Society.
Click here to learn more about Simon or head to his website here.