Formed in 2016, Duo Cordelia features violinist and composer Vanessa Marcoux and pianist Marie-Christine Poirier. The ensemble is very active on the Canadian classical music scene and is being regularly invited to perform both in Quebec and British Columbia. The two musicians widen the framework of their respective instruments by ushering them into new territory. The Duo's mission is to expand the possibilities within the medium of the classical concert by introducing improvisation, an array of exciting repertoire from the 20th and 21st century, arrangements of traditional melodies and original compositions by Vanessa. This rich combination of classical repertoire and lesser-known works allows the listener to draw new bridges between musical universes that would otherwise be dissociated. The result is a touching and unique concert experience, which goes straight to the heart of our deep connection with music.

The Duo has received numerous grants from the Quebec and Canada Arts Councils, and is currently working on its first album, which will be released in 2023.

VANESSA MARCOUX, VIOLONIST

Vanessa Marcoux holds a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from McGill University (where she graduated with “Outstanding Achievement in Violin”) as well as a Master’s degree in violin from University of Montreal. She also perfected her training at the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon (France). She then pursued a second bachelor’s degree at University of Montreal to study instrumental composition with Ana Sokolovic. Throughout her studies as a violinist and composer, she has received numerous grants and awards, and is now performing regularly as a soloist and a chamber musician in an array of musical activities ranging from classical and contemporary music to world music, jazz and improvisation. As a soloist, she has been heard with ensembles such as the McGill Chamber Orchestra (2014) and the Orchestre Métropolitain (2016). She has also toured extensively with the Juno-nominated Klezmer band Oktopus, and her improvisation skills have led her to work with many other renowned Montreal-based ensembles. She has performed worldwide, cumulating performances across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Since the foundation of Duo Cordelia in 2016, she performs regularly across Canada with pianist Marie-Christine Poirier.   As a composer, her works have been performed by diverse formations and ensembles such as the Québec Symphony Orchestra, the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra and the Duo Fortin-Poirier, among others. Her music has also been featured in the motion picture Restless River, for which she has written and produced the original soundtrack. She pursues an active career on all fronts and draws inspiration from these many sources to fuel her musical journey.

Vanessa plays on a beautiful Carlo Giuseppe Testore 1712 violin provided by Canimex corporation, from Drummondville, Quebec (Canada)

MARIE-CHRISTINE POIRIER, PIANIST

Marie-Christine holds a masters degree in piano interpretation from Paul Stewart's class at Université de Montréal and also holds a specialized superior diploma (DESS) in piano 4 hands/and 2 pianos from the same University with her colleague Amélie Fortin (Duo Fortin-Poirier). During her musical studies, Marie-Christine has taken many masterclasses here and abroad: Centre d'Arts Orford, Académie Internationale d'été Nice, Académie-Festival des Arcs France and with duo Bergmann Calgary.

Since 2005, Marie-Christine performs with Duo Fortin-Poirier piano duo. The Duo has won many prizes and recognitions on the national and international scenes which have taken them to France, Norway, Italy and United States. Their critically acclaimed concerts Twenty fingers and a piano and Mémoires has been performed over a hundred times across Canada, United States and Mexico and earned them two nominations at the Opus Awards 2018. The two albums, are broadcast regularly on Espace Musique and ICI Radio-Canada Première. Their new concert Nuit Blanche, a creation made unique by the dazzling repertoire, live projections of the duo's four-handed ballet and imaginative stage lighting design, will be on tour starting 2021.

Since 2016, the pianist is part of the Duo Cordelia with the violinist and composer Vanessa Marcoux with whom she performs regularly across Canada. Marie-Christine also shares her passion for music by teaching and she can be heard as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician with different musical groups in Canada, Mexico, USA and Europe.