{"id":42240,"date":"2026-02-03T08:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/concoursmontreal.ca\/?post_type=cmim-competitors&p=42240"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:03:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:03:59","slug":"justin-saulnier","status":"publish","type":"cmim-competitors","link":"https:\/\/concoursmontreal.ca\/en\/competitors\/justin-saulnier\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Saulnier"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI enjoy all the possibilities of repertoire\u00a0that I can play with\u00a0the\u00a0violin. There are of course incredible concertos and sonatas written for the\u00a0instrument, but\u00a0also string quartets that broaden your mind in\u00a0a totally different\u00a0manner. The violin opens so many doors to virtuosity and collaboration!<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

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HOME - CONCOURS 2026<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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From Orl\u00e9ans, Ontario, Justin Saulnier\u00a0started playing the violin at the age of four\u00a0and\u00a0is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree with full scholarship\u00a0under Andrew Wan,\u00a0at\u00a0the Schulich School of Music\u00a0of\u00a0McGill University.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Justin has received numerous awards, notably, first prizes at the Eckhardt-Gramatt\u00e9 National Music Competition and the Golden Violin Competition from McGill University, a Michael-Measures First Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, and second prizes at the Concours OSM and during the Shean Strings Competition, among others. He also won the Fran\u00e7ois Schubert Grand Prize at the OMNI Music Competition, and was a finalist at the London Classic Violin Competition in 2024.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Justin\u00a0made his orchestral solo debut at age 12 with the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra and has since performed with the\u00a0Orchestre symphonique de Montr\u00e9al,\u00a0the\u00a0Orchestre M\u00e9tropolitain,\u00a0the\u00a0National Arts Centre\u00a0Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the McGill Symphony Orchestra, the Pembroke Symphony Orchestra,\u00a0and the Sinfonia de Montr\u00e9al, having worked with prominent conductors including Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin, Tom\u00e1\u0161\u00a0Netopil,\u00a0and Alexis Hauser.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When he was 17, Justin\u00a0had the opportunity to\u00a0work\u00a0with Sascha Goetzel,\u00a0Guest\u00a0Conductor of the Concours 2026,\u00a0with\u00a0the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.\u00a0\u201cIt was one of my first experiences at a summer program, and\u00a0Maestro Goetzel\u00a0had\u00a0a great impact\u00a0on my musical training. I do hope\u00a0that\u00a0I get the chance to work with him once more during the Concours, at the Maison symphonique!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Justin plays a 1680 Ruggeri\u00a0violin\u00a0from Cremona, and a Louis Gillet bow, generously loaned to him by\u00a0Canimex\u00a0Inc.\u00a0(Drummondville, Qu\u00e9bec).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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PROGRAMME<\/h2>\n

FIRST ROUND<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
<\/strong>Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001<\/p>\n