Simone Ariane Alder-Gendron

As a toddler, I always sat on my mother’s laps to play the piano when we were at my grandparents’ house — my grandmother (pianist and organist) being the only musician in my family!

I started taking piano and singing lessons at 5 years old before discovering the violin two years later. I fell in love with the instrument and pursued my studies in classical music throughout the years.

I studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal from 2017 until 2023 and completed the equivalent of a Young Talent Certificate and a Pre-College Diploma.

During those years, I got to work with conductors such as Yannik Nézet-Séguin and Jonathan Cohen, who contributed to make my love for symphony and chamber orchestra grow more and more.

I also had the honour of receiving different prizes and distinctions among which I was awarded, in 2022, the 1st prize of the CANIMEX Canadian Music Competition as a string player under 19 years old.

For all those years, moving to Europe was a big dream of mine. In September 2023 I took the leap and moved to the Netherlands to meet different teachers and see with whom I wanted to pursue my studies. I am now very much looking forward to be joining the class of Peter Brunt at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in September 2024!

I am extremely grateful to be playing on this beautiful Aegidius Klotz violin. It has a rich, deep and well-rounded sound that inspires me a lot in my constant search for new colours and textures and allows me to express myself in new ways.