François Dorion has been the Director of Music of the Regimental Band of Les Voltigeurs de Québec since 1997 and of L’Harmonie de Charlesbourg, which he founded, since 1993. He recently retired from a 30-year career as a high school teacher in Quebec, and is a composer of music for beginning band, some of which is published by Hal Leonard. He is Co-Founder and Director of the Quebec New Horizons Band. François has conducted both symphony orchestras and string ensembles and has recorded François Couture’s works Symphonie des lampes allumées and Yahndawa’. He serves as Canadian Armed Forces National Reserve Band Advisor, and is the teacher for the Master’s Degree in Conducting program at Université Laval. He has developed a special and innovative online program for continuing education in music entitled 'Expressive Conducting'. A renowned conductor and educator, he regularly appears at conducting workshops and high school clinics. François adjudicates at music festivals and contests and works as a Yamaha Artist Conductor-Educator. He studied conducting with Gilles Auger in Québec and attended several Wind Conducting Symposiums, with instructors such as Otto Werner Mueller at Domaine Forget, Craig Kirchhoff at Ithaca College and Mark Davis Scatterday in Calgary. He received his Master’s Degree in Conducting with Alain Cazes in 2015. He has commissioned many works from renowned composers including Jan Van der Roost, Bert Appermont and Philip Sparke. François’ discography consists of ten albums, including many cornerstone works for Wind Ensemble, pop and jazz music and a Christmas CD. François has conducted at several NHIMA music camps in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. If you would like to find out more about François’ New Horizons group, please, go to their FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/people/Harmonie-Nouveaux-Horizons-Québec/100068052622978/ This interview took place via Zoom in February 2025.
