Congratulations to Professor Marie-Chantal Leclair, winner of the 2024-2025 Schulich Teaching Award in the Part-Time category!听
Students praise Marie-Chantal for her deep commitment to their growth, her dedication to the field, and her ability to provide individualized instruction to each member of the saxophone studio. The 2024-2025 academic year marks her tenth year of teaching at Schulich as well has her thirtieth year with the Quasar saxophone quartet.聽聽
Marie-Chantal created meaningful opportunities for her students this year by hosting the Regional Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance and organizing the 91直播 Saxophone Days. She also welcomed a record number of graduate students and supported their success through standout performances with the 91直播 Contemporary Music Ensemble, 91直播 Wind Orchestra, and off-campus opportunities at Domaine Forget and Le Vivier Inter-Universitaire.聽
Beyond 91直播, Marie-Chantal maintains an active performance career. This past season, Quasar commissioned numerous new works, and performed throughout Quebec and internationally, in Lithuania and Sweden. Quasar participated in two major international exchanges鈥攐ne with the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet and another with the in Munich where they also performed again on July 4.聽
In this In Conversation, Marie-Chantal reflects on the importance of nurturing autonomy, fostering leadership, and creating a supportive environment where young musicians can thrive artistically and professionally.聽
What excites you most about teaching your courses?聽
Teaching at the university level and at a prestigious school like the Schulich of Music is a great privilege. I have the opportunity to work with curious and passionate young saxophonists, all eager to improve and develop. I also have the chance to collaborate with colleagues and professors whom I admire and who inspire me. One of the aspects of working with students that I particularly enjoy is when we explore new repertoire that we discover, analyze and interpret together, or during the rehearsal sessions with students from the composition area who are in residence in the saxophone class. We are engaged in action, exploration, and at the heart of creation. It is extremely rewarding. 聽When I attend the end-of-year recitals, I also feel very moved to see all the progress made by the students.聽
How do your musical and professional experiences shape your teaching?聽
Aside from my teaching, I maintain a fruitful life as a chamber musician (specializing in new music) and arts administrator for nearly 30 years. I have a strong knowledge of what skills and abilities young musicians need to pursue a professional career. My expertise spans several domains including programming music series, booking national and international tours, grant writing, and so forth. I feel I have the responsibility to transmit this experience to the next generations. 聽
I share my professional endeavours with my students. I invite them to concerts, introduce them to colleagues, and discuss the 鈥渋nnerworkings鈥� of the preparations I may take as a performer and producer. I encourage them to attend and participate in on and off campus concerts, to develop a professional network, and to gain an awareness of their musical environment.聽
What are some of the guiding principles in your approach to teaching?聽
My goal is to develop a studio class, which meets very highest international standards of excellence, while having a strong identity. Leadership and innovation are at the core of this educational project. My pedagogical approach is based on the respect of the individual, of their singularity. I meet the students where they are and effectively coach them through how they can improve their playing and musicianship. While providing guidance and making sure they become complete musicians, I encourage them to develop their unique musical personality. 聽
I highly support the development of autonomy. I instruct students on how to find solutions themselves, rather than providing them with all the answers. Furthermore, I guide them to develop and exercise critical judgment. I also aim to create a positive and supportive learning environment where students can experience trust and confidence. Creating such an environment affords the students an optimum situation to learn. I am a firm believer in creating this type of environment so students can flourish, without stress and pressure to impede on their educational paths. 聽
What do you hope your students take away鈥攎usically, professionally, or personally鈥攆rom your courses?聽
I want my students to have developed as much rigour, skills, and tools as possible, which they can use and adapt to various professional situations. Most importantly, they should be able to rely on these tools to continue growing. A musician must continue to develop throughout their career. I also hope that they have built self-confidence and leadership qualities, enabling them to dare to dream, to build a fulfilling career, and to become true artists.聽
What does receiving a 2025 Teaching Award mean to you?聽
Receiving a Teaching Award is a true source of pride and motivation for me, it means a lot. It reflects all the dedication I put into my teaching, as well as the respect I have for my students and colleagues. I see this recognition as an encouragement to continue on this path, and it motivates me to keep improving, to give my best for my students.聽聽
