Biography
Jacques Giroux, renowned organist and composer, has been the organist at Joliette Cathedral since 1997. Passionate and versatile, he stands out for his recitals, his original compositions and his collaborations with exceptional vocal ensembles.
Originally from the Lanaudière region, Jacques has been the organist at Joliette Cathedral since 1997. With a bachelor's degree in piano and a master's degree in organ, he studied with Gaston Arel and John Grew at McGill University, before perfecting his art with Bernard Lagacé at Concordia University. He also trained in improvisation with Bengt Hambraeus and Antoine Reboulot.
Jacques has had the honour of playing on prestigious organs, including those of Saint-Pierre in Rome and Notre-Dame in Paris. He has given numerous recitals in emblematic places such as the Notre-Dame-du-Cap Basilica in Trois-Rivières, the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, as well as the Saints-Anges in Lachine. He has also participated in notable events such as the 24 heures du Banc at Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal, and has played in renowned churches such as the Très-Saint-Nom-de-Jésus and the Gésù. At Saint-Joseph's Oratory, he has presented seven recitals, the last of which, in January 2020, was dedicated to Christmas carols in the form of improvisations and paraphrases.
As a composer, Jacques composed the music for the opera Deum Quaerens, presented at the Théâtre National de Montréal in 2003. For the 150th anniversary of the city of Joliette, he unveiled the world premiere of his Messe de Saint-Charles-Borromée at Joliette Cathedral with the Chanteurs de la Place Bourget in November 2014. This work was performed by the Ensemble Vox Luminosa in 2015 and 2016, as part of the Série Vox Luminosa at the Église de la Purification in Repentigny.
An accomplished pianist-repetitor and organist, Jacques has accompanied the Chœur de Musée during rehearsals since its beginnings and regularly performs with the Chanteurs de la Place Bourget. With them, he presented the European premiere of Vigneault's Grand'Messe in Rome in June 2014.
For nearly twenty years, he has also collaborated with the Vox Luminosa vocal ensemble, participating in notable projects such as the Radio-Canada special broadcasts Des Voix pour la Paix and the Eurovision Mass in 2011, as part of a concert and a mass in Repentigny.
