Conductor
Jean-Sébastien Vallée is an internationally recognized Canadian-American conductor, scholar and pedagogue, acclaimed for his expertise in vocal, choral and orchestral repertoires. Over the course of his career, he has led ensembles across North America, Europe and Asia, and has collaborated with some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.
Dr. Vallée is Full Professor of Music Performance, Director of Choral Studies, and Coordinator of the Ensembles & Conducting Area at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. He also serves as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and its professional chamber ensemble, the Toronto Mendelssohn Singers. Prior to his appointment at McGill, he directed choral studies at California State University, Los Angeles, and taught on the choral faculty of the University of Redlands. He holds degrees from Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a doctorate in conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
In recognition of his artistic leadership and contributions to the field, Dr. Vallée received the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Prize from Université Laval, awarded to alumni who exemplify innovation, creativity, talent and exceptional leadership in their professional achievements.
