Instrument: soprano
Valérie Bélanger studied with Hélène Fortin, then with Lyne Fortin, and in April 2009, received the Prix by consensus from the Conservatoire de musique du Québec. She then obtained a DESS at the Université de Montréal, working with Yolande Parent, with whom she still studies.
Valérie Bélanger also took part in training programs in Virginia, with the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, with Opera NUOVA, and at the Domaine Forget Academy. She has also furthered her training by taking part in master classes with Maestro Daniel Lipton, and sopranos Marie-Josée Lord and Nicole Lorange.
Valérie Bélanger has been heard in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto, Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor, and oratorios by Haydn and Handel. She was also the soprano soloist in the world premieres of Vigneault’s Grand-Messe in its versions for chamber orchestra and for organ.
Over the last few years, Valérie Bélanger has distinguished herself in several competitions, notably the Canadian Music Competition and the Festival de musique du Royaume.
In 2009, Valérie Bélanger was the recipient of the Hélène-Fortin Grant from the Domaine Forget, and the Hélène-Fortin Grant from the Club culturel Québec métropolitain, in addition to a grant from the Wilfrid-Pelletier Foundation. In 2008, she was the recipient of the Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Classical Voice Developing Artist Grant, awarded to exceptional young Canadian artists.