Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec announce the departure of Laurent Patenaude

Quebec City, January 19, 2026 – Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec announce with emotion the departure of Laurent Patenaude, Director of Artistic Administration, who is embarking on a new career challenge, details of which will be announced shortly.

After nearly 28 years of collaboration, Laurent Patenaude has left his mark on our organization. A viola player by training and a graduate of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, he joined the organization in 1997 as Director of Artistic Personnel after serving as a substitute musician. Since then, he has passionately supported the development of Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec throughout Quebec, Canada, and on the international stage.

Responsible for programming since 2014 and appointed Co-General Director in 2019, then Artistic Director in 2021, Laurent Patenaude has guided the organization with great musical sensitivity. Under his artistic direction, the organization has experienced memorable seasons marked by exceptional collaborations with internationally renowned artists such as Philippe Jaroussky, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Antoine Tamestit, and Leonardo García Alarcón, while supporting the emergence of young Quebec talent. He played a key role in important transitions, notably during the handover of music direction from Bernard Labadie to Jonathan Cohen. He orchestrated the appointment of Nicolas Ellis as Principal Guest Conductor and oversaw numerous international tours that contributed to the ensemble's international recognition.

Beyond his commitment to our organization, Laurent Patenaude has generously contributed to Quebec's cultural life, notably as a radio host at CKRL 89.1 for a decade, General Director of the International des musiques sacrées de Québec, and coordinator of classical programming at the Palais Montcalm.

We wish to thank Laurent for his dedication and the quality of his work over these many years. We wish him great success in this new professional chapter.

Mario Welsh
President of the Board of Directors

For all information:
Marie-Andrée Paulin
Director of Communications and Marketing
mapaulin@violonsduroy.com