BIOGRAPHY

With his powerful, refined, and deeply moving playing, Canadian cellist Sébastien Lépine captivates audiences wherever he performs. A true ambassador of today’s classical music, he combines virtuosity and sensitivity, tradition and modernity, to deliver concerts that leave a lasting impression. Praised for his expressive playing and magnetic stage presence, he has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, conductor, and composer in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Europe.

As a soloist, he has been invited by many prestigious orchestras, including the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, the Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville, the Orchestre de chambre Appassionata, the Orchestre de la francophonie, the Camerata Orquesta de Bellas Artes de Mexico, and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Chihuahua. Composer Gilles Bellemare even dedicated his Concerto for Cello and Orchestra to him, a testament to Sébastien’s artistic imprint. In chamber music, he has multiplied significant collaborations that have taken him to major stages in several countries. Conductor of the Conservatoire de musique de Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra for over ten years, he has also led the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières and the Orchestre réseau des Conservatoires on several occasions.

His discography, widely distributed and acclaimed by critics, reflects his artistic approach: presenting bold, accessible, and always authentic projects. In this spirit, Sébastien is preparing an album of French sonatas, to be released in the spring of 2026. His musical projects have been regularly broadcast on Radio-Canada, Espace Musique, as well as in more than twenty countries worldwide.

The recipient of numerous awards, he has notably received the Prix Louis-Philippe-Poisson at the Grands Prix culturels de Trois-Rivières, the Prix Arts Excellence from Culture Mauricie, as well as grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. His most recent project, Solitude, was named a finalist at the 2025 Grands Prix culturels de Trois-Rivières (Prix Louis-Philippe-Poisson, performing arts and music).

Graduating with Prix avec grande distinction from the Conservatoire de musique de Trois-Rivières under Michaël Kilburn, he continued his studies with Antonio Lysy at McGill University, and then with the renowned János Starker at Indiana University. He also trained in conducting with Raffi Armenian, combining interpretive depth with a strong artistic vision.

A dedicated pedagogue, he teaches cello, chamber music, and orchestral classes at the Conservatoire de musique de Trois-Rivières, and is regularly invited to give masterclasses at festivals and academies. He also frequently serves as a jury member for competitions and awards.

Sébastien Lépine performs on a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume cello and an Eugène Sartory bow, generously loaned by CANIMEX.