Stuart Derdeyn

Grammy Award-winning early music specialist, Canadian soprano Suzie LeBlanc will helm the 50 year-old Early Music Vancouver

Canadian soprano Suzie LeBlanc is the new artistic and executive director of Early Music Vancouver.

The first ever female in the position in the 50 year history of the organization, LeBlanc brings impeccable credentials to the job. A longtime specialist in early music, she is a Grammy Award-winning recording artist who was named to the Order of Canada in 2015. The celebrated early music educator has been director of Cappella Antica at McGill University since 2018 and founded the Le Nouvel Opera in Montreal. She served as artistic director of the organization from 2005 — 2019.

Over the course of her career, LeBlanc has focused on showcasing work of women composers and those from undervalued communities. Providing mentorship to young Indigenous artists to bring an Indigenous presence into the early music community has been of particular interest to the artist.

LeBlanc takes over the artistic and executive director’s roles in Jan. 4, 2021, replacing former director Matthew White. White is currently the serving CEO of the Victoria Symphony. At a strange time for arts organizations across Canada, LeBlanc’s hire bodes very well for Early Music Vancouver moving forward.