Élise Lavallée

French-Canadian violist Élise Lavallée received her early musical training as well as her Bachelor of Music from Le Conservatoire de Musique de Québec. She was invited by renowned violist Emmanuel Vardi to pursue a Master’s degree in New York with a distinguished full scholarship from the Manhattan School of Music. Later Élise obtained an Artist Diploma from McGill University studying under Douglas McNabney.

Élise holds the position of assistant principal viola with the WSO since 1997 and has made Winnipeg her home. She appears regularly at Groundswell, Camerata Nova and Winnipeg Chamber Music Society and has performed recitals at La Chapelle du Bon-Pasteur, La Place Des Arts and Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall as well as on CBC broadcasts. Élise maintains a private teaching studio and is an instructor at the University of Manitoba.

In addition to her musical career, Élise has held various administrative positions at the WSO including artistic operations assistant and member of the board of directors. Élise is a radio freelancer for French CBC and the artistic director of the chamber music series Café-concert d’Élise and the St. Boniface Cathedral Grand Concert Series.