A first solo album
for Francis Choinière

Réflexions explores themes such as self-discovery, transformation, and emotion

March 3, 2025

Francis Choinière, the talented Quebec conductor and composer, reveals a new facet of his artistry with his first solo album, Réflexions. This intimate opus has been available on all online streaming platforms since February 14, 2025.

Well-known in Quebec for his work leading the FILMharmonique Orchestra and the Orchestre Philharmonique et Chœur des Mélomanes, Choinière offers a more personal work here.

Réflexions presents five original compositions for solo piano, exploring profound themes such as self-discovery, transformation, and emotion. Each piece, imbued with lyricism, reflects Choinière’s distinctive artistic signature, combining expressive depth and musical sensitivity. Through these works, the young maestro opens the doors to his inner world, offering an intimate and universal musical experience that invites listeners on an introspective journey.

“I’ve spent a large part of my career interpreting the works of other composers,” Choinière explains. “Each piece traces a line between my past and present: some melodies originate from my childhood, which I have now reworked and developed, while others, more recent, capture my current state of mind. In a world where expectations are constantly evolving, creating this music has allowed me to reconnect with myself.”

Francis Choinière’s transition to solo composition marks a significant milestone in his career, defined by acclaimed performances across North America. His impressive journey includes a memorable interpretation of Vivaldi and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as conducting numerous film concerts and major symphonic works. Choinière has also lent his talent to international artists like CLANN and Patrick Watson, creating custom orchestral arrangements.

The first two excerpts from Réflexions, Coup de foudre and Rêverie, were released in October and December 2024 respectively, accompanied by acoustic music videos. With this album, Francis Choinière celebrates a significant stage in his journey and demonstrates a remarkable ability to translate emotions into music, offering an intimate experience for listeners.

Réflexions is now available on all streaming platforms, on CD, and can be pre-ordered on vinyl, allowing music lovers to discover this new intimate facet of Francis Choinière’s talent.

Biography

Acclaimed as a promising talent by critics, Francis Choinière has established himself as a key figure in the North American music scene. This young Quebec conductor brilliantly combines the roles of composer and concert producer, demonstrating remarkable versatility.

The year 2024 marked a turning point in his career, with performances in the most prestigious venues on the continent, including Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, Symphony House in Boston, and the famous Carnegie Hall in New York. Building on this success, Choinière is set to conduct nearly 75 concerts in about twenty venues across Canada and the United States for the upcoming season.

His exceptional talent has earned him prestigious distinctions, notably the Prix Goyer Mécénat Musica 2023 and the Christa and Franz-Paul Decker Conducting Fellowship from the Hnatyshyn Foundation. These awards testify to the esteem in which he is held by the musical community. Choinière has also forged connections with world-renowned artists, collaborating with stars such as Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Patrick Watson, Hans Zimmer, and Ute Lemper, to name just a few. These partnerships illustrate his ability to evolve in varied musical universes.

At the helm of the Orchestre Philharmonique et Chœur des Mélomanes (OPCM), Choinière excels in programming choral and symphonic masterworks. He extends his influence as principal conductor and co-artistic director of the Orchestre FILMharmonique, while also presiding over GFN Productions. His involvement in the music industry extends to recordings, with notable contributions to albums and film soundtracks.

Trained at McGill University under the tutelage of Alexis Hauser, Choinière has enriched his expertise through masterclasses with renowned conductors such as François Xavier Roth and Yoav Talmi. This solid training, combined with his natural talent and innovative vision, makes Francis Choinière a rising and inspiring figure in contemporary orchestral conducting.

About GFN Productions

GFN Productions is a Quebec-based music producer and promoter that organizes over 75 concerts each year across Canada. The company collaborates with a wide range of artists and specializes in producing large-scale symphonic and orchestral concerts.

As the leading promoter of film concerts in Canada in recent years, GFN Productions established a partnership with the Orchestre FILMharmonique since its founding in 2018. GFN manages the Montreal-based orchestra, which performs regularly throughout the country. GFN Productions has also produced four albums under the GFN Classics label, as well as five concert recordings and a short documentary film titled Passé recomposé.

In addition to concert production, GFN Productions offers a full range of services including artist management, tour management, orchestral contracting, and music recording, which has solidified its reputation among the leading independent promoters in Canada.

Feature image: Jeremy Pilote Byrne

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