Paule Préfontaine has had a musical career spanning 40 years that has taken her to many different countries.
She has played in the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Bergen Norway, since 2011. In 1988 to 1993, she was Assistant concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic. She has been a guest Principal Second Violin and Associate Concertmaster in the Porto Symphony Orchestra in Porto, Portugal. She has also played in the Oslo Philharmonic and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.
She played regularly in the National Arts Centre Orchestra from 2002 to 2014 and participated in many tours with NACO. While living in Ottawa, she was a member of 13 Strings, (principal second) and guest Concertmaster of the Ottawa Symphony from 2007 to 2014. In addition she was Concertmaster of the Hull Chamber Orchestra.
As a pedagogue Paule was Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa for more than 10 years. She was a string coach for the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy, and directing the summer Academy Program.
Mrs Préfontaine also has expertise in baroque period performance practise. She was a full time member of Tafelmusik in Toronto and performed with Arion Ensemble in Montreal, Les Violons du Roy in Québec city, the Bergen Barokk Ensemble, Stavanger Barokk Ensemble in Norway and was Concertmaster of the Musikbarok Ensemble in Winnipeg. She was also a founding member of the Ottawa Baroque Consort.
Mrs Préfontaine has been a violin pedagogue in music summer Academies such as The National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Orford Music Academy, Summer Music on the Shannon, in Ennis, Limerick and Galway in Ireland and the Courtenay Youth Music Centre in Courtenay, BC.
She has been an active chamber musician, performing in the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Music and Beyond, 1st violin of the Prisme Ensemble (Gatineau) Sysman Suvisoitto (Finland) Bergen Kammermusikk (Norway) and the Georgian House series in Limerick, Ireland. Paule is also a founding member of the Quatuor Lumière and Voces Intimae.
Since moving back to Canada from Norway, in June 2020, Paule has been playing regularly with the Victoria Symphony, Early Music Vancouver, Victoria Baroque. Also active as a Chamber music player, recently joining the Viano String Quartet playing the Mendelsohn Octet at the Victoria Chamber Music Festival. In 2023, she was on Denman Island playing in the Kaimerata Festival. Coming up, Paule will be playing in the Venner Quartet, October/ November 2024 at Wentworth villa, Denman Island, Maple Ridge and Whistler Festivals.
