Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
School: McGill University, Schulich School of Music
Justin Saulnier is an 18-year-old Canadian violinist. He made his orchestral solo debut at age 12 with the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra and has since performed with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Canada’s National Arts Center Orchestra, the Pembroke Symphony Orchestra and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra. He has also been invited to play with the Orchestre Métropolitain under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin this spring. Justin has received many awards, notably the first prize in the NACO Bursary Competition, second prize in the Concours OSM, the grand prize in the Orchestre Métropolitain OMNI Competition, and the OMFA’s provincial competition. Justin has also enjoyed being concertmaster in the Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra, and the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, among others. He is pursuing his undergraduate degree at McGill University with Andrew Wan. Justin plays on a 1680 Ruggeri violin from Cremona, generously loaned to him by Canimex.