Meet the founder of FILMPROV: Émilie Fortin

Meet the founder of the new mini-concert series FILMPROV, dedicated to performances of film, improvisation and creation. FILMPROV presents short casual concerts no more than one hour in length featuring film and a live improvised soundtrack. Through guided improvisation FILMPROV is able to create a dynamic, engaging performance filled with creativity and spontaneity.

Émilie Fortin, trumpet

Émilie Fortin is an adventurous musician and teacher who explores every possible facet of the trumpet. A versatile performer, she is a freelancer for several ensembles and orchestras. She has contributed to the creation of over fifteen works internationally with various composers in an effort to enrich the repertoire of her instrument. She is also the artistic director of Bakarlari, a collective of soloists. She was a member of the band “The Funky Bastards” for 3 years, and has played with the Griffon Brass Band for 5 years. Active on the Montreal scene, she performs frequently in recital with pianist Olivier Hébert-Bouchard and in free improvisation with clarinetist Charlotte Layec, while perfecting her craft on the baroque trumpet with Alexis Basque.

Originally from Abitibi-Témiscamingue, she studied at the Conservatory of Music of Val-d'Or with Frédéric Demers. She then received a bachelor's degree in classical performance with Lise Bouchard at Université de Montréal. In 2017, she completed her Masters degree at McGill University under the direction of Russell DeVuyst.

Perfecting her craft with great masters such as James Watson, Karen Donnely, Thierry Champs and Peter Evans, Émilie always seeks to excel in her personal practice. It is with this in mind that she has notably participated in the soundscape Festival (Italy), Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance and Practice (Boston) and at the Toronto Creative Music Lab. She has worked with, among others, the International Contemporary Ensemble members (Banff Center for the Arts), Fifth House Ensemble (Fresh Inc. Festival) and Vinko Globokar (Laboratorium).

Firmly believing that pedagogy is an integral part of performance, Émilie is a teacher in various secondary schools in the region as a specialist. She has also had the opportunity to teach the trombone, trumpet and music theory in Croix-des-Bouquets and Jacmel (Haïti) with the Ambassadors for now three years. During the 2017-2018 season, she developed her focus on community engagement and teaching with The Global Leaders program, where she was one of 35 people selected for an international cohort of enterprising young musicians. This allowed her to be a visiting professor in Bolivia (Conservatorio Plurinacional de Mùsica), Chile (Viva la Mùsica Panguipulli), Panama (Orquestra Veragüense de Vientos) and Washington (DC Youth Orchestra Program).

What is your favorite movie? Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Are you originally from Montreal? If not what brought you here? No, I'm from Val-d'Or (Abitibi-Témiscamingue) and I moved to Mtl for university in 2011.

Which soundtrack moves you the most? Such a difficult answer, but I love the simple and efficient music of American Beauty.

Do you have any crazy or strange performance/gig stories? Care to share it? I mean most of my improvisations, that are using lot of accessories are weird! But the last time I played some impro with my clarinetist friend, I used a wacky whistle in my trumpet and the audience (mostly not musicians) started to laugh. It was the first time that I had such a funny reaction to my sounds!

Don't miss out on seeing Emilie and the rest of the FILMPROV team December 10th at La Sotterranea at La Sala Rossa (4848 boulevard Saint-Laurent). Doors open at 8 and entry is $8 or pay what you can.