In residence at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Music, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM) is a chamber orchestra of 15 permanent musicians that performs in Quebec, Canada and internationally. Lorraine Vaillancourt is the founder and Music Director.
Since its founding in 1989, the NEM has built a solid reputation. A key leader in its milieu, the ensemble is known for its modern approach and excellence in all aspects of the interpretation, composition and preservation of musical works of the 20th and 21st centuries.
In its musical practice, the NEM has always striven to share its passion and know-how with new generations. The ensemble regularly organizes events to train emerging musicians in interpreting new music and give voice to young composers from here and elsewhere.
Over the past 30 years, the NEM has given more than 525 performances of all kinds (concerts, open rehearsals, workshops, opera, etc.). Over the course of these performances:
- 800 works have been interpreted
- 285 new works have been premiered
- 215 works have been commissioned by the NEM to composers in Canada, USA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
In addition, the NEM has organized 13 editions of the Forum International des Jeunes Compositeurs, 18 editions of the Rencontres de Musique Nouvelle and over 40 tours in Asia (China, Japan, Singapore), Australia, USA, Europe (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom), Mexico and Canada (Banff, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg). The NEM has received many honours, including 15 Opus Awards, most recently in January 2020, and recorded 34 albums dedicated to contemporary composers and music.