Sophie Rivard

Sophie Rivard is a graduate cum Laude in Performance from McGill University. She’s been playing in professional orchestras since 1981. Among other distinguished positions, Sophie has been Orchestre Métropolitain’s principal second violin for six years and concertmaster for Orchestre Symphonique de la Montérégie and both the Montréal and the Longueuil Chamber Orchestras.

Through the years, Mrs. Rivard has played with several ensembles as principal chair, mostly concertmaster. Sophie also has a flourishing career as a baroque violinist, performing chamber recitals and being invited as guest speaker for baroque music conferences and festivals in Europe, the United States and Canada.

Since 2003, Sophie has also been invited as guest soloist with orchestras, performing solo works of the great violin repertoire.

In 1994, Sophie Rivard started her career as a Ragtime musician, she has performed in most renowned Ragtime concerts and festivals. Many different Ragtime/Terraverde composers have arranged or written music for her, including, Glenn Jenks, Scott Kirby, Frank French, Brian Keenan, Mimi Blais and Luiz Simas. As a ragtime violinist, Sophie is known for her virtuoso playing as well as her moving expression in slower pieces. With little or no rehearsal, Sophie can join other performers, enhancing the music with her own embellishments, adding a zest to Ragtime piano playing.