Maestra Lori Antounian, Orchestra Conductor, Choir Director and Composer, begins her musical journey by watching her father conduct choirs, at a very young age. Born and raised in a musicians’ family, Maestra Antounian found her vocation in the same path.

Being a lover of jazz music, in her early years, she created her own jazz band and performed shows in Montreal. She strongly believes that music is a universal language and there can be no boundaries to its performance, style and genre.

Through her education, she has studied classical piano, voice, composition, choir conducting and orchestral conducting. During her studies, she was the recipient of three music university scholarships. Maestra Antounian was the student of many local greats such as Dr. Gregory Chaverdian for piano, Maestro Christopher Jackson for choir conducting and Maestro Jean-François Rivest, Maestro Paolo Bellomia and Maestro Raffi Armenian for orchestral conducting. She then pursued her Doctoral Conducting studies at the University of Montreal.

In May 2009, Maestra Antounian founded her own orchestra, the Imperial Orchestra. They have performed many concerts in Montreal and were invited to perform at festivals such as the EuroFest and Stella Musica Festival. The Imperial Orchestra is honoured to have promoted, worked with and performed composers’ premieres and continues to support local artists. In addition to orchestral conducting, Maestra Antounian has conducted many choirs and has invited a select few to perform with her Imperial Orchestra.

Maestra Antounian has been invited to conduct orchestras internationally: the Argentina National Symphonic Orchestra (Buenos Aires, Argentina), the Córdoba Metropolitan Orchestra (Córdoba, Argentina), the Accademia Vivaldiana (Venice, Italy), the Montreal Conservatory Symphonic Orchestra (Montreal, Canada), the University of Montreal Symphonic Orchestra (Montreal, Canada) and Sinfonia Toronto (Toronto, Canada). In addition, Maestra Antounian has toured South America with composer Ara Gevorgyan and performed in front of 15 000 spectators. She was invited to be the assistant of Maestro Adam Johnson of the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra rehearsal.

Maestra Antounian has a broad repertoire encompassing classical, contemporary, experimental, jazz and folkloric music through symphonic and chamber orchestras and choirs. The expression and professionalism of her performance inspire and move her audience powerfully. She is convinced that music can transform and influence lives while giving hope to future generations to come.

“Through my veins, to the orchestra, the power of music flows.” Maestra Lori Antounian