An accomplished, respected, and dynamic choral conductor much in demand, Maxine Thévenot has directed ensembles across North America. She also maintains an active career as an international organist, a visiting lecturer at universities, a recording artist, and is a published writer and photographer. Presently, Dr. Thévenot serves as the Founding Director of the professional vocal ensemble, Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico; as the Director of the University of New Mexico women’s vocal ensemble, Las Cantantes; and as the Director of Cathedral Music & Organist at the Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, NM.

Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico was formed by Maxine Thévenot in 2006 for a concert in The Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since then, the choir has performed to critical acclaim throughout the state of New Mexico. Recent reviews about Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico have stated, 'The ensemble boasts a unified blend of voices top to bottom with impeccable intonation.But what most impressed was the enthusiasm and vivacity with which the group sang. There is a great sense of camaraderie and surely no shrinking violet voices here.' (The Albuquerque Journal) and'refreshing, enchantingly energetic and vibrant' (The Santa Fe New Mexican)

For the past five years Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico have given annual sell-out performances of their Summer and Winter Solstice concerts, Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, have raised monies ($10,000) for local charities like The Barrett Foundation—a women and children's shelter—and have supported the musical education within the community and state from the elementary education level to the university level.

Performance highlights include concerts with the Santa Fe Concert Association, members of the New Mexico Symphony, appearances on the Southwest Symphony concert series, Music in Corrales series, Placitas Concert Series, The Friends of Cathedral Music series and memorable performances in such world renowned acoustical spaces such as The Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have collaborated with guest soloists, soprano Erin Sanzero; male soprano Eric Brenner; countertenors Patrick Fenning and Robert Isaacs; tenors Javier Gonzalez and Lenard Whiting; and baritones David Farwig and Edmund Connolly.

They have presented numerous première performances including the New Mexican première of Henry Mollicone's Beatitude Mass: Mass for the Homeless; commissioned and given the world première performance of Andrew Ager's Winter-an evocation; and on this recording recorded four première recordings.

Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico is comprised of young experienced professional singers who reside in New Mexico and who have been educated across North America. The ensemble is unique to the State of New Mexico in that it is the only resident professional vocal ensemble. The group has a flexible roster, which enables all genres and voicing of repertoire to be performed. The repertoire includes music ranging from that of the medieval period to modern day compositions both accompanied and unaccompanied.

For further information or to join Polyphony’s mailing list, please visit www.polyphonynm.com.

Las Cantantes is currently comprised of 25 auditioned singers. The ensemble studies, rehearses and performs the finest a cappella and accompanied literature for treble voices. Since taking the group's direction in the Fall 2007, Dr. Thévenot has directed the ensemble in numerous venues ranging from the stage of Keller Hall on campus, to the stage of Carnegie Hall. She led them on a week-long tour to New York City singing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, historic Grace Church Lower Broadway, Long Island's historic Cathedral of the Incarnation, and the Church of the Heavenly Rest on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Under her direction Las Cantantes has recorded two commercially released CDs – My Dancing Day – Dream a Little Dream - both on the RavenCD label. These discs feature several premiere recordings by New Mexico composers, and major works for choir and harp, choir and organ and unaccompanied works. In addition to her work with the UNM Choral department she has lectured in Music Theory and Music Appreciation and currently serves as Chapel Organist at the UNM Alumni Chapel.

Dr. Thévenot serves as the Director of Cathedral Music and as such, works with the Cathedral Choir, the Cathedral Chamber Choir, and the Cathedral Choristers. These ensembles sing at weekly and monthly services at the Cathedral, perform newly commissioned works, perform annual concerts with organ and orchestral members of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. She has directed the Cathedral Choirs and members of the NMSO in performances of works ranging from J.S. Bach to modern day composers such as Judith Bingham, James MacMillan, Tarik O’Regan, and Joby Talbot.

As organist, Dr. Thevenot has performed around the globe including such prestigious venues as Notre Dame, Paris; Westminster Abbey, London; Washington National Cathedral; The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC; churches in Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.

Maxine Thévenot was the Founding Director of the women’s ensemble, Concentus while serving on the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City in 2005. Dr. Thévenot also served as the Associate Conductor for the Manhattan School of Music Chorus comprised of 120 freshmen and sophomore students from 2002-2004. From 2003-2005, Ms. Thévenot served as the Associate Choirmaster at The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York where she was the Director of the Cathedral Girls Choir and the Schola Cantorum. Other past choral experiences have included working as Senior Accompanist and Assistant Conductor, Calgary Girls Choir; Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, rehearsal pianist and Assistant Conductor; Assistant Conductor, Cathedral Church of the Redeemer Cathedral Choir, Calgary, AB; rehearsal pianist and Assistant Conductor, University of Saskatchewan, University Chorus, Saskatoon, SK.

Ms. Thévenot has received the Bachelor of Music in Music Education with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan, and the degrees, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance from the Manhattan School of Music, New York, where she was twice awarded the Bronson Ragan Award for ‘most outstanding organist.’ She also holds the Associate diplomas from the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Royal Conservatory of Music. In December 2006, Dr. Thévenot was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the National College of Music, London, UK for her services to music.

Click here for a listing of her upcoming concert schedule.