Maxine Thévenot

Acclaimed for her “solid musicianship … technical security and poise” by The American Organist, and for her “beautiful registration and flawless playing…another real gem of a recording with ravishing playing” by The Diapason Magazine, Dr. Thévenot’s recital career has taken her to many major European venues including the Magdeburger Dom, Germany; the Cathédrale de St. Bénigne, Dijon, France; Church of Santa Rita, Turin; La Verna and Florence, Italy; Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral, UK; Salisbury, St. Paul’s and Canterbury Cathedrals, UK; St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, UK; la Cathèdrale de Notre Dame, Paris; and to venues across North America including Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York City; Princeton University Chapel, Princeton, New Jersey; Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary; and l’Oratoire de Saint Joseph, Montréal. She has also performed at the music festivals of Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. In the summer of 2023, Dr. Thévenot, Director of Cathedral Music & Organist will conduct, by invitation, the Choir of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John in a concert at Hampton Court Palace, London, UK, and 9 liturgical services at Rochester and Canterbury Cathedrals in the United Kingdom.  

As a collaborative artist, Dr. Thévenot has given the US and New Mexican premiere performances of numerous large-scale works for organ and orchestra including Walter Piston’s Concerto for Organ and Strings under the direction of conductor/violinist David Felberg (2023); Pulitzer Prize winner Raven Chacon’s Voiceless Mass which features the organ, under the baton of David Felberg (2023); Ottorino Respighi’s Suite in G for Organ and Strings with David Felberg (2017); Concerto for Organ and Orchestra in C by British composer, Andrew Carter under his direction (2014); U.S. premiere of the Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani by UK composer Philip Moore under his direction (2012); Francis Poulenc’s Organ, Timpani, and Strings in g minor with the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra with conductors Grant Cooper (2012) and Matt Forte (2023); U.S. and European premiere performances of Canadian composer Andrew Ager’s Concerto for Organ and Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Justin Bischof (2011); Concerto for Organ and Strings by Richard Proulx under the baton of Dr. Julian Wachner at Chicago’s Symphony Hall as part of the 2006 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists. She is the dedicatee of organ works written by Andrew Ager, Hayes Biggs, Noel Goëmanne, Robert Lind, Martin Stacey, Philip Moore, and others. She continues to premiere works by living composers.

Dr. Thévenot has been a featured conductor, organ soloist, organ collaborator, and lecturer at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Winner of the 2000 Canada Bach National Organ Competition, Maxine has also broadcast for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio, and Pipedreams. 

Recognized for her excellence as a recording artist, Dr. Maxine Thévenot has released 17 well-received CDs on Raven CD.Appointed Canon Precentor in 2014, Dr. Thévenot currently serves as Director of Cathedral Music and Organist at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque where she oversees a program consisting of 3 choirs and is Artistic Director of an extensive community outreach ministry, Friends of Cathedral Music, entering its 30th season. Under her direction, the Cathedral Choir and Choristers have sung week-long residencies at Wells Cathedral (2018); a weekend residency at Washington National Cathedral (2016); and week-long residencies at both Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey (2014), having previously sung under her direction in 2010 at Southwark Cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and York Minster; and in New York City (2012) singing concerts and services at The Cathedral of the Incarnation, Saint Mary the Virgin, Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue and The Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Dr. Maxine Thévenot is Founding and Artistic Director of Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, the state’s first professional resident vocal ensemble, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Mexico, where she teaches pipe organ to those curious. Previously Dr. Thévenot was director of the UNM women’s choir, Las Cantantes from 2006-2020. 

A published composer with Paraclete Press, her compositions include introits, psalms chants, and a setting of the Preces & Responses recently premiered at St. John’s College, Cambridge, UK, and subsequently performed across North America and the UK.

A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Dr. Maxine Thévenot received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Saskatchewan (with Distinction); and her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. At Manhattan School, she was twice awarded the Bronson Ragan Award for ‘outstanding ability in organ performance’. Maxine is an Associate of the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, and was made an Honorary Fellow of the National College of Music, London, UK in 2006 for her “services to music.”

www.maxinethevenot.com