Simon Rivard is one of the most sought-after conductors on the Canadian music scene. He is in his second season as Music Director of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of The Happenstancers, one of Toronto’s leading new music ensembles.

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In the 2026/27 season, Simon will lead Mahler’s First Symphony, Haendel’s Messiah, and Verdi’s La traviata with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. Other season highlights include his début with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Orchestre métropolitain, and a return to the podium at Opéra de Montréal for a new production of Verdi’s Rigoletto.

He has conducted orchestras across North America and Europe, including Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra (Finland), among others. He served, for three seasons, as Edmonton Opera’s inaugural music director. From 2018 to 2022, he was Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where he was mentored by Gustavo Gimeno and Sir Andrew Davis. He was also the Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (2018-2024), and the Associate Conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (2020- 2022).