Marie-Josée Ouimet is a Franco-Albertan singer-songwriter with a passion for choral singing. She holds a Bachelor's degree in music from the University of Alberta and a Master's degree in choral conducting from the same institution. In the fall of 2019, she will begin her doctoral studies under the tutelage of professors Laurier Fagnan and Tim Shantz.
She currently directs Les Chantamis choir as well as Mélodie d'Amour, a choir for seniors, and Clé, a vocal ensemble of students from three French schools in Edmonton. She was the interim director of the Chorale Saint-Jean for their 2016-2017 artistic season. She has also had the opportunity to give numerous workshops to other choirs, including the Yukon Summer Music Camp (2014), the Elk Island Regional Honours Choirs (2015), and the Swift Current Comprehensive High School choirs (2016).
Marie-Josée has worked as a project coordinator for the Centre de développement musical for 15 years. For years, she has also worked as a vocal coach for many musical activities in the Franco-Albertan community such, as the Galalas, Polyfonik, formerly the Gala albertain de la chanson, and the ChantOuest. Marie-Josée has been part of the musical team of the St. John's Chorale since 2015, and during the 2016-2017 season, she was delighted to have the new challenge of working with the Chorale as Interim Director.
As a solo singer, Marie-Josée has had the opportunity to travel across Canada and has performed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and the Yukon. In 2010, she received the CHFA Alberta Song Award for her contribution to the development of Franco-Albertan music.
Marie-Josée was the principal soloist for Elle s'appelaient Marie, and grande suite pour chœur, presented by the Saint-Jean Chorale in the spring of 2007 and during their tour of Quebec for the 400th anniversary in 2008. She reprised the role of Marie for the International Choralies in Edmonton in 2012 and in Vancouver and Gaspé in 2013.
In 2008, Marie-Josée was the only soloist invited to the choral event Et si Québec m'était chantée. This show gathered more than 1400 choir members from all over the world. It took place in front of a crowd of 9000 spectators at the Colisée Pepsi. More recently, she shared the stage at the Windspear with Tommy Banks and his orchestra for a show in honour of the departure of Indira Samarasekera, outgoing president of the University of Alberta (2015).
Marie-Josée Ouimet has released three albums, L'heure bleue (June 2010), Parce que... (November 2003), and Mon clair de lune (November 2000). Mon clair de lune and L'heure bleue were nominated at the Western Canadian Music Awards in the category "Best Francophone Album of the Year". She also participated in the compilation albums Trait d'Union (2003), Robert Soul (2008) and Hiver Nation (2020).