Andree-Ann Deschenes, a professionally-trained pianist with a passion for Latin American music, is eagerly anticipating a trip to Brazil later this month.
Deschenes has given many live performances, released several albums, and taught music in the city, including a three-year stint in Algoma University’s music department.
The Sault-based musician will participate in the ninth International Meeting of Contemporary Piano, which will be held Oct. 29-31 at the Federal University of Paraiba in the city of Joao Pessoa in eastern Brazil.
“I was invited to come play and be part of discussion panels. The topic of the conference is women and music, which is a topic that is very dear to me,” Deschenes told SooToday.
“I’m incredibly honoured to say that I'll be doing concerts.
Deschenes will be playing in San Paulo on Oct. 24, in Natal on Oct. 27, and then she'll be in Joao Pessoa for the conference from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31.
"It's very exciting," she said.
Deschenes caught the attention of the Brazilian conference’s organizers through her 2024 album entitled Wanderings.
She commissioned seven composers – six of them Brazilian – to write pieces for the album.
“When I was a student at California State I worked with a teacher whose name is Paul De Castro. He was the director of the Afro-Latin music program there and he got me into playing music by Cuban and Brazilian composers,” Deschenes said.
“It was classical music but it had a different flavour to it. It just felt different. It sounded different. To me it was a very intriguing world and so I kind of dove head first into it. I love that music and I want more people to know about it.”
She performed the commissioned pieces by Brazilian composers at The Loft in May 2023.
Those pieces were included on Wanderings, recorded at The Loft in Sault Ste. Marie in 2024.
A documentary portraying her recording of the album – produced by local filmmaker Dan Nystedt – was also released.
A versatile artist, her musical experiences are not limited to Latin American music.
“I've done jazz gigs, I've done classical concerts. I was in a salsa band. I do a little bit of everything and I think that's what keeps it interesting,” Deschenes said.
The Granby, Quebec native’s introduction to music came when her mother purchased a digital piano for her to enjoy.
“I went into lessons and it kind of stuck because I had an amazing teacher. Then I just kept going from there,” Deschenes said.
As a high school student, Deschenes enjoyed listening to a wide range of music, including songs by Elton John and Guns N' Roses.
She also played in the orchestra for high school musicals.
Deschenes made the decision to pursue music professionally and began her formal post-secondary music studies at a junior college in Quebec.
“It was just what I wanted to do. For me, going into music was never a question. I was just always involved in it.”
Deschenes went on to earn an advanced diploma in jazz at Toronto’s Humber College, a master’s degree in Afro-Latin music at California State University and a doctor of musical Arts degree at Claremont Graduate University.
California State University and Claremont Graduate University are both located in Los Angeles.
“Music means something to everybody. It's part of everybody's life. I can't imagine myself doing anything else as a career. If I can do something that makes me happy and makes somebody else happy too, then why wouldn't I do it?” Deschenes said.
A SooToday video interview with Deschenes can be found here.
More information on Deschenes and samplings of her music – and how to purchase her albums – are included on her website.
Once she returns to the Sault, Deschenes will perform at The Loft on Friday Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in a show entitled Back from Brazil.
Tickets can be purchased here.