Canadian-American musician Maxine Thévenot is known for her skillful, musical playing, inventive concert programming, and passionate, informed conducting. She combines a profound commitment to her liturgical work as a cathedral musician with guest conducting, solo and collaborative organ recitals, and thrives on co-creating synergistic community experiences whilst continuing to strive for representation and access to music of all genres.
Canon Maxine Thévenot is director of cathedral music & organist and artistic director of the Friends of Cathedral Music series at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Under her leadership, the cathedral choir and choristers sing services and concerts, have made numerous commercial recordings with RavenCD, and fulfill part of their community outreach mission by undertaking national and international tours. Earlier this month, the cathedral choirs completed a 5-day tour to British Columbia, Canada singing services and a concert at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria.
Dr. Thevenot is currently the instructor of organ at the University of New Mexico. Previously she taught music appreciation and music theory and directed the university’s women’s choir, Las Cantantes, for over 15 years. She is the founding & artistic director of Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, the state’s first resident professional vocal ensemble.
In demand as a guest conductor and clinician, in 2022 Maxine was the liturgical service co-planner and conductor of the 45-voice ensemble, brass quintet, and two guest organists for the National Convention of the AGO in Seattle. In 2024 she was the first woman in its 26-year history to lead the Indianapolis Three Choir Festival. She recently served as music director for the 2024 RCSM West course, and as conductor/co-liturgy planner for the 58th annual Association of Anglican Musicians 2024 conference. In 2026, she will serve on the music faculty of the Church Musicians Workshop at Nashotah House. As an organ recitalist, she has appeared in concert halls and churches across the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe and in 2024 made her Icelandic debut. Her choral and organ recordings appear on the RavenCD label.
A published composer with Paraclete Press, her compositions include introits, psalm chants, and a setting of the Preces & Responses which has been performed in Great Britain and across North America.
A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, 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 of Music, 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.
Categories: Conductors, Instrumentalists, Performers
