We are Voces Boreales

Philip Raphals is executive director of the Helios Centre, a non-profit energy research group, and president of NovoPower International, a start-up developing waste-heat-to-power systems for the data centre industry. A cellist, he was a founding member of the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas, and was for several years a frequent substitute on the Montreal Symphony.  Philip has sung with Voces Boreales since 2018.

Originally, Pierre Thibaudeau was musically trained as a pianist. While doing his undergrad degree in maths and physics, however, he discovered his passion for choral singing, first as a singer and soon as a choral conductor. During his doctoral studies in mathematics at the University of Cambridge, not only was he exposed to and took part in the English choral and organ traditions but, in contact with the late Dr Mary Berry, discovered another passion, Gregorian Chant, which he practised as a cantor, capellmeister and teacher. Since 2016, he puts his organising skills to use as Returning Officer of the provincial electoral district of Acadie and, since 2020, of the federal district of Saint-Laurent. He has been a member of the board since 2018.

Marie-Ève Racine-Legendre is a writer specialized in children's programming. She was scriptwriter for shows such as L'île Kilucru, Subito Texto, Toc Toc Toc and À la ferme de Zénon, and collaborated on several projects for children and teenagers. She has also created musical shows and educational content for, amongst others, the OSM and the Orchestre de l'Estuaire. Trained in arts education and classical piano, Marie-Ève has many years' experience in music pedagogy. A graduate in cultural organizations management, she has worked for a number of NPOs, concert halls and festivals. She regularly performs as a professional chorister. She has been Secretary of the Board of Voces Boreales since 2022.

Audrey Gauthier has been passionate about classical music since childhood. For more than fifteen years, she has been active in Québec’s cultural sector, bringing her rigor, curiosity, and creativity to the promotion of music. She has worked with several ensembles and institutions, including I Musici de Montréal, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, and the Montréal Baroque Festival.

After completing her studies in music (Bachelor’s degree, Music Mediation, Cultural Organization Management), she founded Lyriamuse, a company that transforms the discovery of classical music into a playful and interactive experience, collaborating with, among others, the Orchestre Métropolitain and Arion Baroque Orchestra. She also regularly writes articles on industry news for the digital outlet Ludwig van Montréal.

Audrey nurtures her artistic sensitivity through her amateur viola practice—her faithful companion—and enjoys forging connections between creation, education, and music management.

Philippe Bourke has been President of the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) since 2024. He has more than 25 years of experience in environmental and sustainable development. He served as Executive Director of the Regroupement national des conseils régionaux de l’environnement du Québec for 20 years, as President of the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) from 2017 to 2022, and as Director of Sustainable Development Activation and Integration at Hydro-Québec. He has also held several positions in strategic development, public affairs, and governance within environmental organizations in Quebec and Canada. He has served on various advisory committees and boards related to sustainable development and climate change. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, and brings his expertise in governance and strategic management to Voces Boreales.