Tara-Louise Montour, Vanier 1990 Music Graduate: North America's foremost Aboriginal classical violinist.

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When Vanier music graduate, violinist Tara Louise Montour, played at a benefit concert to support Indigenous students at Vanier, she was doing something close to her own heart. Tara-Louise Montour, who was born in Kahnawake, is considered North America's foremost Aboriginal classical violinist and she has carved a special niche for herself in the world of classical music through her commissions and exploration of music inspired by indigenous themes and melodies.

The Vanier concert featured a piece of music commissioned and recorded by Tara-Louise in 1999. Written by Quebec composer, Régent Levasseur, the work entitled "Farewell to the Warriors," is based on a very old traditional Chippewa song.

Although born in Kahnawake, Tara Louise was adopted by a Montreal family when she was a baby. Her mother is a ballerina and her father a composer. It is therefore natural that in such a family of artists, Tara Louise began playing the violin at a very young age and eventually realized that she had found her voice in the violin. Even so, she speaks several languages, including, English and French, Italian like her mother and some Mohawk like her birth family whom she first met at the age of 27 when "Farewell to the Warriors" was released.

What did Vanier mean to Tara Louise?

"At that time I was getting a feel for what I wanted to do. Cegep gave me more time to practice and focus on music. It was an opportunity to improve at a faster rate. My two years at Vanier prepared me well for university and after graduating from Vanier, I went directly into second year at the University of Toronto. However, about that time, I needed to change instrument but I could not afford both a new violin and studying in Toronto. So I came home to Montreal to attend McGill and with the money saved I was able to buy a new instrument."

While studying music at McGill, Tara Louise was also interested in medicine to the point of taking some premedical classes. But she soon realized that she could never live without music and so the die was cast. After graduating from McGill, Tara Louise went on to obtain a Masters in Music from Northern Illinois University.

Since then, her professional life has been a blend of many occupations, as is often the case with musicians. She has spent summers teaching music. She is the founding violinist of the Clivia Trio, and the 2008 winner of the Sunburst Artist of the Year Award. She has performed as guest soloist with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal under its director Yannick Nézet-Séguin as well as other orchestras across Canada.

Tara Louise is currently a member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (JoAnn Falletta, conductor). "Now, I live in Norfolk Virginia and play in the orchestra every week for 42 weeks a year. In the summer, I'm off and I come to Montreal to escape the heat of Virginia. I bring my twin daughters home to learn French and spend time with my family."

While she plays in orchestras, Tara Louise much prefers solo work or chamber orchestras, which give her more freedom of expression. But being a gifted violinist is one thing. Making a career of music is quite something else. How did she do it?

"Nothing really prepared me for planning and managing a career. First, I had to ask myself, what do I have that is different from other violinists? One of the things that stood out for me was my affinity for Indigenous music. When I started, there were no other Indigenous violinists. Now, there are some from various areas of the United States."

"There was also no Indigenous music for the violin so I decided to commission some. I had support and help from to my mother, but it wasn't easy. She helped me apply for grants and prepare materials that all had to be very professional. I was able to raise enough money and get substantial aid from various organizations so that I could commission "Farewell to the Warriors" and two other works as well, and record them."

"My advice to young musicians is to get the all the groundwork and training done young. Then you can decide where you want to go and how you will get there. I didn't become a soloist right away."

"But I truly want to be able to perform works that bring together the two worlds I come from, Montreal and Kahnawake." For now, she is making her wish come true.