French-Canadian Linda Bouchard has composed over 50 works for a number of genres, from orchestral and chamber works to dance scores, concerti, and vocal pieces. Her works have been heard extensively on both sides of the Atlantic and have been recorded by the CBC and Analekta in Canada, ECM in Germany and CRI in the USA. A new CD of orchestral works was just released in June 1998 on the Canadian Marquis Classics label.

Her works have won Prizes in Canada and the USA including four PROCAN awards, first prizes in the Princeton Composition Contest, the Indiana State Competition and the NACUSA Contest. In 1997, Ms. Bouchard won the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts and was chosen “Composer of the Year” from the Conseil Quebecois de la Culture’s Prix Opus.

She lived in New York City from 1979 to 1990 where she composed, led new music ensembles and made orchestral arrangements for various organizations. From September 1992 to August 1995, Linda Bouchard held the position of Composer-in-Residence for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada. During her residency, she composed several works for the orchestra and organized 20th Century Music events such as: The First Orchestral Workshop, the Summer Music Festival and other educational activities.

As a conductor, Ms. Bouchard has led a number of orchestras and ensembles in the US and in Canada. She conducted the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players in February 1998 and she conducted the premiere of her Pilgrim's Cantata at the Oregon Bach Festival in June 1996. In 1993 she led the NAC Orchestra in an innovative Young People's Concert dedicated to the music of this century and conducted the first Double-Take Concert of the yearly Summer Festival. In early 1994 she served as musical director and conductor for the NAC performance of Mauricio Kagel's Varieté. During her time in the USA she led the St Luke’s Orchestra, the American Dance Festival, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, the New York New Music Ensemble and the New Music Consort. She also was assistant-conductor for the New York Children’s Free Opera from 1985 to 1988. From 1990 to 1992 she was guest conductor for the Atelier de Musique Contemporaine of l'Université de Montréal, and served as artistic coordinator of FORUM 91 for le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne.

Ms. Bouchard was music director for the 20th Century Songs Integration Program at the Banff Center in 1994 and returned as guest artist to give Master Classes in composition in 1995.

Ms Bouchard just completed a Viola concerto for Kim Kashkashian which was premiered in October at the Musikprotokoll Festival in Graz, Austria. She is currently working on a music theater work based on Eduardo Galeano’s Book of Embraces and a large ensemble work for le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne.

She currently lives in San Francisco with her husband and her son and is working on a film score for the Toronto ensemble CONTINUUM as well as a music-theatre piece and a special project for le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne in Montréal.