With Maestro in school, conductor Marc-Andre Bougie teaches a group of student-conductors the basic skills of his profession and musical concepts. Through hands-on practice of meter patterns and many other musical gestures, students will learn to physically communicate musical intentions and develop leadership abilities. Students need to come with a love of music and a desire to communicate this love to others. The basic skills needed to be successful with the workshop will be given on the first day of the residency and do not require any previous knowledge. Individual musical instinct will be developed from simple technical learning experiences. Available to conduct teacher workshops.

A native of Montreal, Marc-Andre first studied piano at the College of St. Laurent. He subsequently completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Montreal and was admitted to the University of Missouri for his Master's in Orchestra Conducting under Maestro Edward Dolbashian. As a conductor, Marc-Andre founded and directed the Orchestre des Sources, a chamber orchestra with which he recorded a CD, Orchestre des Sources: Musique pour cordes, and the music for the short-movie L 'embellie. In Missouri, he conducted the University Philharmonic, the Contemporary Chamber Players, the University Singers, the Columbia Youth Orchestra, and the Show-Me Opera Studio. Arriving in Shreveport in September 2001 he held a four-year tenure with the Shreveport Opera as Education Director, Chorus Master, and Assistant-Conductor, making his professional conducting debut with the Shreveport Symphony in January 2004. He also worked with the Sacred Heart Choir, St. Pius X Choir, the St. John-Berchmans Cathedral Choir, the St. Cecilia Choral Society, the Boys and Girls Choir of Shreveport, and The Princess Theatre Players. Also active as a composer, he won the 2001 MTNA National Composition Competition with his piece String-Quartet. Marc-Andre is currently Music Director for the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, the Texarkana Regional Chorale and the Shreveport Chorale, and full-time faculty at Texarkana College. Recent engagements have included concerts at Carnegie Hall and Montreal with Ark-La-Tex Choirs, conducting the Gilbert & Sullivan production of I Have A Song to Sing, & The Golden Legend and countless concerts with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, of which he is the founding Music Director. Marc was awarded TRAHC's 2007 Arts Champion Award. He made his European conducting debut in April 2010, and Carnegie Hall conducting debut in June, 2010. Marc-André Bougie is married to soprano Candace Taylor, with whom he collaborates as pianist and conductor in recitals. They are proud parents of Miriam Taylor Bougie, born in February 2008.