Psalm Chant Competition 2026

Award-winning 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 community experiences. Her musical career has taken her throughout Great Britain and North America and to significant European venues in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, and Italy. First-prize winner of the 2000 Canada Bach National Organ Competition, Maxine has also broadcast for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio, and Pipedreams. Dr. Thévenot has been a featured performer and lecturer at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. She serves as a competition jury member and examiner for the American Guild of Organists and serves on the editorial board of the Association of Anglican Musicians. Canon Maxine Thévenot serves as Director of Cathedral Music & Organist at the Episcopal Cathedral of St John, Albuquerque, NM. She is also the Artistic Director of an extensive community outreach ministry, Friends of Cathedral Music. Recognized for her excellence as a recording artist, Maxine has released 17 recordings on the Raven CD label. A highly sought-after and regarded choral conductor, chorus master, and guest clinician, she is the Founding and Artistic Director of Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, the state’s first professional resident vocal ensemble. Dr Thévenot has taught in the Department of Music at the University of New Mexico since 2006. Currently, she teaches pipe organ repertoire, however, in the past she taught music theory and music history, and for 15 years was Director of the UNM Women’s Chorus, Las Cantantes. 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. She was twice awarded the Bronson Ragan Award at the Manhattan School of Music 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.”