General and Artistic Director of the Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20, Alain Nonat, a Helden tenor and recipient of a First Prize of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, began his vocal studies with Maria Branèze at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris where he won a First Prize.
He continued his vocal studies in Montreal, Canada, at the Operatic Workshop of the McGill University Faculty of Music with Luciano Della Pergola, Barry Wisenfield and Antonio Narducci. He also worked with Bernard Diamant and pianist John Newmark.
He studied under the masters Jacques Jansen and Jean-Christophe Benoit in France; Boris Goldowsky in the United States; and in Germany under tenor Ernst Haefliger who became his mentor.
He participated in several national and international competitions, including the Music Competition of Canada and the International Competition of La Mélodie Française de Paris where he win prizes He win several buraries to study in France, Swiss and Germany .
He sang for the most part in France, the United States and Canada, and participated in the first presentation of several contemporary lyrical works. He possesses a large repertoire of French melodies, lieder and oratorios, and has staged several lyrical productions.
He has a certificate in Education for the Université du Québec in Montreal.
On his return to Canada, in 1974, he founded the Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20, an organization which promotes opera for ail ages and encourages young singers. He was also a dance critic for the French revue « Danse » for three years.
In 1980 and 1981, he is general and artistic director of the Opera and Dance Pavillon at Man and His World in Montreal, which attracted more than 150,000 visitors each summer with its concerts and exhibits.
In 1982, he concentrated his efforts on teaching and on managing the Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20. He went on to create the “Journées de la musique française” a series of concerts inviting in Montreal French wellknown musicians and the “Rencontres Musicales Tchèques et Slovaques” (two events combining concerts and competitions), and “Si l’Opéra m’était conté”, an introduction to opera for ail ages.
In 1993, he is a delegate for Canada at the first Olympic Arts charter in Paris Unesco. In 1994, he organized in Canada a new program, “Les Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques”, whose aim is to facilitate the introduction of young Canadian singers to a career in Europe. He create the same program in China in 2004 in collaboration with the China Musician’s Association
Since 1990, he has given Master Classes in Interpretation, specializing in the interpretation of French music, opera and melody, and the preparation for international auditions and competitions. In this function, he has been reguarly invited to Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and South Korea.
Since 1991, he has been invited every year to be a jury member for International Singing compétitions in Belgium, Chine, Czech Republic, France, Italy, South Korea, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Russia and Estonia.
He has also instituted several exchange programs between Canada, Europe and China for young singers.
In 1991, he was decorated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, in recognition of his involvement in cultural exchange between his country and Canada. In 1993, He received also in Montreal City Hall from the Slovak President in official visit a decoration for his work to promote cultural exchange between Canada and Slovakia. In 2002, he received the civil medal, Linden of Friendship, from the International Club of Slovakia for his cooperation in promoting cultural exchanges between Canada and Slovakia.
In 2011 he received from the French Ministry of Culture the decoration of Chevalier des Arts et des lettres.
In 2013 he received the Diamant Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to Canada
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