Jérôme Blais was born in 1965. After studying Music Theory at McGill University, he pursued and obtained in 1995 a Master's degree in Compositional Techniques at the University of Montreal where in 2004 he completed his doctoral studies with Michel Longtin and Reno De Stefano. His research dealt with the integration of improvisation into the compositional process. Jérôme Blais' works have been performed by several professional ensembles, among which are the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal, Musica Nova, the Quasar Saxophone Quartet, the Bozzini String Quartet, Bradyworks as well as the Array Music and Continuum ensembles of Toronto. He also performs as a pianist and improviser, notably with the Jahbar Trio which he founded with saxophonist Jean-Marc Bouchard. His research and compositional activities have received funding from such agencies as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Fonds pour la formation de chercheurs et l'aide à la recherche (FCAR), the Conseil des arts et des letters du Québec (Quebec’s Arts Council), and the Canada Council. In addition to his composition and improvising activities, Jérôme Blais taught harmony, composition and orchestration at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Music and at the University of Sherbrooke’s School of music from 1998 to 2004. Since the fall of 2004, he is Professor of Composition and Music Theory at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Conductus I (2006)
for saxophone octet (or other ensembles)

Conductus I was premiered by Quasar and Halifax in 2006 at Dalhousie University.

Con Stella (2002)
for saxophone quartet, string quartet and piano (or other ensembles)

Con Stella was premiered by Quasar, Bozzini Quartet and Jérôme Blais in 200 at the Théâtre La Chapelle in Montreal"

Le jour transfiguré (1996)
for saxophone quartet and narrator
Text : Jean-Marc Desgent

Commissioned by Quasar, Le jour transfiguré was premiered in 1996 at the Théâtre de la Licorne in Montreal.