Originally from Mont-Tremblant, QC, Frédéric Payant began his musical journey at age eight when he started playing piano. At age 12 he started the music program in high school, and that is when he decided to make the transition to trumpet. It was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with his instrument. After graduating high school, Frédéric entered the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec a Montréal in the class of Manon Lafrance. During the 9 years he spent at the Conservatoire, he had the chance to perform in Brass quintet, Brass Ensemble, Contemporary Ensemble, and the Orchestre symphonique du Conservatoire. Frédéric completed this program with his “Prix avec Grande Distinction a L’Unanimité”.

In 2007 he had the chance to play the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto. After his studies in Montréal, Frédéric spent a year at the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK, in the class of Professor James Watson. During that time he started playing Baroque trumpet with Robert Farley. Frédéric went to perfect his playing with trumpet players such as Vincent Cichowicz, Eric Aubier, Reinhold Friedrich, and David Krauss. While freelancing, Frédéric played with ensembles in Laval, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Longueuil, and the Grand Ballets Canadiens. Frédéric also played for a season with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.

Currently, Frédéric is in the Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. In his spare time Frédéric can be found biking, skiing or baking which are just a few of his favorite pastimes outside of music.