Jacques Desjardins

Jacques Desjardins (He/Him) is a Collegiate Associate Director at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), specializing in Music Theory and Musicianship. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in musicianship, music theory, chromatic harmony, twentieth-century harmony, and conducting fundamentals.

• Education: DMA from University of Michigan, MM and BM from McGill University

His research and pedagogical interests center on music theory as a lens for understanding composers' creative processes, with a focus on chromaticism and twentieth-century compositional techniques. He has collaborated with renowned ensembles such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and contributed to re-orchestrating John Harbison's opera The Great Gatsby.

Desjardins has been associated with Opera Parallele since 2004, emphasizing innovative approaches to contemporary music performance. His career-defining moments include his first academic appointment and performing in Bach's Saint John Passion, which inspired his lifelong dedication to music.