Since 1997, Nathalie Doucet has built a dynamic international career spanning more than three decades as a répétiteur, vocal coach, and collaborative pianist, working with many of the world’s leading artists, producing organizations, and educational institutions.
She has collaborated with premier companies such as the Dutch National Opera, the Nederlandse Reisopera, NTR-Zaterdagmatinee, Het Concertgebouworkest, Opéra de Montréal, the Canadian Opera Company, and Opera Orlando. Her work has been featured in major venues including Het Concertgebouw and the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ. She has partnered with celebrated singers such as Lisette Oropesa, Étienne Dupuis, Lianna Haroutounian, Maria Agresta, Nicola Alaimo, Michèle Losier, Julie Boulianne, and Cheryl Studer, and has worked under the baton of conductors including Bernard Haitink, Charles Dutoit, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Markus Stenz, James Gaffigan, Karel Mark Chichon, Stéphane Denève, Richard Egarr, Edoardo Müller, and Jaap van Zweden.
Since October 2021, Nathalie has served as Head of Music and Director of the Resident Artist Program at Detroit Opera. She has played an integral role in each production since her arrival, notably in the world premiere of Anthony Davis’ X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Under her leadership, the Resident Artist Program has been reimagined as a training ground rooted in both artistic excellence and community engagement, creating space for young singers to develop professionally while building meaningful connections with Detroit audiences.
A passionate educator, Nathalie spent a decade as a faculty member at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she taught French lyric diction, co-led opera classes, and served as music director for the concert opera series. She has also held positions as Director of the Young Artist and Youth Opera Programs at Opera Orlando; Head Coach for the Opera Studio Nederlands; Principal Coach for the Dutch National Opera Academy; Music Director of Des Moines Metro Opera’s Opera Iowa tour; and faculty member at the University of Tennessee, University of Toronto, and York University. She is regularly invited to teach at summer programs including AIMS in Graz, COSI in Italy, Musiktheater Bavaria, Highlands Opera Studio, and Summer Opera Lyric Theatre.
Fluent in French, English, and Dutch, and proficient in Italian and German, Nathalie is especially known for her work in French lyric diction. She is a sought-after coach for singers and institutions preparing French repertoire, and currently serves as French diction coach at the Musical Horizons Conservatory in Athens, Greece.
Nathalie is also an experienced adjudicator and pianist for vocal competitions, having judged or accompanied for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Meistersinger Competition in Graz, John Alexander Vocal Competition, COSA Canada National Auditions, Neue Stimmen, the Belvedere Competition, the Heinz Rehfuss Competition, and the International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch (IVC).
A native of Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada, she holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy from l’Université de Moncton, a master’s in piano performance from l’Université de Montréal, and a specialized Artist Diploma under the late Claude Savard. Her post-graduate training was shaped by mentorship with the late Dixie Ross-Neill.
photo credit: Arielle Doneson