Duo7C

Violin + Piano Duo specializing in contemporary and classical performances

Duo7C, formed by pianist Gabrielle Gagnon-Picard and violinist Grace M. Alexander, is a Vancouver-Montreal ensemble with a shared interest in performing repertoire ranging from the classical canon to contemporary works by Canadian and international composers. At the heart of Duo7C is a close friendship that translates naturally into their music-making. Since beginning to perform together, Gabrielle and Grace have developed a strong sense of musical chemistry and an intuitive understanding of one another on stage. 

The name Duo7C comes from the average water temperature of English Bay in Vancouver, BC Canada in the winter months. Gabrielle and Grace both have backgrounds in competitive swimming, and from the beginning of their musical collaboration and friendship, have swam together when not rehearsing. Most notably, they would partake in weekly cold plunges in the English Bay. This became a routine for the two of them, a time to share the shock of the cold water, but the also the inspiration and conversation that came from it. These cold plunges sparked many ideas for future projects and collaborations as a duo, so they found it fitting to attribute their duo name to the water temperature — 7C (7 Celsius).

Gagnon-Picard is a Vancouver-based pianist and DMA student at the University of British Columbia, where she studies with Dr. Corey Hamm. A laureate of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition, she is particularly active in contemporary music and has premiered and/or commissioned more than twenty-five new works. In 2025, she presented Touches Modernes, a solo recital tour with Jeunesses Musicales Canada, performing in 20 cities across Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Alexander is currently pursuing a Graduate Diploma of Performance at McGill University in Montreal studying with Nelson Lee. Alexander is an active chamber musician and recitalist, both in Canada and the USA. She recently won first-prize at the 2025 Friends of Chamber Music (Vancouver) Young Musicians Competition, and is a past prize winner & finalist at the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition and LMC of Seattle Frances Walton Competition. She is the founder and artistic director of Knapweed Arts Performing Festival, an annual chamber music festival based in Plains Montana.