After a busy first half of the 2025-2026 season in the ballet sphere, debuting with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and returning to Scottish Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Jean-Claude’s work has been met with critical acclaim:

With Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia

“The Royal Ballet Sinfonia, under assured direction, brings Tchaikovsky’s score to life with warmth. The orchestra illuminates the familiar melodies without ever overwhelming the dancers; the balance is refined, detailed and emotionally exuberant.” – EasternEye.

“From the off, the first thrilling notes of the overture foreshadow the adventure that is to come, with Jean-Claude Picard leading the Royal Ballet Sinfonia through the iconic music with infectious enthusiasm.” – Birmingham What’s On

“The spellbinding Royal Ballet Sinfonia orchestra, led by Jean-Claude Picard, played the ballet’s symphony with enthralling precision.” – The Indiependent

With Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and the Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens

“The Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens, conducted by Jean-Claude Picard, brings out the full emotional richness of Tchaikovsky’s score. Several passages — notably the Waltz of the Snowflakes and the final Grand Pas de Deux — achieve a remarkable balance between technical precision and expressive depth, offering the audience moments of genuine grace.” – Sors-tu

“The Orchestre des Grands Ballets Canadiens, led by Quebec-born conductor Jean-Claude Picard, appeared to be in complete symbiosis with the dancers of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (…).” – Babillard

With Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra:

“Guest conductor Jean-Claude Picard expertly leads the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra through composer Claire Cowan’s brilliant score (…)” – Winnipeg Free Press

Following Jean-Claude’s last concert at the helm of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières,  Le Nouvelliste wrote, in reaction to their interpretation of Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2:

“Under the spirited direction of Jean-Claude Picard, the OSTR navigated into the human soul with fervor and ease. The conductor seemed to take a keen pleasure in making the orchestra disappear at the end of some chapters in pianissimos that betrayed only but the most imperceptible vibrations in the air. A few moments later, to mark the accents of anger intended by Nielsen, the maestro gave the impression that his feet were losing contact with the ground. The orchestra reciprocated straight away.” – March 2023

Following Jean-Claude’s second visit to the Orchestre symphonique de Québec last December 2020, “Le Soleil” wrote: “Jean-Claude Picard…combines all the essential qualities of a conductor: precision of gesture, analytical intelligence and eloquence of expression. In the first movement [Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2], Picard takes the music head-on with undeniable commitment from start to finish… In slow movements he shows remarkable relaxation and a real sense of listening. [In the Strauss Oboe Concerto, Picard] proves to be a high-class accompanist managing the many subtle tempo nuances in Strauss’ score sensitively.”