Meet the winner of the 2026 Victor Kolstee Award, Philippe Jean
The Victor Kolstee Award was created to honour the memory of our beloved Musical Director, Victor Kolstee. Throughout his life, Kolstee spread his love and passion for flamenco.
Philippe Jean, photographed by Hervé Leblay
Philippe Jean is a Montreal-based flamenco guitarist whose work is rooted in dialogue, listening, and community. For over two decades, he has dedicated himself to the art of accompaniment, cultivating meaningful artistic relationships with singers, dancers, and guitarists within Canada’s flamenco scene.
As the winner of the 2026 Victor Kolstee Award, Philippe, sees this recognition as an important step in his artistic journey. He intends to first nurture collaborative work within Canada’s flamenco community, and then pursue advanced study in Spain — bringing back new insight, knowledge, and inspiration to further strengthen and enrich the local flamenco landscape.
"Philippe, your project caught our attention for its originality and relevance, particularly when considering how interest in palos libres is less common abroad.”—Judges Caroline Planté and Marcos Marin