The mastery of small singers of Quebec will present a concert-benefit entitled From one continent to another Next May 17 at 7 p.m. at the Palais Montcalm, under the direction of Anne Gilbert. More than 200 choristers aged 6 to 17 will sing a musical repertoire from around the world. They will be accompanied on stage by a choir of men and professional musicians. The sums raised will be used to finance the trip of 51 children who will go on tour to France and Switzerland in the summer of 2025.
young people from the start of primary school up to Secondary 5 have been preparing for several months, since January to be more precise, in order to present a show at the Montcalm Palace. They learned a vast repertoire that walks in different eras, musical genres and origins.
The choral singing show allows you to discover other cultures through music. We mix traditional Quebec music and songs everywhere on the planet. What we can expect is a repertoire that walks from Quebec folklore, to that of other folklores in the world, and to other old music like Mozart and many other composers, but also more current popular song.
The trip to France and Switzerland will be held in the summer of 2025 is the first trip to Europe which has been organized since 2020. At the same time, the route is completely new, then the partnerships had to be built from scratch.
In the past, the trip has already given itself in particular in Rome, Italy. From the pandemic, the journey had to be put on pause. In 2023, a trip was able to be organized again, and it was in British Columbia that the students were able to go as it was easier to travel inside Canada. The project has now started again.
An important concert for young people
Small singers from all school years, from the first year of primary to secondary school in Anne-Hébert primary school and Cardinal-Roy high school, participate in the show.
For young people, it is a stage experience in the Raoul-Jobin room, an important room of the Montcalm palace, even for those who do not participate in the trip this year. For those who will participate, the concert is also an opportunity to prepare for their tour and the concerts they will give in Europe.
In addition to the spectacle of the little singers, there will be animation during the evening, prints and performances in the hearth of the Montcalm Palais with a string orchestra, as well as a set of percussion.
“The mastery of small singers is often engaged for concerts taking place at the Palais Montcalm or the Grand Théâtre, but it is only the oldest who participate. It is therefore an extraordinary opportunity for the youngest to be able to participate in such a concert, ”says Anne Gilbert, musical director of the Mastery of Small Singers of Quebec.
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From one continent to another
The mastery of the little singers of Quebec has been organizing a trip for its students every two years since 2001. As young people will go on a trip, the idea that the concert carries the theme of travel has come naturally, explains Anne Gilbert in an interview with the author of these lines. In a way, everyone is invited to live a trip even before their departure.
“We wanted a repertoire that comes from various countries. We don’t necessarily have all continents. Among the songs that will be sung, we go through France and Switzerland as the countries will be visited, but there are also songs from Estonia, Norway, Senegal, the United States, Austria, “said the music director.
Thanks to the collected funds, 51 little singers will fly to France and Switzerland. They will visit a total of six cities, that is to say Lyon, Lausanne, Bulle, Neuchâtel, Zurich and Basel.
Photo credit: Mastery of Small Singers of Quebec
During this journey, there will be four official concerts over the ten days of travel. Respectively with the little singers of Lyon, the master’s degree in St-Pierre-aux-Liens in Bulle and the French-speaking Choirs of Zurich, as well as a concert in Neufchâtel. In addition to spontaneous services in Lausanne.
“The children who are going to travel, they will have the chance to be accommodated by families of small singers in Europe and they will do concerts with them. It will be an enriching cultural exchange, ”underlines Anne Gilbert.
It is possible to make a donation for the mastery of the small singers of Quebec on the GoFundMe By selecting the campaign: Tour funding – Mastery of Small Singers of Quebec. For those who cannot be there at the concert, it is therefore possible to encourage the organization differently.
To find out more about the event and get tickets, consult the Palais Montcalm website.
