Emmanuel Van Capel, first prize at the Chartres Music Conservatory and state graduate, teaching trumpet for more than twenty years, has agreed to take over the management of the Gourdon Musical Union (UMG). Indeed, his predecessor Jean-Pierre Vermeeren took a well-deserved retirement after many decades of service to the UMG.
For the record, the UMG was founded under the Second Empire in 1868, it is one of the oldest musical societies still active in Midi-Pyrénées. Emmanuel Van Capel followed an internship in 1981 within the UMG itself. He is the creator of “Not Compagnie”, born in 2010, and also directs the Boulogne-Billancourt orchestra with more than 70 musicians. He confides that his uncle, the musician Michel Van Capel, made him want to return to his roots.
Two big new features
The conductor honored us with some revelations. The first: as a man of the field and theater and following numerous artist residencies, Emmanuel Van Capel announces a show tour born last year. The theme, amply supported, concerns the rural world which is so close to his heart, for which former Lotois postmen have shared their anecdotes. This show is now available to the public.
The second is important. Since September 2024, the UMG has been attached to the Catherine-Schollaërt intercommunal music school in Gourdon. The UMG in turn has become intercommunal and is co-directed by music school professor Pascal Saulière, teacher of trumpet, trombone, tuba, and facilitator of the jazz workshop. A decision that makes perfect sense in the Bouriane region.
The new conductor delves into the reasons for such an orientation. “This choice symbolizes the wishes of the Quercy-Bouriane community of communes in cultural matters, since the UMGi now aims to bring together and federate experienced, amateur and professional musicians, and works in close collaboration with the Gourdon music school. Its sole ambition is to become an essential link in the dissemination and promotion of the harmony orchestra in rural areas.
Traveling rehearsals in the territory
This will result in small intercommunal meetings, the first of which is scheduled for April 12 in Concorès. Traveling rehearsals open to all will therefore take place throughout the territory of Quercy-Bouriane. The essential goal of these changes will be to expand audiences in isolated areas of the territory, thus offering a public service mission in terms of education and intergenerational collective practice. »
Please note that only the wind instruments and percussion make up the orchestra. The musical repertoire spans romanticism, Latin jazz, funk and contemporary music. If you are interested, you must have at least three years of training and contact 05 65 41 26 11 or [email protected]
