From Thursday August 15 to Sunday August 18, there are four days where training courses, major concerts, happy hours, cinema, stories, dance, master classes and a varied program for children will be presented .
“In its history, the festival has always opened with training courses. We take the opportunity to have people come and take classes with highly trained masters,” says Gilles Garand, new general and artistic director of the festival.
Workshops are given twice a day by renowned teachers for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels.
The programming offers a wide variety that is suitable for audiences of all ages. This year, the festival is moving to the site of the Grand public market, in addition to having activities on the sites of the Canadian Legion, the Grace Church, the Arts et de Rêves cultural park and the town hall .
“A new feature this year, on Friday and Saturday, we created friendly aperitifs. These are happy hours where we will have concerts, two groups per evening.
— Gilles Garand
He also adds that on Friday there will be a corn roast and for the weekend, there will be restaurants at the public market.
Making a local event world-class
The Sutton Violin Festival is well known in the region, but elsewhere as well. Renowned artists will arrive from different countries to make local people dance with their favorite instrument.
Whether it is Gangspil, a group from Denmark or Michael Jerome Brown who comes from the United States, they will present their music during the small festival which does not lack ambitions.
“I’m trying to breathe new life into the festival. I worked hard to put together a high-level program. I think people will understand that the festival will try to move up a notch. Let it become an event, local, regional, national and international.”
— Gilles Garand
In addition, Nicole O’bomsawin, from the Abenaki community, will be present.
“Knowing that we are on Abenaki territory, she will tell the history of the territory and the first trails and the indigenous contribution to tales and legends,” adds Mr. Garand.
A campsite is available for people who wish to stay in the region since people from all over are expected in the town of Sutton from August 15 to 18.
New management
Mr. Garand is the new general and artistic director of the festival and he has been roaming the Town of Sutton since his childhood.
“I am very proud to continue the mission she set herself to create an event in Sutton.”
— Gilles Garand
Mr. Garand has a lot of experience in the field, he is the founder of the Conseil québécois du patrimoine vivant and he is still the vice-president of Culture Montérégie.
He has been on several boards for 50 years. He also created the Grande Rencontre festival in Montreal in 1993, which he directed for 28 years.
It is possible to buy tickets and view the full festival program via the website.
