in Dunkirk, a very rockn’ roll senior choir

The choir of retirees from Dunkirk Salt and Pepper made the audience dance on the show La Meilleure Chorale de France, broadcast on France 3, proving once again that rock has no age.

Salt and pepper hair and a taste for rock… This is the recipe of the Dunkirk choir “Salt and pepper” to ignite its audience.

The group of seniors represented Hauts-de-France during the show “The best choir in France“, broadcast on France 3 on Friday December 27, 2024. Ten choirs from all over the country to represent their region competed for the title of best in France.

The public chorus

The choir of 32 singers sang “We will rock you” by Queen, seducing the public and the members of the jury: “CThey weren’t seniors that I saw, but big childrensaid Laurent Luyat.

Qualified for the final, the Salt and Pepper continued with the title It’s like thisby Rita Mistsouko, which earned them new success with the audience. And although they were unfortunately not selected in the top 3, the singers have fond memories of it.

“A unique adventure”

It is experiences like this that Salt and Pepper choir director Nathalie Manceau aspires to. “It’s a new experience, for them as for me. But that’s the goal of the choir, we’re always looking for innovative projects !”.

And projects are not lacking in this group of choristers, whose average age is 73 years old. In 2022, the group was able to participate in the filming of a film with Emmanuelle Seigner, “Choir of rockers“, inspired by the history of the choir.

For seniors like us, it’s fun, it makes us live: we feel alive

Anne Lheureux, president of the Salt and Pepper choir

Created in 2010, Salt and Pepper will soon be fifteen years old. It is thanks to its summer camp atmosphere and ever more stimulating initiatives that the whole thing continues, according to its new president Anne Lheureux. “We are always looking to evolve. For seniors like us, it’s fun, it makes us live: we feel alive“, she states. She recalls the primary goal of the Salt and Pepper association, the fight against isolation, both for the choristers and for their older audience.

Bonded by the love of rock

Despite the years, the sensations are the same. “We always have a little stress, even if it disappears after a few seconds as soon as we go on stage“, smiles backing singer Bruno Chevalier. And rock n’ roll register requires, the seniors sing a lot in English, a gymnastics that “work on their memory“.

Rehearsals for the merry band take place on Tuesday afternoons in Dunkirk. And to become a Salt and Pepper, you join the troupe by audition.

Judging by the dynamism of its choristers and the enthusiasm of their audience, the choir still has a bright future ahead of it.

Report produced by Lucie Lascot