Mathias Charton. 44 years old. Choir director and regional musical education inspector (among others). Sees music as a lever for emancipation. Plans to pass on until retirement.
A gray suit and perfectly disciplined hair. At first glance, Mathias Charton impresses with his seriousness. It must be said that his role as regional music education inspector is enough to intimidate more than one person. But behind this facade hides a true lover of music and people for whom transmission is a leitmotif. To transmit. Give a chance to rise and flourish through this art. Humble, Mathias Charton wants to give back what he has been given. He comes from a background quite modest or even very modest » but passionate about notes. His grandfathers, one a roofer, the other a farmer, played the saxophone in the concert band of Méry-sur-Seine. “ At the end of his life, my maternal grandfather even led the local marching band “, he explains with pride. After his school certificate and a few years in the factory, his father joined the military orchestra during his service to play the trombone. He will never leave him again. “ He stayed there his entire career and became head of military music. His practice had the effect of a social elevator. Through her, he was able to realize himself and emancipate himself from an environment that could be difficult. » Born in Dijon, although he does not feel « not Burgundian for a penny », Mathias lives according to his father’s professional obligations and moves regularly. A pattern that he will end up reproducing in turn, depending on the needs, because, like Rambo, whom he likes to quote (yes, yes), he lives “ day to day “. Her mother was a saxophone teacher. “ I was immersed in this universe. I started playing the trombone at the age of 8 and quickly expressed the desire to make it a career, a life project. »
Development and emancipation
Today, Mathias Charton feels lucky. However, at 44 years old, his career is impressive. Trained at the prestigious Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris (CNSM) and holder of the aggregation, he teaches in primary school but also in music schools, at the conservatory, in associations and in higher education. Choir and orchestra conductor – 500 votes for Queen, that’s him -, director of the Seine-Maritime master’s degree, which he led to the world championships, winner of international prizes or even academic delegate to the cultural action in Poitiers… Its activities follow one another or overlap and “ feed on each other “. Did you say hyperactive? “ I haven’t been diagnosed but it’s possible that there is something like that, yes », he laughs.
“They didn’t let me give up. »
Proud, he is, but nevertheless brings certain nuances. “ Looking back, I was surrounded by an environment that was extremely supportive. My parents being musicians, they trained me since I was little. I played every evening in orchestras, I did concerts on the weekends, they took me to do workshops with the best… All that must have played a role, so my merit is still relative. »
Mathias Charton is convinced, music is a “ tool of development and emancipation » which he strives to transmit in turn. “ This is also why I chose National Education. It allows all students to be able to experience any artistic expression. »And like his parents before him, the musician and his wife Roxane also educate their daughters in a musical world. “ The poor “, he said with a hint of a smile. Joanne, 16, and Maxine, 14 – since Saturday – play the oboe and the flute and sing in the academic choir. “ It’s a way of spending time together and experiencing this relationship with others. But this requires individual commitment, it means doing scales every day, and the difficulty sometimes of integrating this practice over time. » Persevering, being rigorous, rising and flourishing require certain sacrifices. “ Perseverance is essential but the “soil” also plays a big role. They didn’t let me give up. »
Unite through music
The notions of family and group constitute the driving force behind the large-scale choirs that he directs, such as the Chœur régional de Nouvelle-Aquitaine or Acad’OChoeur. Esprit de corps is essential… as is high standards. “ It is also a way of respecting them to be demanding because it means that we have an ambition and that we want to see them progress. » Succeed in creating a bond, seeing the singers evolve, feeling the pride in the eyes of your family. Mathias accumulates successes. A desire? Continue the transmission of course. “ I would like to create a kind of boarding school of excellence for children from disadvantaged backgrounds with music in the afternoon and a school environment in the morning, so that music helps them as much as it helped me. It’s the next project that will certainly keep me busy for the last twenty-four years or so before retirement. » So he will never stop?
Photo Dylan Lalande
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