Voice Festival with live concerts in public!

Celebrating 9 Seasons of Outstanding Music Artists with Public Performances

March 3, 2022

Vox Aeterna is proud to celebrate the ninth year Voice Festivalpromoting live music, Canadian composers and musicians, and professional and emerging artists in seven eclectic concerts and four exceptional workshops, as well as special presentations for high school music students.

Seven eclectic concerts and four outstanding workshops, plus special performances for high school music students.

From March 19 to April 10 in the West Island (Dorval, Beaconsfield, Pointe-Claire, Hudson) and for the first time in Westmount, Founder and artistic director of the Festival de la Voix Kerry Anne Kutz welcoming people from across the city to explore, appreciate and celebrate the beauty, versatility and power of music and the human voice.

Kerry-Anne Kutz is delighted to bring artists and audiences together again: “Many festival guests have waited two years to perform live. This chance to prepare, join fellow musicians and perform their music is of utmost importance to our artists; to all artists,” she said.

This year’s diverse mix of styles and voices includes shows like CHORALISSIMO! showcasing two superb choirs—The Quebec Chamber Choir directed by Robert Ingari and Phoebus Male Choir directed by Roseline Blain; the big gig with mezzo-soprano Florence Bourget with harpist Valerie Milotand Sainte-Anne Singers & Philomela Singers directed by Margo Keenan.

Ranee Lee

Also in concert, Olivier Forest and the authentic spiritual music of Imani gospel singers; They sing everything! with energetic and emerging talents singing Broadway, opera and pop; a program dedicated to seniors—dark divas by the famous singer, actor, songwriter Ranee Lee share songs from the great voices of the African-American vocal tradition, including Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald; steel track play their special blend of folk music; and the Vox Aeterna concert with soprano Frédéricka Little-Man and Montreal’s first multicultural symphony orchestra, Obiora set, bringing a new voice to classical music in Canada. The festival also features school concerts, an invaluable way to encourage children to take part in live performances. This year it is the musical ensemble of The Fusiliers of Mount Royal.

Kutz recognizes how important it is to have so many culturally diverse singers and instrumentalists performing the music of such a variety of world-renowned composers and artists: “We are fulfilling a vital need to see the diversity on the scene. Ensemble Obiora, Ranee Lee, Imani Gospel Singers and our workshop clinician Dr. Claudel Callender are examples of the presence of high caliber black musicians in our community.

Imani gospel singers

Obiora set

From Brandyn Lewis, artistic director of Ensemble Obiora, “We are delighted to make our first appearance at the Festival de la Voix, which always features such talented artists. This concert will be an opportunity for us to expand our repertoire to music for voice and to program little-known works by composers of color whose contributions have gone unnoticed.

CHORALISSIMO!

Robert Ingari is the director of the Choeur de chambre du Québec, as part of CHORALISSIMO this year! concert, “The 17 members of the choir and the pianist Carmen Picard are delighted to finally be able to share the stage together and transmit our love of new music composed on beautiful French texts. Our evocative program, rich in color and harmony, will showcase the talents of all our members, some of whom will also play an instrument on stage. Long live singing and long live the Voice Festival! he stated.

‘From March 19 to April 10, in the West Island (Dorval, Beaconsfield, Pointe-Claire, Lachine), and for the first time in Westmount.’

Workshops

The exceptional workshops offered this year are Breathing and the Basics of Good Singing with dr. Claudel Callender focus on alignment, breath, vowels, phrasing and falsetto; Act and materialize the text, with the artistic director of the Centaur Theater Eda Holmesfocusing on the representation of song lyrics by exploring mental and physical flexibility, spontaneity and the many emotions evoked; song writing with JUNO Award Winner Connie Kaldor, covering the main elements of rhythm, melody and lyrics, and culminating with a new song; and Advanced choral techniques with conductor philippe bourque work on sound production, phrasing and performance practices for a number of selected pieces. Workshop grants are available on request for those in need, especially teenagers and young adults who do not have the opportunity to study privately.

9th edition of the Voice Festival

The Voice Festival is unique in offering concerts and workshops for people of all ages, from school age to seniors. The mandate of the festival is to bring together diverse communities to celebrate music and the arrival of spring.

Celebrating its 9th year, the Festival de la Voix continues to offer concerts for all ages and tastes, as well as workshops and masterclasses, highlighting outstanding Canadian music and artists.

The Quebec Chamber Choir

From Saturday March 19 to Sunday April 10, various times and locations
(Dorval, Beaconsfield, Pointe-Claire, Hudson, Westmount)

Ticket prices for matinees and evening shows range from $20 to $30
Complete program online www.festivaldelavoix.com

Featured Image: Steel Rail • Images courtesy of Vox Aeterna

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