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This concert will be broadcast across the country on CBC Radio 2 (Thursday, 23 September at 7 p.m.) and CBC Radio One (Friday, 24 September at 2 p.m.) as part of Canada Live (http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/canada_live).

Montreal Gazette

K-OS

It’s hot, it’s beautiful outside…what better way to kick off a choral festival! And if you need to take a break between shows, we do have a few small diversions, such as the one in the picture above. Food and bistro tents also abound should you feel a little peckish on site!

Stay tuned for pictures of the massive outdoor stage and the “Voix de l’avenir” concert tonight!

- Francesca

We were on site in Laval today. You have no idea how exciting this festival is going to be. Sure, we have over 100 free concerts, but we will also have a MERRY-GO-AROUND, a FERRIS WHEEL and the second-biggest stage in the WORLD. If that isn’t something to get excited about, I don’t know what is!

The festival will kick off with a concert at the Church of St-François-de-Sales at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature Les Chanteurs de Lorraine, Choeur Cantando, and the Choeur Classique Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

The second concert of the evening will be at Ste-Rose-de-Lima church at 8:00 p.m. This concert, called “Voices of the Future”, will star the Youth Chorale of the Iowa Youth Chorus , the McGill Conservatory Youth Choir and Les Voix Boréales.

-Francesca

The workshop on Saturday is called “Exploration vocale des jeunes voix” (vocal exploration of young voices) and is geared towards young singers from 6 to 16 years of age. This is a safe and fun environment where kids can learn basic singing techniques such as breathing and body movement. All levels of experience are welcome!

The workshop on Sunday is called “Découvrez votre voix” (discover your voice) and is geared towards adults. Have you always dreamed of singing, but were afraid you wouldn’t know how? Now is your chance to live your dream! Come and explore your voice and learn some basic singing techniques. We promise you won’t have to sing alone in front of everyone! Dory will lead you through some breathing techniques, body movement techniques and vocal exercises. This is a bilingual workshop, so there’s no need to worry that you won’t understand everything that is being explained. Think of it as your first step towards becoming a choral singer or soloist…or at the very least a better shower singer!

See you soon,

-Francesca

Right? Teaching people to sing. Isn’t that what choirs do? Sometimes, but in my life as a musician, I have talked to many people who decided not to join a choir only because they thought they couldn’t sing. They’re scared of sounding terrible or ruining the choir’s sound.

Everyone can sing, at least a bit. And everyone should try.

Learning to sing is one of the most revealing journeys to be embarked upon. Forget the Camino or sky-diving. There is nothing like the feeling of music coming out of you. When the sound resonates in your throat and booms forth in harmony with the voices around you, the feeling is ineffable. You are simultaneously transported and connected. That’s why you should try it.

Back to my story. Last year the Bradford Festival Choral Society offered ‘learn to sing’ classes. 70 people signed up and learned how to sing. This year 50 more are giving it a shot and opera star Lesley Garrett is getting behind the idea. We’re getting behind the idea too.

Last week Bobby McFerrin mentioned the death of communal singing. I think this could be a breath of life into one of the most human art forms.

What do you think ?

-Lindsay

Here is the link for the learn to sing course : http://www.bradfordfestivalchoralsociety.org.uk/#/learn-to-sing-course/4534963897

Here is the Link for the article :

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8155089.Opera_star_Lesley_Garrett_praises_Bradford_choir/

Check out their website :

http://www.complaintschoir.org/

The Tokyo Complaints choir looks particularly impressive :

- Lindsay