Canadian Parents for French – Quebec, (CPF-Quebec) in partnership with Bishop’s University, the Community Learning Centres and the Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations, is running the first French-Second-Language Virtual Choir – La Petite Suite Québécoise – in the province.
Fannie Gaudette, Director of the Bishop’s University Singers, has created a medley of well-loved French Canadian classics for school and community choirs from English-speaking communities and their French-speaking counterparts throughout the province. Participating communities, from the Gaspé to the Montreal area, include Sherbrooke, Bury, Magog, Cap Santé, Gaspé, New Carlisle, Grosse Isle, Montreal and Laval.
From Feb. 12 to 27, CPF-Quebec is sending vocal workshop leader Chantal Gosselin to elementary schools in these communities to film the choirs singing. Footage from more than a dozen participating choirs will be edited into one video by the end of March, and then be available for all to watch.
CPF-Quebec hopes to promote Francophone culture in a fun way with this project, and to promote community vitality, since the Anglophone participants are encouraged to reach out to local community and seniors’ choirs, and to their French-speaking neighbours.
The video will allow several Anglophone communities to come into virtual contact with one another, something which is not often possible because of their isolated locations.
Finally, CPF-Quebec and its partners will bring the joy of singing to children who do not have music programs in their schools.
For more information on the virtual choir, including videos, pictures and tour updates, please visit our website.