STUDY TOUR

ACTIVITY CANCELLED

Level : Medium
Choir Director : Pascal BAUDRILLART (Fr)
Choir Director : Sylvie PONSOT (Fr)

This year, like every year, Europa Cantat Nevers takes advantage of the International Singing Week that is held from 5th to 12th July 2009, to organize a conductor’s study tour. In addition to the study tour contents described thereafter, the students have the opportunity to observe the work of the ateliers, to meet the ateliers’ leaders, to take part to the open singing and to attend the concerts.
This year, two pieces are scheduled in the ateliers program:
- the « Mass of the children » from John Rutter conducted byThimothy Brown for the adults workshop and final concert, and Graham Ross for the children choir,
- the « Requiem » from Johann Michael Haydn conducted by Bruno Rastier.

PUBLIC CONCERNED
Choir conductors in action, students attending a musical tuition or music teachers.

CONTENTS
From a varied repertoire for mixed and equal voices, we shall approach, among others, and depending on the needs: score preparation, body and rhythm awakening, vocal exercising, harmonies listening, rehearsal pedagogy, study of styles, gestural language, choice of repertoire, etc.

Schedule
A get together to introduce the students to their teachers is planned on Sunday 5th July at 18:00hrs.
The study tour runs every day from 9:00hrs to 12:00hrs and14:00hrs to 17:00hrs. The end of day is dedicated to open singing and the concerts.
It ends on Saturday 11th July after the evening closing concert.

In order to enjoy the Study Tour, scores have to be known before coming.

Cost is the same as that of the workshops (please refer to “cost and conditions”).

The Study Tour is conducted by Pascal Baudrillart and Sylvie Ponsot.
 

Pascal BAUDRILLART, teaches choral singing and choir direction at the Regional Music Academy in Chalon sur Saône, he also manages the choirs directors’ formation and the youth and children choirs direction.
He has been practicing choral singing since the age of 10. Untill the age of 23, he is a member of numerous choirs and vocal quartets. From 1973 to 77, he studies vocal formation at the music academy of Saint Denis. Then, he begins to study musicology at La Sorbonne in Paris. During the 80’s, he obtained scholarships from the Ministry of Culture. This allowed him to study the pedagogy of the voice for teachers in coaching of vocal techniques. He also attended classes in vocal tuition as well as choir and orchestra direction.
In the mean time, he starts a professional career. He then manages the Music School of Montceau les Mines from 1994 till 96. He also teaches choir direction in numerous Polyphonics Art Centers (Burgundy, Rhônes-Alpes), and in various structures (Musics and Dances in Brittany, CNFPT…).
In 1995, he obtains a Music Teacher State Diploma in choir direction, and becomes a teacher in Artistic Education and vocal ensemble direction in 1999.
From 1996 to 2001, he is the artistic manager at the Polyphonic Center of Franche-Comté. In 2001, he started to teach choral singing at the National Academy of Region of Rennes, then in Chalon sur Saône, a position he still holds to date. Meanwhile, he still has diverse educational activities in a number of Universities: teacher for the CFMI of Rennes and Sélestat, the Universities of Burgundy and Franche-Comté.
He has conducted several ensembles throughout his career : « VOCE UMANA » (1984-86), Chorale de Beaune in Burgundy (1986-95), Ensemble Choral Chalonnais (1986-97), « PHONEMA » (1991-2001), the Rennes Music Academy choirs (2001-04), the Chalon sur Saône Music Academy choirs (2004-08).
Marked by the vocal sensibility of Noémie Peruggia, the listening sharpness of the Scandinavians (Jos van Immersel, Hans dem Hombergh and Eric Ericson), the wakening awareness through movement of François Combeau and the work based on the Jacques Barathon's physical improvisation, he has been developing since several years an applied research on improvised musical models with a number of choirs of various sizes and levels.

Sylvie PONSOT studied the piano, the chant and early music at the Strasbourg Music academy and University. She then pursued her formation in choir conducting, attending in turn, the classes of Pierre CAO at the Luxembourg Academy where she obtained a second price, and Frieder BERNIUS at the Mannheim Musikhochschule. Her professional activity is spread along three domains: project management, pedagogy and musical direction. She has been regularly conducting choirs since the year 1982. She created and directs the vocal ensemble "Variations" in Strasbourg, the departmental vocal ensemble of the Vosges "Confluences" and also, in Champagne-Ardennes, the young choir "Confluence 4.XXI". She mainly favors the discovery, or re-discovery, of lesser known works, or those that are rarely performed in public, and also to take part to today's musical creations, particularly the interpretation of the repertoire" a cappella". She attaches great value to the unity of both style and theme of the programs that she produces and she also regularly collaborates with comedians, folk and jazz musicians as well as sculptors. She holds State Diplomas as Choir and Vocal Ensemble conductor. She currently is the pedagogic manager at the Yonne E.P.C.C. (The Public Establishment for Culture and Communication).