Chœur des enfants de Montréal / Montreal Children's Choir

The Chœur des enfants de Montréal (CEM), known in English as the Montreal Children's Choir, is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to providing exceptional musical education and choral training to young singers in Montreal. Established in 2001 by a group of parents committed to making choral singing accessible to children across the greater Montreal area, the choir has grown significantly from its modest beginnings to become a prominent bilingual youth choral institution[1][2].

History and Development

The choir was founded under the artistic leadership of the renowned conductor Iwan Edwards, who directed the ensemble until his retirement in 2009. Since then, Andrew Gray has taken on the role of Artistic Director, supported by an Assistant Conductor. Over its more than two decades of existence, CEM expanded from a single choir of 25 children to five choirs with over 180 young choristers aged 5 to 21, drawn from more than 30 primary and secondary schools throughout Montreal[1][3].

Mission and Educational Philosophy

The mission of Chœur des enfants de Montréal is to provide high-quality musical education within a friendly, supportive, and bilingual social environment. The choir encourages a love of singing in young people and fosters musical excellence through collaboration. Emphasizing inclusivity, it aims to welcome any interested child in Montreal, ensuring that music education is broadly accessible[1][2][4].

Musical Repertoire and Performances

CEM offers a diverse repertoire reflecting the multicultural nature of Montreal and Quebec. While classical music remains central to their work, the choir also explores jazz, popular, folk, gospel, and world music genres. Over the years, choristers have performed in more than 20 languages and regularly celebrate the works of Canadian composers as well as the rich musical traditions of Quebec[2][5].

The choir has performed frequently with world-class musicians and ensembles, including the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Their collaborations extend to recording projects with celebrated artists like Half Moon Run, Patrick Watson, and Les Cowboys Fringants. Notable shared stage appearances include performances with Joyce DiDonato, Roger Waters (in "The Wall"), and Kenny Rogers[1].

Community Engagement

In recent years, CEM has expanded its outreach by introducing Beginner and Preparatory Choirs, such as those in the Verdun community, to reach more children and broaden participation in choral singing across Montreal[1].

Business Registration Number: 861296416RR0001

Website: choeurdesenfantsdemontreal.com