Choeur des enfants de Montréal performs a diverse and spirited repertoire encompassing music from the Renaissance to the present day. Their work takes a classical approach to choral training, but includes many styles of music from around the world. Founded by Iwan Edwards, the choir actively celebrates the work of Canadian composers and the rich musical traditions of Québec.
The musical history of CEM covers an entire decade. During that time the various choirs of CEM and the hundreds of singers involved have presented to thousands of concert-goers music that spans the centuries. From some of the earliest known music to the most contemporary compositions, CEM has championed diversity in choral music since its inception. A core part of the work of the Chœur des enfants de Montréal is to give those children involved as broad a spectrum of choral and choral performance experience as possible. In the last 12 months alone CEM has performed with chamber orchestra, with percussion ensemble, with Roger Waters at the Bell Centre and at Christchurch Cathedral with Patrick Wedd. This coming season the choirs will perform with jazz ensemble, broadcast with the CBC (and through the EBU network), have a musical cultural exchange with the PALS choir from Boston, participate in a performance of Carmina Burana with the Chœur Classique Vaudreuil-Soulanges (tbc), perform with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) and present a concert at the end of the season with a professional String Quartet.
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Andrew Gray, artistic director
Andrew Gray has been the Artistic Director of Choeur des enfants de Montreal since 2010. During this period the various choirs of CEM have sung with Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Irish Band and percussion ensemble and have performed with a number of pop artists including Nikki Yanofsky and Roger Waters.
He is also the conductor of the professional Chœur de Chambre du College Vocal de Laval, run by Gregory Charles, and assistant conductor at theChurch of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montréal. He is the general manager of the St.Lawrence Choir and sings with various top professional chamber choirs including Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal (SMAM), Theatre of Early Music and Viva Voce.
Andrew is also choral consultant to the Festival Mondial Lotto-Quebec in Laval, and has directed the festival orchestra and its choirs as well as both the opening and closing events of the festival. He is in demand around Quebec as a choral technician for choirs and frequently invited to give workshops and presentations.
Andrew was previously a member of the world-renowned a cappella group The Swingle Singers and performed in many of the major concert halls of the world. He has also worked in contemporary opera, performing at La Scala, Milan and Le Chatelet, Paris, and has worked with renowned conductors including Berio, Boulez, Nagano, Tortelier and Nézet-Séguin. Andrew has sung and recorded with a number of European choral groups including the award-winning Tenebrae Chamber Choir. Has sung on a number of Hollywood movie soundtracks and has done voice-over work for Cirque du Soleil.
Andrew has Bachelors of the Arts degree from Birmingham University (UK) and has taught privately, at secondary and senior school levels. He has a wide and varied experience in choral music, arts & sports management and business administration.