Paris Philharmonie & Bettencourt Schueller Foundation Launch Ambitious Choral Initiative
PARIS – The Paris Philharmonie and the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation today announced “Choirs en Mouvement” (Choirs in Motion),a five-year program dedicated to bolstering France’s choral landscape through creation,education,and support. The initiative, running through 2027, builds on a pre-existing partnership between the two organizations dating back to 2018.
This collaborative effort arrives at a pivotal moment for choral music, aiming to address gaps in access and foster a renewed vibrancy within the sector. The program will impact vocal ensembles, adolescent singers, and choral practitioners nationwide, with a focus on regional outreach and a complete assessment of the state of choral singing in France.The partnership leverages the Foundation’s longstanding commitment to choral music,demonstrated through its annual Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Choral Singing and the “Chants du Monde” festival,alongside the Philharmonie’s extensive programming and reach.
“Choirs en Mouvement” will unfold through a series of interconnected initiatives. Beginning this September, the Philharmonie will host an annual “Choirs Weekend,” featuring ten vocal groups each season. A new series of “chorus” shows, blending genres and artistic approaches, will also be integrated into the philharmonie’s programming.
Crucially, the program will expand access to choral singing for young people through the implementation of the Eve project (“Exist with the Voice Together”) in thirteen regions. Developed by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation,Eve is specifically designed to encourage choral participation among adolescents.
looking ahead, the initiative will culminate in 2026 with “states of Choral Singing,” a three-year conference intended to provide a national inventory and assessment of the French choral sector. The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation has previously supported choral music through its annual prize, which recognizes both professional choirs and conservatories, and its “Chants du Monde” festival, bringing choral performances to regions outside traditional concert venues.
