Vox Aeterna presents
Festival de la Voix 2025

A festive celebration of music throughout every weekend in April

Revised, March 31, 2025

In April, the Festival de la Voix will celebrate its 12th edition with concerts every weekend, from April 4 to 27, 2025. Eclectic performances highlighting choirs, jazz, big bands, Indian fusion, opera, family singing, First Nations songs, and vocal quartets will be presented across Montreal’s West Island, including Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Sainte-Geneviève and Sainte-Thérèse.

Throughout April weekends, free concerts will offer a mix of musical styles, allowing audiences to enjoy familiar favourites and discover new sounds. The program will also feature two exceptional workshops and unique school performances.

Live music helps us become better people, more intelligent, more generous, and more understanding.

                     Kerry-Anne Kutz, artistic director

Organized by artistic director Kerry-Anne Kutz, the Festival de la Voix celebrates the power of music and the human voice. The 2025 program features afternoon and evening concerts for all ages, as well as masterclasses, held at various venues across Montreal’s West Island.

“For twelve years, the festival has provided professional musicians from all musical genres with the opportunity to showcase their creativity and expertise through concerts and workshops. These artists enrich our audiences, foster deep connections through music and words, and nurture a strong sense of belonging and well-being,” said Kutz.

Montreal Cello Ensemble

The 12th edition of the Festival de la Voix will feature eight eclectic multi-artist concerts with over 50 diverse musicians and singers, including singer-songwriters, choirs, jazz ensembles, big bands, East Indian fusion, opera, family singing, Celtic music, orchestras, First Nations songs, classical music, and vocal quartets. The program also includes two exceptional workshops and unique school performances. Complete list of artists

Dance and Singing

Sharon Azrieli

It all begins with a free concert featuring Laura Anglade and guitarist Mike Bruzzese on Friday evening, April 4. Ivan Boivin-Flamand, an Atikamekw artist from the First Nations, dynamic singer, and lead guitarist of the original group Nikamu Mamuitun, returns to the festival to perform his own songs with his band on Saturday, April 5. A magnificent choral concert will take place on Sunday, April 6, with VB8 in Il était 8 fois, presenting music ranging from the Renaissance to Robert Charlebois.

Everyone is invited to dance and sing along with the Festival de la Voix BIG BAND, directed by Ron di Lauro and featuring star vocalists Sharon Azrieli and David Marino, on Saturday, April 12. Outstanding young cellists from the Montreal Cello Ensemble will open the show. Singer-songwriter Lavanya Narasiah and the Dharani Project will blend melodies and rhythms from East India with instruments from Haiti, Africa, and Bangladesh on Sunday, April 13.

Selina Rooker-Sanchez, pianist Michael Woytiuk, the extraordinary trumpeter Michael Cartile, and singer-songwriter Kerry-Anne Kutz will present Selina Ann & ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’, a morning of stories and music for children and parents, on Saturday, April 19.

‘Several favourite artists will return this year to offer the audience a memorable musical experience.’

The festival will feature soprano Bridget Esler, mezzo-soprano Justine Ledoux, countertenor Ian Sabourin, and his collaborator Jennifer Szeto in a showcase event, L’Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, on Saturday, April 26. Closing the festival, the female vocal quartet Musaïque will perform their show Pour l’amour de la musique on Sunday, April 27.

Ivan Boivin Flamand

These final concerts are especially meaningful for artistic director Kerry-Anne Kutz: “I’m excited to hear these talented emerging Quebec opera singers. I’m also thrilled to perform exceptional Canadian and Quebec music alongside three wonderful friends and singers, Monique Fauteux, Julie Leblanc, and Catherine Léveillé.”

First Weekend Schedule

• Friday, April 4, 7:30 PM: Free concert with Laura Anglade and guitarist Mike Bruzzese at the Stewart Hall Cultural Centre.

• Saturday, April 5, 2:00 PM: Performance by Ivan Boivin-Flamand, an Atikamekw artist from the First Nations.

• Sunday, April 6, 3:00 PM: A stunning choral concert by VB8 featuring music spanning from the Renaissance to Robert Charlebois.

VVBB

Concerts for elementary and high school students

The Festival de la Voix is once again offering concerts for elementary and high school students, featuring a diverse program that includes many young newcomers to Canada. While most performances are exclusive to students, the evening concert on April 1 will be open to the public. This event, Nikamu Mamuitun (Songs That Unite Us), brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous creativity with eight emerging singer-songwriters and instrumentalists from Quebec and First Nations communities. The concerts aim to foster reconciliation and will be performed for over 1,000 high school students and teachers.

Lavanya Narasiah the Dharani

This year, Montreal folk singer Linda Morrison will lead a Celtic Song Workshop on Saturday, April 19. Carolyn Christie, second flutist of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for 36 years, will share her personal insights on managing stage stress and offer valuable advice during her seminar Let’s Talk About Performance Anxiety on Saturday, April 26.

‘The festival’s mission is to bring together a community of all ages and cultures to celebrate the power and beauty of the human voice.’

Festival attendees will have the chance to meet the artists after performances to share their thoughts and reflections. This exchange fosters expanded perspectives, empathy, and sometimes even life-changing and enriching experiences for both artists and audiences alike.

Festival de la Voix

April 4–27 • Dates, Times, and Locations Vary

Free festival opening concert
With award-winning Laura Anglade
Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Sainte-Geneviève, and Sainte-Thérèse

Free passes for the opening concert are available via the Stewart Hall Cultural Centre.
Information about concerts, artists/musical excerpts, workshops, and venues: festivaldelavoix.com

Tickets: $15 to $34, including discounts for seniors and students
Concert passports are also available

Complete list and concert dates
For more information: Festival de la Voix – (514) 758-3641 – info@festivaldelavoix.com

Feature image: Female vocal quartet Musaïque
Images courtesy of Festival de la Voix

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