Festival Orchestra: Saint-Georges Festival Orchestra
Founded in 2017, the Saint-Georges Festival Orchestra as the official symphony orchestra of the Saint-Georges International Music Festival. Its nucleus is comprised of the festival’s Ensemble-in-Residence: Ensemble du Monde and is augmented by visiting musicians to the festival.
The orchestra is a champion of the works of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, and continues to discover new and inventive ways to nurture its relationship with its loyal patrons with repertoire include works from the Baroque to Modern periods including already several new works commissioned by the festival from living composers.
The ensemble performs all orchestra concerts at the Saint-Georges International Music Festival and aims to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience in Guadeloupe, throughout France, and around the world. It is comprised of 45 to 50 musicians representing approximately 20 countries. Most visiting chamber ensembles and some instrumental soloists play in the orchestra in the spirit of camaraderie and love of the music.
The founder, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the orchestra is American conductor Marlon Daniel, Artistic Director of the Saint-Georges International Music Festival. Its principal concertmaster and orchestra representative is Hristo Popov.
In 2018 was broadcast throughout France and several French speaking countries on Guadeloupe 1re and RFO (Réseau France Outre-mer). Currently the Saint-Georges Festival Orchestra is the only resident professional level classical orchestra residing in Guadeloupe.
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Ensemble in Residence: Ensemble du Monde
Ensemble du Monde is one of the most dynamic and innovative chamber orchestras on the classical music scene today. Founded in New York City in 2000 and named to reflect the diversity of its members who hail from over fifteen countries, cultures and backgrounds.
In 2000 the Ensemble was selected by Daimler Chrysler and Mercedes Benz to perform at the world première inauguration of their new Maybach Car, an event that received worldwide multimedia press coverage. A Lincoln Center début followed in 2002, and in 2004 the Ensemble made its Carnegie Hall début, which included renowned soprano Deborah Voigt.
Led by its Founder and Music Director, conductor Marlon Daniel, the ensemble performs music from the Baroque era to the avant-garde in addition to the standard Classical repertoire. It frequently plays overlooked masterpieces and world premières. The group performs programs based on the concept of presenting a variety great music not limited by cultural, musical or stylistic boundaries.
The members of Ensemble du Monde are graduates of some of the most prestigious institutions in the world including the Beijing Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, Curtis Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music Indiana University, Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Moscow Conservatory, The Julliard School, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Prague Academy of Music and Dance (HAMU) and Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien to name a few.
Ensemble du Monde appears in concert throughout New York City and abroad. The orchestra is Ensemble-in-Residence of the Diversity in Classical Music Program at Columbia University Teacher’s College and the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges in Guadeloupe.
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Cendrine Despax, violin I
Jean Despax, violin II
Maxime Despax, viola
Valérie Despax, cello
Formed in 2003 in Gatineau by four siblings, the Quatuor Despax performs regularly in the national capital of Canada, Ouataouais and Montreal.
They have produced themselves in various festivals and concert series in Ontario and Quebec, such as the Westben Festival, the Alexandria Festival, the series of Mardis Classiques in Gatineau, the Montée des Arts du Mont-St-Hilaire, the Festival Classique in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Val d'Or), the Ponticello Concerts in Gatineau, Music and Beyond in Ottawa, The Art of Music festival in Gatineau, SweetWater Music Festival (Owen Sound) and Festival of the Sound (Parry Sound).
Quatuor Despax also has performed in France (southwest, Paris and Normandie) and in Italy (Torino, Rivoli, Alessandria and Osimo). In winter 2019, the quartet gave concerts in Colombia (Cartagena) and work with ConCuerda and Fundacion Musica por Colombia. In summer 2006, the quartet won the contest in residence for the "Concerts aux îles du Bic". From 2011 to 2013 they were in residence at the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Montreal.
Since September 2013, the Despax Quartet is in residence at the church Notre-Dame-de-la-Guadeloupe in Gatineau where they have a series of concerts.
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Richard Fields, Trumpet
Alexander Gertner, Horn
Burt Mason, Trombone
Parallel brass is a musically and culturally diverse brass ensemble, shoes mission is to perform for as many different audiences as possible while bringing awareness to diversity and inclusiveness both educational and educational in classical music.