Le Choeur Classique de la Petite Nation sang its first mass on June 11th 2000. Palestrina's Missa Brevis is both simple and hauntingly beautiful at the same time and was an ideal choice for a special Pentecost celebration for the three parishes of Montpellier, Ripon and Saint-André-Avellin. Most of the singers came from church choirs in the region and as such brought with them, in addition to their exceptional musical abilities, a love and respect for the church and its liturgy. Through pure providence the choir was invited to sing again on the 27th of August at l'église Saint-Casimir in Ripon for a nationally televised mass in the weekly Radio-Canada series Le Jour du Seigneur.

Le Choeur Classique de la Petite-Nation is a part-time choir that sings and practices mostly in the summer months and has between 11 and 14 singers depending on the circumstances. Cooperative in nature, at least six of its members have provided different pieces which have become part of the group's repertoire. The choir sees itself as a liturgical resource to enable special celebrations for local parishes. It never seeks to displace existing musical expression but hopes to provide other gifts of history as opportunities arise.

Brian Fisher

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Gérald MacLeay

Pianist, church organist and choir director, Gérald MacLeay has made a career with the Commission scolaire de Montréal as a coordinator of musical instruction and as a teacher in the intensive music programme. Retired since 1997, he has moved to Lac Viceroy and now participates in the musical life of the Petite-Nation region in West Québec most notably as the Choeur Classique's musical director.

Le Choeur Classique de la Petite-Nation
184, chemin Saint-André, Ripon (Québec) J0V 1V0
Telephone: (819) 983-6261

Email: lepage_fisher@magma.ca

The Membres of Le Choeur classique de la Petite-Nation are :

Dianne Brière, alto
Paul Desbiens, tenor
Brian Fisher, bass
Michel Lafontaine, baritone
Chantal Legault, soprano
Laurie Mcfall, alto
Guy-Anne Mireault, alto
Irénée Monfils. tenor
Marcel Otis, bass
Ginette Séguin, soprano
Huguette Voyer, soprano

Gérald MacLeay, director