April 15, 2013
On Thursday, April 18, and Friday, April 19, some 120 Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) high school students will unleash their passion for music and art at the 5th edition of the cultural-artistic event called Mélomanie. This educational and identity-building experience is one in which secondary school students with a strong interest in the arts can take part in a unique French language activity designed to complement the high quality musical and arts programs offered in CSCNO high schools. The activities will take place on the Laurentian University campus. Members of the media are most welcome to attend all activities.
On Thursday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., visual arts students will take part in interactive workshops in Laurentian University’s Alphonse Raymond Building. Between 1:15 and 4:45 p.m., interactive music workshops, featuring well-known francophone artists, will be offered to arts and music students at Laurentian University’s Alphonse-Raymond Building. In addition, sound and light technician experts (Dan Chassé and André Labelle) will offer workshops from 1:15 to 4:45 p.m. in the Fraser Auditorium.
The following artists will share their expertise with students during scheduled workshops:
Darquise Poulin, singer and vocal coach
In the workshop led by Darquise Poulin, students will learn to sing with confidence, understand the importance of posture, control their muscles and improve their sound projection and resonance. Voice control and finding the right level of energy will be featured, as will the importance of lyrics of songs and emotions. Musical Director of Les Troubadours choir, Darquise has been teaching voice and piano lessons for more than 15 years. She has been involved in many shows and productions such as La Nuit sur l’étang, L’Écho d’un peuple, Northern Lights Festival Boréal and the Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario’s Huit Femmes.
Marianna Lafrance, artist and photographer
A self-taught artist working on Manitoulin Island and in Sudbury, Marianna Lafrance will hold a workshop on the visual representation of human attributes. Attendees will learn photography techniques such as portraiture lighting and how to plan photographic scenic design. They will also be able to explore their own visual creativity and artistic intuitions to produce original and captivating portraits. A photographer since the the age of 13, Mariana is artistically fascinated by urban spaces and social phenomena. She was awarded an Ontario Arts Council emerging artist grant in 2011.
Amadou Kienou, Master drummer from Burkina Faso
Born in Burkina Faso, this internationally-renowned artist will teach students practical techniques for incorporating percussion in the Mandingo tradition. Using a variety of percussion instruments such as the djembe and the African drum, students will appreciate the advice of an established artist and will certainly want to integrate these rhythms to their musical creations. The son of a famous family of griots (keepers of the oral tradition), Amadou continues to compose, play and teach his music throughout the world. He was presented the best Burkinabe artist award in 2011 at the Burkina Faso International Cinema Festival.
Dayv Poulin, Franco-Ontarian artist
In his workshop, this Sudbury-born artist will share his expertise in the field of sound designing, arranging and song recording and will discuss artist career management issues such as grant submissions, planning and product distribution. Dayv Poulin has been a member of groups such as Chaizes Muzicales and Konflit Dramatik, and has performed on several occasions at La Nuit sur l’étang. He recently released his first solo album, entitled Le Paysagiste. Dayv works as technician and associate producer of CBON-Radio-Canada’s Le matin du Nord morning show.
On Thursday, April 18, at 7 p.m., music bands from the following French Catholic high schools will present a community concert in LU’s Fraser Auditorium. This concert will feature students from Franco-Ouest, l’Horizon, Champlain, Sacré-Cœur and Collège Notre-Dame. Admission to the show, with Stef Paquette serving as host, is a non-perishable food item or health item which will be donated to local causes.
Mélomanie will conclude on Friday, April 19, with a set of performances at Laurentian University’s Fraser Auditorium for some 600 CSCNO grade 8 students from Greater Sudbury area schools. Students from the following high schools will be on stage between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to share their musical talents with the audience: ESC Franco-Ouest (Espanola), l’ES du Sacré-Coeur (Sudbury), ES Notre-Dame-du-Sault (Sault Ste. Marie), ESC Jeunesse-Nord (Blind River), Collège Notre-Dame (Sudbury), ESC l’Horizon (Val Caron), and ESC Champlain (Chelmsford). Invited students will also be able to view an art exhibit showcasing the creative talents of our students.