April 17, 2014
On Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24, 115 Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) high school students will unleash their passion for music at the 7th edition of the Mélomanie cultural artistic event. Catholic secondary school students with a strong interest in the arts will come together during this outstanding educational and identity-building experience and take part in a unique French language activity designed to complement the top-quality musical and arts programs offered in CSCNO high schools. The majority of activities will take place on the Laurentian University campus, with one workshop planned at Collège Boréal. Members of the media are most welcome to attend all activities.
As part of this activity, students will take part in interactive workshops featuring well-known francophone artists.
Stef Paquette, Franco-Ontarian artist
This workshop will address the importance of stage presence and its impact on musical performance. Accomplished singer-songwriter-performer Stéf Paquette regularly criss-crosses the country with his guitar and striking songs. He is also an actor with various television roles. In 2005, he won the Chanson primée award at the Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique’s Gala des Prix Trille Or for his travels through the Middle East in support of the International Day of La Francophonie. His second solo album, Le Salut de l'arrière-pays won a number of awards, including the Prix Trille Or in 2013. In January 2014, Stef won five of the seven prizes that were awarded at the annual Contact ontarois music competition.
Mélanie Smits and Rick Meilleur, Métis educators
Participants will learn to master the art of the wooden spoon and experience a “good old days” music session. Mélanie Smits and Rick Meilleur take great pride in their First Nation and Francophone identities and work hard to promote their dual cultures. Highly motivated by her work at the CSCNO as Aboriginal Education Consultant, Mélanie is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Native Education. As representative of the Métis Nation of Ontario, Rick dedicates considerable energy to the promotion of Métis culture in the Greater Sudbury area..
Angelo Paquette, Franco-Ontarian artist
Angelo Paquette’s workshop will focus on song writing. In the 1980s, Angelo dreamt of becoming a musician. The dream came true with the creation of the Liberos band and ten years of touring schools and playing music. During Angelo’s musical career, he produced the “Jamais seul” and “Il était une foi” albums and produced theme songs for youth gatherings. Since 1999, he has held the position of cultural and faith promoter at a Northern Ontario French-language Catholic school.
Pandora Topp, Franco-Ontarian arts educator
This multidisciplinary artist and educator from Northern Ontario will offer a workshop on vocal techniques. A self-taught artist who is passionate about learning, Pandora has trained students and teachers in both Canada and Germany. In 2009, she earned the Mentor Artist certification with The Royal Conservatory for her participation in the Living/LearningThrough the Arts program. As an artist, Pandora has worked with Michael Bublé, CANO, Margaret Atwood and Tomson Highway. She also put together 17 touring shows, including Café Piaf, which she performed with the Toronto Concert Orchestra at Casa Loma.
François Labelle
François Labelle’s workshop will reveal the mysteries of the musical recording process. Participants will become familiar with the equipment and steps needed to produce albums. A professor at Collège Boréal’s stage management technician program, François has worked for close to 20 years in the performing arts as artist, singer-songwriter, producer and sound engineer. In all, he has taken part in some 3,000 shows and events.
Mélomanie will wind up on Friday, April 24 at Laurentian University’s Fraser Auditorium, with a set of performances for some 600 CSCNO grade 8 students from Greater Sudbury area French Catholic schools. Students from the following high schools will be on stage between 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. to share their musical talents with the audience: ESC Franco-Ouest (Espanola), 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).
The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic Educational Program that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSCNO provides a quality learning environment and academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 7,000 students enrolled in 27 elementary and 10 secondary schools.
info:
Paul de la Riva
Communications and Community Development Coordinator
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
(705) 673-5626, ext. 294
(705) 677-8195 – cell phone