Bagnols-sur-Cèze: a second youth for the La Jouvenço choir, “an extraordinary reunion”

Since September 2023, La Jouvenço has rehearsed once a month. And that's it ! A concert date is announced… September 28 at the Laudun church. Midi Libre – C.C.

En 1992, la chorale bagnolaise au Futuroscope de Poitiers.

Moments of musical and life sharing engraved in the memory of these young people.

During the first reunion, a year ago, “it was fascinating, everyone kept their voice, the memory of certain pieces” Midi Libre – C.C.

Jean-Claude Gérard, 85 years old, has returned to service as a choir director at the request of his former students who have had unforgettable experiences. Midi Libre – C.C.

More than twenty years later, the joy of singing together again for the choristers of La Jouvenço. Midi Libre – C.C.

From 1978 to 2000, more than 600 teenagers from Gérard-Philipe and Bernard-de-Ventadour colleges shared the joys of singing, music and travel thanks to Lucette and Jean-Claude Gérard. An experience so important in their lives that some of them initiated the rebirth of the choir.

Immense enthusiasm is behind the rebirth of the Bagnolese choir La Jouvenço. From 1978 to the early 2000s, more than 600 teenagers from Ventadour and Gérard-Philipe colleges joined their establishment's choir and had unforgettable experiences. Thanks to a passionate couple, Jean-Claude and Lucette Gérard, pianists, professional concert artists and music teachers. The two musicians create a choir in each of the establishments where they officiate. Naturally, the two sets come together.

Concerts everywhere, in Gard, in France and in Europe

Thanks to committed adults (an association led the project), the young choristers will experience incredible adventures, performing throughout the Gard, in France and in Europe, until the United States, also welcoming choirs from Hungary, Angoulême, etc. With this project, "many have found a haven of peace", reports Jean-Claude Gérard today. "This choir has given us a lot, says Claire, a student at Gérard-Philipe college from 1986 to 1990. We were waiting for this moment to release our emotions." "The oldest guided us. It gave us a taste for music and singing. This is part of the beautiful years of our life,” explains Guillaume de Sérésin.

"They taught us to sing rigorously"

A year ago, one of them, Emmanuel Andrieu, looking for recordings of La Jouvenço performances, discovered a Facebook group of the choir, reunions are being organized: "We sang. Many wanted to resume. We remembered our voices!, proof of the serious work carried out at the time", says Emmanuel, today president of the association created for this rebirth. "It was fascinating, everyone had kept their voice, the memory of certain pieces, adds Guillaume de Sérésin, secretary of the association. The mayonnaise set immediately. Everything happened very quickly: re-creating an association, contacting interested people…"

Since September, La Jouvenço has rehearsed once a month, and per desk on Tuesdays. Reunions that motivate even those who live far away, some rehearse remotely, and organize themselves to come to Bagnols-sur-Cèze, from Cavaillon, Paris, Lyon, Toulouse… That day, there were more than forty of them in the room lent by the LNB Studio. Géry Delbecque is there, he had known Jean-Claude Gérard in Remoulins. "He was my teacher. Then I found him in Bagnols, it was the teacher our eldest daughter! Start singing again, breathing, we start living again!, he shares. These are extraordinary reunions. Jean-Claude and Lucette taught us to sing rigorously. Jean-Claude is quite strict, but when we arrive at a concert, we are ready, we can sing with pleasure!"

For the choir director, "an immense joy"

For his part, the choir director does not hide his emotion. "It’s an immense joy, and the fear of not being up to the task. I am 85 years old. With my wife, we formed a unit. She is no longer there, leaving a big void." The know-how and interpersonal skills of the choir director are intact. He issues his instructions to each desk and feels supported: "Luckily, there are music professionals in the group like Delphine Pugliese, professor at the Béziers conservatory and two of my daughters."

In the repertoire proposed by this demanding, rigorous and much appreciated musician, new releases and covers of songs worked at the time. The return of the Jouvenço in front of the public is confirmed: meet Saturday September 28, at the church of Laudun, for what already resonates as a memorable event. "The beginning of a long story…", entrusts and hopes one of the linchpins of this renaissance.

La Jouvenço: an adventure without borders

It is with great emotion that Jean-Claude Gérard reunites with his students. "This choir had become very important. In addition to music, the young people shared moments of life." The Bagnolais opens the box à souvenirs, press articles, photos, scores. La Jouvenço has traveled so much, sharing its musical passion. "What a pop! We were leaving & two buses with 120 children. In 1984, we toured in London. Angoulême. In 1982-1983, we went to Germany. Then, we received Angoulême and we did an exchange with a town in Belgium twinned with Angoulême. Bagnols. In 1986, we created éé a show with Jean-Paul Finck. In 1988, we had a big reunion, "Choralia, with ten college choirs." Over the years , "we went upé great œworks, the Stabat Mater de Pergolèse, the Gloria by Vivaldi, Carmina Burana, etc." For a musical ensemble had & also éandé created, with experienced musicians. La Jouvenço has traveled throughout the world. until’à Poitiers and its Futuroscope, à Budapest, United States. 90 young people sing in front of 2,000 people à Disneyland Paris in 1995. The following year, 180 singers performed in front of a thousand people at Mont-Cotton. And so on.

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