Anima Musica's musical repertoire is suited for singers having some musical and vocal experience.
The choristers are amateurs interested in pursuing their musical development. The Anima Musica Choir presents a variety of musical programs, often thematic, influenced by different cultures and different periods in the history of music.
Impassioned as I am by the infinite musical palette offered in choral literature, I invite you to discover a repertoire that is less well known, to participate in varied musical experiences, and respond to the challenges of raising the musical bar together with the rest of the choir!
My role as musical director and conductor of the choir is to support the efforts of the singers, supply tools when the score requires it, to plan occasional work sessions by voice section, and use practice techniques that are appropriate for each musical passage.
In an atmosphere of cordial cooperation, in a group that is proud and happy to work in both English and in French, the music comes to life and remains a universal language.
The choristers are aware that the quality of the performance during our concerts depends on many factors, but mostly the effort and attention to musical detail. Together, Anima Musica′s choristers participate with pleasure and also with some serious effort to the construction of each concert.
My goal is that the performance of our choir, and of our invited soloists and instrumentalists, provides our faithful public a unique and significant artistic experience.
Francis Guérard completed his college studies with Laurraine D. Desmarais. He pursued his university studies in violin with Vladimir Landsman and in voice with Yolande Parent at the Université de Montréal. He also studied classical percussion for several years with Chantal Simard and conducting for one year with Paolo Bellomia.
For several years, he has taught violin, voice, guitar, and percussion at the École de musique de Saint-Hubert and the École de Musique du Presbytère in Upton. In addition to teaching students, he also arranges numerous works.
In 2006, he was first principal of the tenor section of the Anima Musica choir directed by Geneviève Boulanger. Then, in September 2014, he was entrusted with the responsibility of assistant musical director. Since June 2016, he has been the choir's musical director, leading and continuing the choir's vocal and musical development through a variety of choral experiences, tackling secular and sacred repertoire, a cappella and orchestral works. Francis is currently assistant conductor of the Chœur de la montagne in Beloeil.
A versatile musician, he has been a member of the Saltarello group since 2019 and La tournée du bonheur since 2010. He was also a member of the DynamO Théâtre company between 2012 and 2018, with whom he performed in numerous cities in Canada, the United States and Europe.
