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Mission accomplished for the 2011 edition: musical success and balanced budget
Annual General Meeting of the Festival held on January 21, 2012
Lamèque, NB, January 21, 2012: The administrators of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival made a positive evaluation of the 2011 edition during their Annual General Meeting, held on January 21, 2012.
In his report, the artistic director, Mr. Mathieu Lussier, expressed his satisfaction with the overall quality of the concerts and the support of the public. “The opening concert featuring the choir and the orchestra was certainly a highlight of last year’s festival. I was particularly impressed by the degree of preparation of the choir. They were proud to show their ability in a very demanding repertoire” said Mr. Lussier, also noting the excellent work done by the conductor, Mr. Pierre Lavoie. In terms of audience numbers, it was noted that the overall 2011 concert attendance was stable in comparison with the previous year despite the fact that there was one concert less. “This is good news because it shows that there was an increase in the average attendance for each concert” he continued.
For his part, the chairperson of the Board of Directors delivered a positive evaluation of the work done over the past few months to develop a closer relationship with the community and ensure adequate funding for the festival. “I am happy to announce that, for the first time since 2006, we were able to present a festival within a balanced budget. Our financial statements show a surplus of $6,248 at year-end” said Mr. Jean-René Noël. According to the chairperson, this positive financial outcome is mainly the result of the hard work of the artistic director and the administrative director who worked relentlessly to organize a festival within the limits of a very tight budget. “But we have reached the minimum level of budget funding to be able to organize a festival” he warned. “The Board of Directors needs the support of the community if we want to secure sustainable financing for the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival, a unique cultural event in New Brunswick. New long-term support ideas and solutions must be found” he concluded.
The 37th edition of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival will be presented from July 26 – 28, 2012. Details about the official program will be released in May 2012.
Christmas Concert Presented by the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival
Three Choirs Join Forces In A Fundraising Concert
Lamèque, NB, November 4, 2011 - The Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival is happy to announce the presentation of a Christmas Fundraising Concert, on Saturday, November 26, 2011, at 8:00 p.m., at Saint-Jérôme Church, in Shippagan. La Mission Saint-Charles, the festival's official choir, will share the stage with the Chorale Sormany of Lamèque and Choeur du Vieux Moulin of Shippagan.
The walls of Saint-Jérôme Church in Shippagan will resonate with the sounds of voices and pipe organ as each choir will present a selection of their most beautiful Christmas Carols. To end the concert in a grand finale display, all three choirs will join together - close to 70 singers - to present a few pieces. The program will feature a selection of well-know traditional carols, such as Adeste Fideles, Holy Night, and Angels We Have Heard on High, as well as works by great classical composers such as Haendel and Berlioz.
This Fundraising Concert is a major activity of the fundraising campaign launched by the festival on October 13, 2011. "We are very happy to count on the participation of the Lamèque and Shippagan choirs to this concert in addition to our official choir, La Mission Saint-Charles" said Mathieu Lussier, the artistic director of the festival. "It is a clear sign that the community really supports the festival. I invite young and old alike to attend the concert of November 26th. We wanted the event to be family oriented, so this is why admission is free for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult."
La Mission Saint-Charles Choir will be under the direction of its usual conductor, Mr. Pierre Lavoie, and accompanied at the organ by Mr. Yvan Leblond. As for the Choeur du Vieux Moulin, the group will be under the direction of Mrs. Gabrielle Mazerolle and accompanied at the organ by Mr. Daniel Duguay. Lastly, the Chorale Sormany will be conducted by Mr. Pierre McGraw and accompanied at the organ by Mr. Mathieu Duguay. It is to be noted that Mr. Mathieu Duguay is the founder of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival.
Tickets, all at $15, are available from choir members and at the door the evening of the concert. They are also on sale at the Lamèque Convenience Store (Dépanneur Lamèque), the Pélagie Bookstores in Shippagan and Caraquet, and Le Bouquin Bookstore in Tracadie-Sheila. For additional information, dial 344-5846.
Fund-raising campaign by the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival
In order to pursue the Baroque adventure in New Brunswick and keep alive the dream of Mathieu Duguay
Lamèque, NB, October 17, 2011 - The Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival is announcing the launch of a fund-raising campaign to take place this fall. The objective of this campaign is to raise $20,000 by November 15, 2011, in order to secure enough funds to be able to present the 37th edition of the festival next summer.
According to Jean-René Noël, the president of the festival Board of Directors, the musical event has been supported by many financial partners over the years, from both the public and private sectors. "However, once again we have to seek the support of the community to be able to pursue our mission" he said. "Our festival is an artistic success, we are well-known and have been present on the provincial and national artistic scenes for 36 years now. But despite all this, the future of the festival is not assured. Over the past few years, it has been increasingly difficult to raise enough money in order to fund adequately the festival. This is the reason why the Board of Directors has decided to launch this fund-raising campaign." The additional funds will allow the festival to stay in operation until next spring and to prepare the 2012 edition with a little more confidence.
On the long-term, the money raised will also help secure the financial future of the festival, given the fact that the last edition was presented within a balanced budget. During the last two months, the Board of Directors has already raised $10,000. "Throughout the next few weeks, we will increase our efforts and actively campaign to seek the financial support of businesses and individuals across the Acadian Peninsula and elsewhere in New Brunswick. We call upon the generosity of the community to grant us their support" said Mr. Noël.
Mathieu Lussier, the artistic director of the festival, believes it is of the utmost importance to work together in order to maintain and develop such an exceptional cultural even in a remote area. "The support we have had thus far clearly shows that people recognize how important our festival is for the economy and culture of the communities of the area" said Lussier. "The Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival was founded by Mr. Mathieu Duguay. It is the visionary dream of someone who contributed to build this community. We want to pursue the Baroque adventure in New Brunswick and keep his dream alive so that baroque music can resonate for many years to come" said Lussier in closing.
Anyone interested in contributing to our fund-raising campaign can contact the festival office, located in Lamèque, telephone number: 506-344-5846.
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