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The Saint-Barth Harmony Association is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Naturally, this will be done through music. This Friday, May 29, a “special anniversary concert” will take place at the Anglican Church in Gustavia at 6:30 p.m. Music teachers will perform on piano, guitar, brass instruments, and drums, accompanied by the choir.
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 30, at 5:30 p.m., also at the Anglican Church, the music school students will give a concert to showcase the work they have accomplished since the beginning of the year. From the youngest to the oldest, everyone will play together.
Both concerts are free. However, audience members are welcome to make a donation at their discretion.
Sponsored by the Lions Club and the Rotary Club, the St. Barth Harmony association was founded on June 14, 1995, by Josy Molinard and Gatien Vilain following a meeting with parents. With the goal of teaching the violin using the Suzuki method, the new music school welcomed its first ten students in its inaugural year. The music school was then housed in the former Alcid Terrac School in Colombier until Hurricane Irma struck in September 2017, damaging the building. The school moved to a nearby site in Anse des Cayes until the school reopened. In January 2020, after six months of construction and a €700,000 investment by the Collectivité, Saint-Barth Harmony returned to the facility specifically designed to accommodate student musicians, which features six rooms, including a large one used for rehearsals or small concerts.
For 20 years at the helm of the school, Gatien Vilain has led the violin and guitar classes. His students have participated in numerous concerts in Saint-Barthélemy as well as study workshops in Montreal, Miami, and Puerto Rico. Gatien Vilain is quick to point out: “St. Barth Harmony has also been able to grow and thrive thanks to the support of Frances Debroff and Bruno Magras. We are deeply grateful to them.”
Over time, new disciplines were added, such as piano, wind instruments, percussion, vocal classes, and early music education.
Today, Saint-Barth Harmony has 90 students and seven teachers: Michaël Parisot (piano / choral singing), Julien Seguret (percussion / drums / djembe & congas), François Leroy (acoustic and electric guitar), Adrien Gaume Bechet (trumpet / saxophone / trombone / tuba), Mona-Lise Dollé (viola / singing and early music education), Quentin Bergé (cello), and Alexandre Riou (singing and vocal techniques).
