Our History
A CENTURY OF HISTORY: 1919-2019
1919
Founded in 1919, the St. Lambert Choral Society has its roots in a predominantly anglophone community (62%) which included almost 4000 souls… and many music lovers!
Already in the 1890s, several groups offered concerts and services, sometimes for pleasure, sometimes to help the poor or finance the construction of churches in this growing municipality. It is from this matrix that our institution, now a century old, has emerged today.
In 1919, Saint-Lambert was a residential suburb with mainly white-collar and specialist workers, enthusiasts for regattas, bowling and gardening, as Saint-Lambert also boasts the oldest horticultural society still active in Québec!
The era of operettas: 1919 to 1965
Responding to the tastes of the public at the time, the St. Lambert Choral Society – then known as the St. Lambert Amateur Operatic Society – initially presented operettas and comic operas from the English duo Gilbert & Sullivan, with one production per year. Some of the elaborate sets and sumptuous costumes will even be shown in Montréal, at the Théâtre Saint-Denis and the Chalet de la Montagne in the Mont-Royal Park.
When the costs of producing such performances explode in the mid-1960s, the institution must reconsider its focus.
A necessary shift and a change of name
The Society now makes a shift in its repertoire and turns towards sacred choral works, masses, oratorios, Baroque music, classical music, extracts from operas and songs from various cultures around the world.
This turns out to be a wise choice that assures its survival and current success.
In 1971, the name St. Lambert Choral Society is adopted, and a bilingual status is formalised in 1991, with the group becoming La Société chorale de Saint-Lambert / St. Lambert Choral Society.
The repertoire is enriched under the direction of David Christiani, in his position for 35 years (from 1979 to 2015), then under the leadership of Xavier Brossard-Ménard, who has led the choir from 2015 to 2022.
2019
The population of Saint-Lambert has quadrupled in the last century, and now stands at almost 22,000 people. It is now 79% francophone.
Cultural offerings have multiplied, and music is now accessible 24 hours per day, on all platforms.
The St. Lambert Choral Society also contributes to this exciting music scene by presenting high-quality productions in front of large audiences. Its two annual concerts are usually sold out. Our mixed, bilingual choir currently has about fifty choristers.
Our artistic director: Gabrielle Gaudreault
Dr. Gabrielle Gaudreault is the nineteenth conductor in the Saint Lambert Choral Society’s history, having taken over as artistic director from Xavier Brossard-Ménard in September 2022.
She completed her Doctorate in Choral Conducting at McGill University in Spring 2020 and holds an MA in Music Theory and Choral Conducting from Indiana University. Her research focuses on pedagogical approaches to the choral rehearsal and late-20th-century choral works by Québécois composers.
Originally from Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, she grew up in a family of gifted musicians. Passionate about choral singing since her studies at Vanier College, she has directed ensembles and taught musicianship and conducting at reputed universities such as McGill University and Indiana University. A sought-after conductor, pedagogue and collaborative pianist, Dr. Gaudreault has previously served as Assistant Conductor to Maestro Kent Nagano at the Staatsoper Hamburg, Associate Conductor of the National Children’s Chorus in Washington, D.C., Music Director of the St-Augustine’s Church Choir in St-Bruno, QC, and Apprentice Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Canada.
Dr. Gaudreault was included in the 2021 CBC list of the most promising classical musicians under the age of 30 in Canada.
In 2020, she co-founded the CG Music Academy in Arlington, VA with her husband, Chris.
Dr. Gaudreault is also the director of the South Shore Children’s Chorus and the Ottawa Choral Society.
Choristers
The Saint Lambert Choral Society consists of over sixty members from Saint Lambert and various other cities in the Montérégie region, and Montreal.
Rehearsals:
When? Tuesday from 7:15pm to 10:00pm
Where? Saint Lambert Multi-purpose centre, 81 Hooper
Our Choristers: Fall 2025
Sopranos 1
Vera Berenbaum
Betty-Jo Christiani
Fiona Derbyshire
Nikki Di Milo
Linda Domingue
Danielle Ferron
Marissa Halil
Stéphanie Kozub
Louise Rousseau
Sophie Valentin
Sopranos 2
Carole Berthiaume
Nicole Brière
Anne-Marie Brosseau
Odette Chabot
Marie-Josée Chapdelaine
Sophie Cloutier
Monika Friedberg
Brigitte Le Bras
France Mailloux
Laura Prince
Maria Tacu
Kirsten Zernask
Altos 1
Lucie Allyson
Elizabeth Bourdon
Alisha Chacko
Meghan Lang
Jennifer Martin
Amy Panetta
Flavie Paquin
Monique Paré
Keren Penney
Hélène Poulin
Ginette Richard
Louise Roy
Altos 2
Geneviève Biraben
Claudine Genest
Johanne Gervais
Liette Michaud
Angela Mollinedo
Louise Paré
Martine Podesto
Jodi Rickli
Renée Trudeau
Yulia Vassina
Tenors
Gilles Blanchet
Diane Chevrier
Eugène Delage
Charles Deragon
Kent Gibbons
Serge Massé
Michel Raymond
Baritones and Basses
Louis Ducharme
Gabriel Frank
Jerry Gamache
Michel Girard
Jean-Jacques Grill
Ernst Jouthe
Victor Kahn
Robert Lepage
John Marino
Jean-Claude Perreault
Jakub Sawicki
Bash Walker
Benjamin Kwong: our rehearsal pianist
Benjamin Kwong is a Montreal-based pianist, coach, and music director. Having completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at McGill University in piano performance, he now works as a vocal, instrumental and choral pianist, and chamber musician. He is the choral pianist for the St. Lambert Choral Society since 2014.
The Board of Directors
The SLCS is an incorporated, not-for-profit organization governed by an all-volunteer board of directors.
President: Jean-Jacques Grill
Vice-President: France Mailloux
Treasurer: Marissa Halil
Secretary: Flavie Paquin
Directors: Marie-Josée Chapdelaine, Nikki Di Milo, Martine Podesto and Jakub Sawicki.
Our revenues come from diverse sources, and all fundraising activities are used uniquely for paying our expenses related to the production of our concerts.
- Annual dues from choristers
- Sale of individual tickets
- Grants, sponsorship and advertisements
- Corporate and private donations
The SLCS provides official income tax receipts.
To communicate with one of the members of the board of directors, please send an email to the address below:
Auditions and Rehearsals
Next auditions : January 2026
The St. Lambert Choral Society is always looking for choristers for all sections. Do you have choral singing experience and a basic, intermediate or advanced level of musical training? Do you have a good musical ear, would you like to perform great tunes from the repertoire with a dynamic and inspiring conductor? Then this choir is definitely for you.
To audition, please fill out the following form:
Contact
[email protected]
