Created in Morbihan in 2000, the Sainte-Anne-d'Auray Choir School combines the excellence of a choir with an interest in Breton culture. Headed by Gilles Gérard, its three choirs offer over 100 students from third grade to the last year of high school a collective musical adventure.

The school introduces children to music through choral singing. It consists of three sections, for elementary school, middle school and high school students. It is distinguished by its vocal excellence and the variety of its repertoire. The school combines the great masterpieces of Western sacred music with works by contemporary composers and traditional Breton pieces. The students perform works by Fauré, Brahms and Tanguy.

Highlighting the regional heritage

The Sainte-Anne-d'Auray Choir School is committed to promoting Brittany’s rich cultural heritage.

It also offers the pleasure of music to children from rural areas who have little access to culture.

The school works with other French and foreign children's choirs and professional orchestras. For example, it collaborates with the choirs of Worcester, St. Gallen and Uppsala.

  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller

“We wanted to salute this artistic educational project for the perfect fusion, homogeneity and accuracy of voices, the outcome of Gilles Gérard’s in-depth work.”

Laurence EquilbeyPresident of the 2021 jury

Gilles Gérard, the innovator of choral singing

Gilles Gérard studied musicology at the University of Tours and singing at the National Conservatory of the Angers Region. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Colchester Institute in England. He holds the position of Choral Scholar at Chelmsford Cathedral. From 2000 to 2017, he was head of the Perverie Choir School. Working with composers, he contributed to the renewal of choral singing.

©Pierre Hybre/Agence MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller

The Sainte-Anne-d'Auray Choir School

Far from big cities, the Sainte-Anne-d'Auray Choir School was created by the Bishop of Vannes in 2000 under the aegis of the Center for Sacred Music. Located at a major pilgrimage site, the school is part of the revival of choirs in France in the 1980s and 1990s. Beyond its liturgical function, it brings sacred music to a broader audience. The school receives funding from the Ministry of Education as well as public and private partners.

©Pierre Hybre/MYOP pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller

  • 2021 Liliane Bettencourt choral singing prize

Liliane Bettencourt Prize for choral singing

The creation of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for choral singing in 1989 is one of the first initiatives of the Fondation Bettencourt Schueller after its creation. It results from a shared desire of the Foundation and the Académie des beaux-arts to encourage French choirs and contribute to the development and influence of this exceptional artistic discipline.

All the award-winners