Canta Vivace
Chamber Choir
Who are we?
The Canta Vivace Choir was founded a few years ago under the leadership of Vicky O'Neill, our choirmaster, and is based in Monflanquin.
The program focuses primarily on sacred, baroque, classical, and contemporary music, with concerts accompanied by a chamber orchestra. 
Our choir director
Vicky O’Neill is a passionate teacher and conductor with over 30 years of experience, not only in the classical world but also in other styles.
She has extensive and varied knowledge of choral and orchestral life, having played in various orchestras and choirs (professional and semi-professional), including the Royal Marines Band Service. She was the first woman admitted when women were finally allowed to enlist in 1992 in the clarinet/violin category.
After leaving the Royal Marines, she used her skills as a wind instrument teacher (clarinet, flute, and saxophone) and vocal technique instructor at a music training center that provides teachers to primary and secondary schools, a job she loved.
Alongside teaching, she continues to perform in orchestras, choirs, and musical theatre. Drawing on her experience, she quickly discovered a passion for conducting and stage direction, leading various ensembles: small groups, musical theatre, big bands, orchestras, and choirs.
In 2014, she joined the École des Arts-Fumel-Vallée du Lot as a wind instrument teacher (flute, clarinet, and saxophone), and conducts the orchestra and choir.
She affirms that everything she has learned so far helps her in her work as an orchestral and choir conductor, a profession she particularly cherishes. She adds that seeing the joy on her students’ faces when they perform a piece they didn’t think they could play makes it all worthwhile.
Our program
The level required by our conductor is demanding and requires a certain personal commitment.
For choir members who don’t read music, each piece is accompanied by one or more MP3 files that allow them to familiarise themselves with the work at home.
During Friday morning rehearsals, we don’t simply rehearse line by line or page by page. Each choir member is expected to know what they are to sing. These rehearsals are true interpretation sessions, focusing on developing nuances and contrasts between the different sections.
On several occasions, the sections have been divided in two, creating an eight-part vocal ensemble, particularly for pieces by Ola Gjeilo or Mendelssohn.
For our weekly rehearsals, we are accompanied by our favorite pianist, Nicolas, who single-handedly replaces violins, clarinet, flute, cello… brilliantly.
During the week, the choir members are invited to meet in sections to better familiarize themselves with the current repertoire. These rehearsals are generally very friendly and often take place at the home of one of the choir members (with coffee or tea to start and/or end the rehearsal). Currently, the weekly rehearsals with Vicky take place on Friday mornings in Monflanquin; it is possible that in the near future they will be held at another time of the week to accommodate new choir members who are still working.
Here are our choir members giving it their all during rehearsals…
Canta Vivace is always looking for motivated choir members who can attend rehearsals regularly, if possible.
We have several friends from across the Channel in our ranks, who sometimes return to their home country for a few weeks and can keep up their practice by working individually with sheet music and audio files.
We need gentlemen in the Tenor and Bass sections.
Knowing how to read music isn’t essential; being handsome will be appreciated by the Sopranos who sit opposite them at rehearsals…
So… see you soon!
