THE CHOIR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LE MANS (SARTHE- FRANCE)

(previously Choir of the University of Maine)

Created in 1987, the Choir has a total of about 90 singers (mainly students, university's staff, and former students). It is conducted by Evelyne BÉCHÉ, and accompanied at the piano by Dimitri NEGRIMOVSKI.

The Choir is not only one of the actors of the cultural life of the university, but also an ambassador of it in the department of Sarthe, in France and abroad. Administratively, the Choir is an association (french law 1901).

The repertoire of the Choir is varied: classical music, gospel, jazz, music of the world, variety. Depending on the works, the Choir is accompanied by its regular pianist at the piano, by renowned orchestra, or by orchestra made up of professional musicians for specific events.

Works with orchestra:

- Missa Brevis St Joannis de Deo by Haydn

- Gloria by Vivaldi, Regional University Orchestra of Caen Basse-Normandie

- Magnificat by Vivaldi, European Philharmonic Orchestra

- Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, Orchestra Sinfonietta de Paris

- Requiem by Fauré, Ensemble Instrumental de la Mayenne

- Dixit Dominus de Haendel, Instrumental group of Mayenne (Ensemble Instrumental de la Mayenne in french)

- West Side Story by Bernstein

- Missa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez, Music group from Andes,  Los Calchakis

- Messa Di Gloria by Puccini, Orchestra specifically created to mark the 20th anniversary of the Choir.

- Mass of the Armed Man: a mass for peace, by Karl Jenkins with a brass band (Brassage Brass Band, Paris)

- Ein Deutches Requiem by Johannes Brahms, London Version with two pianos (Dimitri Negrimovski and Boris Bouchevreau at the pianos).

- Music movies by John Williams with a brass band (Brassage Brass Band, Paris)

- Gloria by John Rutter with a brass band (Brassage Brass Band, Paris) and an organ (Boris Bouchevreau at the organ)

- Requiem by Karl Jenkins with a symphonic orchestra.

The other works, a capella or accompanied at the piano by Dimitri Negrimovski, ranges a period from Renaissance to these days.

The Negro spirituals were all arranged for the Choir, and accompanied by its Godmother, Rhoda Scott - the barefoot organist. To date, four concerts were given with this great specialist of Hammond organ.