Festival de la Voix: Montreal’s Celebration of the Voice

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Vox Aeterna was founded in 2008 to foster the vocal arts scene in and around Montreal, encouraging the growth of vocal concerts and educational opportunities. Four years later, the charitable organization created Festival de la Voix with these same principles in mind. The multi-week festival introduces audiences to professional vocalists from various backgrounds, cultures and musical styles.

Discovering Beautiful Voices

Artistic Director Kerry-Anne Kutz’s well-trained ear makes her an excellent judge of talent. “The first thing that I think about—no matter what the genre—is the beauty of the voice,” she says about programming. From established artists such as soprano Myriam LeBlanc to emerging singers like environmentalist/singer-songwriter Viv Kalo, Kutz considers the quality of their voices and repertoire and how they resonate with listeners.

“I think it’s important to know our audience,” says Kutz, who is herself a classical and jazz vocalist. At the end of every concert, the organization polls its audiences as to what they like to listen to. “I go through every one of those slips and try to bring in the artists that they like.” This allows Kutz to discover new artists as well as reconnect with musicians who have left a lasting impression in previous years. Singer-songwriter Linda Morrison is one of the latter—she will return on April 11 with a folk, blues, jazz and Celtic program.

2026 Highlights

Since its beginning, Festival de la Voix has prioritized education. This year, the festival offers a seminar on vocal folds (March 14) and a gospel workshop (April 18). For children, there will be a singing concert and percussion workshop, both on April 4. The festival also includes two concerts for high school students.

On April 18, Studio de musique ancienne joins Festival de la Voix for the first time. The renowned early-music choral ensemble will perform Andrew Balfour’s Missa Tekakwitha, The Seven Stones of Grandfather’s Prophecies and Antoine Brumel’s Missa Et ecce terræ motus at Église St-Joachim.

Works by Quebec composer Simon Leclerc will be performed by a cappella vocal ensemble Quatuor Musaïque, Quartom and The Montreal Vocal Jazz Quartet on April 19. This program also features the Edgewater Elementary School Choir directed by Ashley Dunn, a unique opportunity for students to perform in a professional setting.

The final event features jazz standards performed by the Chad Linsley Trio alongside trumpeter Mike Cartile and singers Kristin Hoff and Kerry-Anne Kutz (April 28). This concert takes place at the restored Le 9e restaurant on the top floor of Centre Eaton.

A Time for Togetherness

As an early spring event, Festival de la Voix aims to reunite people after the winter. “Bringing the community together was always really important to us,” Kutz says with a smile. “I’m hoping that people will come out to … enjoy each other’s company.” She emphasizes this is an opportunity not only to uplift skilled musicians, but also to participate in an enriching musical experience with one’s neighbours.