Maison de la musique René-Charette

Gathering around classical music and culture

The Maison de la musique René-Charette will serve as a space open to all, where activities that contribute to individual and collective enrichment through culture can take place. This venue will become the headquarters of music in Lanaudière, thanks to its vast, bright spaces, its impressive soundproofing, and its ideal location in downtown Joliette.

With this initiative, the Festival de Lanaudière confirms its role as a foremost musical crossroads for Quebec and the world. The project also endows the Festival with the necessary base for deploying its classical music democratization and musical education activities for the local community.

Role

Foster cooperation within the musical environment of Lanaudière by providing spaces for creation, residencies, production, dissemination, and administration at affordable prices;
To offer a place where the public and creators can meet through educational projects with local actors, or in synergy with them;
Establish a centre of expertise in music education to train future classical musicians.

A musical and cultural epicentre

The Salle Prélude, presented by Desjardins: a performance hall with a seating capacity of approximately 100 for recitals, recordings, rehearsals, creative residencies, etc.;
An adjacent area for public meetings, cultural mediation activities, conferences, etc.;
A library of scores and recordings for musicians in the region;
The Head Office of the Festival and of partnering cultural organizations.

Tribute to a visionary music lover

Mr. René Charette believed in the power of arts and culture to improve the quality of life of his fellow citizens. To him, and to Father Fernand Lindsay and Marcel Masse, we owe the creation of the Festival de Lanaudière and the instigation of the project leading to the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay. Since the Festival was founded, René Charette has served as its administrator, up until he breathed his last breath on July 4, 2019. The Maison de la musique René-Charette is a magnificent way to highlight the commitment and dedication of this great citizen and native of Lanaudière.

Partners who are committed

For this project, the Festival has obtained the collaboration of the Fonds régions et ruralité, the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation du Québec, the Mouvement Desjardins, the City of Joliette, the Azrieli Foundation, as well as several private donors. All of these partners believe in the project’s vision of proximity with the population and of encouraging collective and personal enrichment. Many other partners will be announced in the coming months!

The Festival de Lanaudière received the historic donation of this building from local businessman Gérard Descheneaux, a long-time friend of the Festival and a fervent art lover. It is a legacy that consolidates the roots of the Festival in Lanaudière.