International Federation for Choral Music

This training session marks the end of a three-year Conductors Beyond Borders (CBB) programme (2021–2024), with a week of training taking place each semester. The 2025 session, led by Thierry Thiébaut, Président of A Cœur Joie International and IFCM previous Vice-President, culminated in a concert conducted by two of the six choir conductors who have graduated from the programme. All of the graduates will subsequently train other conductors nationwide.

This session as well as the previous ones was organised by the Cameroonian Federation for Choral Music À Coeur Joie (Fédération Camerounaise de Musique Chorale A Cœur Joie, FECAMUCH-ACJ), À Coeur Joie International, in collaboration with IFCM.

The choir in residence, la Chorale A Coeur Joie of the FECAMUCH-ACJ, is a choir formed by participants of the CBB programmes in Douala between 2021 and 2024, and created with the aim of continuing to work together.

Unlike previous years, the recent session saw a change of focus. The courses were no longer centred on foundational elements such as vocal technique, sight-reading, scales, transposition, modulation, harmony, pedagogy, conducting, organisation and rehearsal management. These aspects have now been thoroughly mastered by the current graduates, who have successfully completed their initial training. This time was about refining the final stages of the project and leading the concluding rehearsals with the choir and soloists.

The culminating performance—(Petite Messe Solennelle by Rossini) a complex multi-part work integrating solos and choral sections—was conducted in succession by Christelle Kemayou Fokou (Cameroon), Patrice Ewoungouo (Cameroon), and Thierry Thiébaut (France), each bringing their own expertise and leadership to the stage.

Reflections of Christelle Kemayou Fokou in English and French and Patrice Ewoungouo in English and French.

In parallel, a training seminar on 'How to Compose' was organised by the Grande Chorale d'Hommes de Deido in Douala. The aim of this educational event was to enhance the skills of choirmasters, conductors and musicians from various regions of Cameroon.

The main objective was to encourage participants to generate a musical idea and explore its potential variations. Through theoretical presentations and practical workshops, participants were introduced to essential techniques for developing a musical theme from a literary text fragment.

The workshop sessions enabled participants to practise creating music in small groups in an atmosphere of intense collaboration. Each participant received a certificate of attendance and an assurance of future support for local choral creation.

Panel leaders were Toto Guillaume (Cameroon), Thierry Thiébaut (France), Patrick Ewoungouo (Cameroon), Dr Ntsama and Théodore Kae of the Fine Arts Institute of Nkongsamba, Cameroon.