About 100 elementary and high school students attend the Lyon Opera Choir School. The lessons are based on the Kodaly method. This high-level children's choir created in 1990 sings in Lyon Opera productions.

The Lyon Opera Choir School has two ambitious goals. It is a high-level children's choir and it trains soloists. It believes that collective music making contributes to living peacefully together and mutual understanding.

The choir school is an integral part of the Lyon Opera's productions. Its artistic program hews to the opera’s program. It also has its own concert season.

Training young singers

Since 2007, the Lyon Opera Choir School has used the Kodály method, which aims to develop inner listening in order to learn melodic relationships, rhythms and musical structures.

The school also teaches dance and stage expression through acting and choreographed songs.

It also raises awareness of choral singing in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region.

  • © Blandine Soulage Rocca
  • © Jean Louis Fernandez
  • © Stofleth

“The Lyon Opera Choir School combines musical and technical training with undeniable expertise in stage practice.”

Thierry EscaichPresident of the 2020 jury

Karine Locatelli loves vocal ensembles

Trained in the clarinet and chamber music, Karine Locatelli studied choral conducting at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon. She has been the director of the Lyon Opera Choir School since 2007. The Copenhagen Opera has invited her on a regular basis since 2015 to rehearse the chorus. At the same time, she is assistant professor of choral conducting at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon.

  • 2007 Choir master of the Opéra de Lyon and assistant conductor of the choir of the Opéra de Lyon

  • 2007 Creation of the Artemus ensemble

  • 2015 Creation of the GOLO company

Liliane Bettencourt Prize for choral singing

The creation of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for choral singing in 1989 is one of the first initiatives of the Fondation Bettencourt Schueller after its creation. It results from a shared desire of the Foundation and the Académie des beaux-arts to encourage French choirs and contribute to the development and influence of this exceptional artistic discipline.

All the award-winners