Aspiration is a musical voyage where poetry and music intertwine to create a deeply moving experience. This new program, composed by Jean Félix Mailloux, draws its inspiration from the voices of three luminous women poets — Emily Dickinson, Catherine Pozzi, and Gaspara Stampa. Each of them, in her own way, has explored the mysteries of love, longing, mortality, and transcendence. Their words, though separated by centuries and cultures, share a profound intimacy that speaks directly to the heart. Through this project, their voices find new resonance in sound, carried by an ensemble of musicians who embrace both delicacy and passion.

At the center of the performance is the Cordâme sextet, a group of versatile and expressive musicians who bring to life Mailloux’s evocative compositions: Coral Egan’s warm and sensitive voice, Eveline Grégoire-Rousseau’s shimmering harp, Marie Neige Lavigne’s radiant violin, Sheila Hannigan’s lyrical cello, Louis-Vincent Hamel’s colorful percussion, and Mailloux himself on the double bass. This instrumentation allows for a rich palette of textures — from ethereal, transparent sonorities to vibrant rhythmic momentum.

Each city on the tour will feature the sextet joined by a local chamber orchestra of winds and strings. Nine additional musicians — carefully integrated into the fabric of the score — bring depth, nuance, and grandeur to the performance. This collaborative aspect is at the heart of Aspiration: creating meaningful encounters with musicians from different communities, blending their artistry with Cordâme’s to craft a unique version of the work each time it is performed. In this way, Aspiration is not a fixed object but a living dialogue, continually renewed through exchange and interpretation.

Musically, Mailloux’s writing is rooted in a dialogue between contemporary chamber music, post-minimalist influences, and the lyricism of jazz. He embraces the power of melody while weaving intricate rhythms and harmonies that echo the emotional landscapes of the chosen poems. Emily Dickinson’s introspective and elliptical verses become intimate musical reflections; Catherine Pozzi’s philosophical depth invites meditative and expansive textures; and Gaspara Stampa’s passionate Renaissance sonnets inspire fiery, dramatic passages. Together, these voices offer a panorama of the human spirit’s yearning — its aspiration toward beauty, connection, and eternity.

The performance unfolds as a journey for both musicians and audience. It invites listeners to enter a contemplative space, where poetry is not simply recited but embodied in sound. The interplay of voice, strings, harp, winds, and percussion creates a world where words and music merge, amplifying one another in delicate equilibrium. Audiences are drawn into moments of tenderness and intimacy, then lifted into surges of collective energy, before returning to the stillness of reflection.

Ultimately, Aspiration is more than a concert: it is a meditation on the power of art to transcend boundaries of time and language. By weaving together the voices of Dickinson, Pozzi, and Stampa with original music and the collaborative spirit of local orchestral musicians, the program celebrates the timeless resonance of poetry and the unifying force of music. It is an invitation to listen, to feel, and to aspire.

Coral Egan voix / Vocals

Marie Neige Lavigne violon / violin

Sheila Hannigan violoncelle / cello

Jean Félix Mailloux contrebasse / double bass

Éveline Grégoire-Rousseau harpe / harp

Louis-Vincent Hamel percussions

+ Chamber orchestra (String quartet, wind quintet) Can be expanded to a full symphony orchestra.

Aspiration has already been presented internationally and in Quebec, including a performance in Busan with the BMIMF Chamber Ensemble conducted by Ran Kim, and in Drummondville with the Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville under the direction of Julien Proulx. An album recorded with the OSD and Julien Proulx is set for release in 2026.

Creative concept – Community work

Aspiration is a concert-length work that unites poetry and music in a luminous dialogue. Composed by Jean Félix Mailloux, the project is inspired by the writings of three remarkable women poets from different eras: Emily Dickinson, Catherine Pozzi, and Gaspara Stampa. Each of these voices explores themes of desire, transcendence, love, and mortality with striking honesty. Though separated by centuries, their words converge in a shared vision of the human spirit reaching beyond itself — aspiring toward beauty, connection, and meaning.

The music of Aspiration was conceived as a response to this poetry, not simply as accompaniment but as a living extension of the texts. Dickinson’s elliptical verses are evoked through intimate and transparent textures, while Pozzi’s philosophical depth unfolds in expansive, meditative soundscapes. Stampa’s impassioned sonnets inspire fiery rhythms and dramatic intensity. The result is a series of musical tableaux, each illuminating the emotional landscapes of these poets while creating space for the listener’s own reflection.

At the heart of Aspiration is a spirit of community. Each performance brings together Cordâme’s sextet — Coral Egan (voice), Eveline Grégoire-Rousseau (harp), Marie Neige Lavigne (violin), Sheila Hannigan (cello), Louis-Vincent Hamel (percussion), and Mailloux on double bass — with a local chamber orchestra of winds and strings. Musicians from different origins, backgrounds, and traditions gather to form a single unit, blending their artistry into one collective voice. This collaborative process not only strengthens bonds between artists but also leaves a profound and lasting impact, enriching Cordâme’s ensemble with fresh perspectives while offering local musicians the opportunity to engage in an immersive creative exchange.

With its fusion of chamber music, jazz lyricism, and post-minimalist influences, Aspiration creates a sound world that is both accessible and profound. More than a concert, it is a celebration of poetry, music, and community — an invitation to listen, to feel, and to aspire together.

CONTACT : Jean Félix Mailloux – 514-209-1476