The marvelous adventure of this youngster chœur began in 1967 on the Blancarde-Vallier " district " in MARSEILLE. It was only after two years that they took the name of " PETITS CHANTEURS DU MISTRAL ", like the name of the powerful wind that blows in the south of France. A name that nicely evokes the Provence, the thyme and lavender, a name that drives dullness away from our lives like the wind that drives clouds away in the sky and give us a child's clear eyes.

A white shirt and beige shorts constitute their first uniform.

The " Manécanterie " of the first years was composed solely of the boys. In 1975, it began to welcome girls, sisters and cousins of the boys. The manécanterie became " mixed ".

It was also at this time that it made its affiliation to the International Federation of the " Pueri Cantores " (Children Singers), this big family founded by Eminence MAILLET which regroups several scores of thousands of children singers all over the world.

In 1971, it was during the first tour of concerts in Germany where they were paired with the "Young Singers of Aalen " who came, in their turn, to Marseille the following year. Other twinnings soon followed : the Young Singers of Biberach, the Young Singers of Oslo in Norway, the Young Singers of SIOFOK in HUNGARY, the Young Singers of SHANGHAI, in CHINA, the Young Singers of KOBE, in JAPAN… Very strong friendship relations are thus established between children - singers of the world… Wonderful memories!

In 1976, in the interest of renewal, the PETITS CHANTEURS DU MISTRAL changed their " look " and chose to wear, in winter, a white under-sweater, a red sweater and black trousers. In spring and in summer, they replace sweater and under-sweater by a red shirt. In 1981, they put on the chest their beautiful badge of the French Federation of the " Young Singers ", with their name: " MISTRAL MARSEILLE ". It is in this uniform that they have the great joy to present themselves today before you and to offer you a message of Peace, Joy and Hope.

It is quite varied. Many types of music are approached :

Works of the Renaissance and big classics from MOZART - SCHUBERT - BACH - SIEVE BERCHEM - VERDI - BEETHOVEN - GRIEG…

The modern works from C. AZNAVOUR, Y. DUTEIL, M. JACKSON - The BEATLES - G. VIGNEAULT - C. DION - G. BECAUD - G. BRASSENS - J. LENNON - V. SCOTTO - M. FUGAIN…

Many Christmas songs - Negro Spirituals - Gospels.

Traditional French songs and foreign popular songs : all interpreted in different languages : German, English, Latin, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Provencal… and French, of course!

All these varied types of music join happily together and constitute the program of concerts.

 

Concerts are free and open to everyone : whatever their age, their origin and their language, in churches, theater rooms, hospitals, public squares, prisons, retirement homes or invalid homes, for the "restos du cœur " and the " téléthon ", for those that have faith or not.

And then, for many years, the tradition consists of a tour of concerts during the summer holidays, which will take the " PETITS CHANTEURS DU MISTRAL " all over France, Europe, and since 1982, beyond the Atlantic Ocean.

This marvelous musical and human adventure lasts three weeks and makes vibrate, to the same rhythm, the hearts of old and young : the rhythm of happiness. The Young Singers thus discovered our beautiful provinces of France : Brittany, Corsica, the Alsace, the " Pays Basque ", the Auvergne, the Savoie, the Alps, and the " Pays Niçois ", the Normandy, the Touraine, the Périgord, the Vendée, the Aquitaine, not to mention the Provence, of course!

They open their minds and their hearts to the multiple wealths, life styles, cultures and religions of countries they visit : Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, England, Sweden, Canada, Norway, Scotland, the United States, Japan, Russia and the Antilles, Guadeloupe and Martinique, Hungary, Lichtenstein, Luxemburg, Slovakia, Spain, China.

The "Young Singers " always come back enriched by these concert tours and keep in their hearts the unforgettable memories of all marvels they experienced and of all the bonds of friendship woven with the Peoples and families that received them.