Vocal Ensemble Cantabile

Cantabile Vocal Ensemble

International Choir Festival in Milan, May 2025

Created in 2004, the Cantabile Vocal Ensemble initially performed a variety repertoire. When its founders retired, the Cantabile choir took a major change of direction for a year, with a young ‘classical’ conductor who was then a student at the Conservatoire.

Since 2013, conductor Sébastien Portelli and the new management team have taken the choir to new heights.

Each year, under the guidance of its conductor, the choir organises concerts and exchanges with local and regional groups.

It regularly exchanges with the music masters of the Lutheran church in Kassel, Germany, who bring groups of choristers.

It also hosted an Italian choir in 2015, took part in a performance of Carmina Burana at the Zénith in Toulon in 2016, two concerts of Vivaldi’s Gloria in Toulon and Marseille in 2019, and concerts of Puccini’s Mass in 2023, with further performances planned for this autumn.

Official Website :  Cantabile Vocal Ensemble 

Sébastien Portelli, Choir Conductor

Born in the Toulon region in 1975, he has remained very attached to it ever since. During his musical studies at the Toulon Conservatoire from 1982 to 1998, he studied piano, percussion, saxhorn, and finally music history and composition.

After completing his training, Sébastien taught music in secondary schools for a while, before changing direction. In 2013, he returned to music, directing the Cantabile choir in Garéoult, the Clair Matin choir in 2016, and the USAM Polyphonic Choir in 2018.

In 2017, he founded Envergure, a youth choir in Toulon.

Attracted by conducting, he resumed his musical studies at the Toulon Conservatoire in the conducting class with Messrs Melin, Pairier and Maes. This enthusiast is also an instrumentalist (percussion) and loves singing tenor when needed in a choir.

All the choir members appreciate his open-mindedness, his precise work on the scores, his good humour and his kindness.

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