Les Chantres of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, a two-year higher professional vocal training programme (CPES), welcomes 17 French and international students each year and offers a programme of excellence combining high-level instruction with professional performance experience in prestigious venues, supervised by renowned specialists and supported by numerous educational partnerships.
Quality tuition
Combining theoretical and practical instruction with professional performance experience, this training programme enables young singers to prepare for their future careers under the guidance of leading specialist teachers (singing—solo and choral—, performance practice, solfège for singers, vocal chamber music, ornamentation, French, Latin, Italian and German declamation, basso continuo, choral conducting, etc.), as well as the musicologists of the CMBV Research Department (editorial work on sources, methodology, musical knowledge, etc.).
The programme benefits from educational partnerships with the CRR de Versailles Grand Parc, the CRR de Paris – Ida Rubinstein, the CRD Paris-Saclay, and the two National Conservatories of Music (CNSM) in Paris and Lyon. As part of the partnership with the CRR de Versailles Grand Parc, Les Chantres may pursue complementary courses alongside CRR students and take part in joint educational productions, within a genuine Versailles-based campus.
Over the two-year programme, the 17 Chantres students follow this intensive curriculum at the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, acquiring the core skills of a versatile classical singer as well as advanced specialisation in the interpretation of 17th- and 18th-century music. Les Chantres, combined with the children’s choir of Les Pages, also makes it possible to recreate the forces of the Royal Chapel under Louis XIV.
The programme, recognised as CPES (Preparatory Classes for Higher Education), grants student status and allows participants to benefit from the national scheme preparing entry into higher education institutions for artistic creation, with the possibility of obtaining the DEM at the end of the course.
A real-life professional setting
Professional performance experience is a central pillar of the training programme. It allows Les Chantres to confront public performance and to develop all the skills required for their future careers: responsiveness, autonomy, confidence, and mastery of the technical and artistic aspects of musical interpretation. These skills are acquired both in choral settings and as soloists, under the direction of Fabien Armengaud, Artistic and Musical Director; Clément Buonomo, Associate Artistic Director; and Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, Artist-in-Residence for the 2025–2026 season. The name of the Artist-in-Residence for the 2026–2027 season will be announced in September 2026.
Embarking on a professional career
Drawing on nearly thirty years of experience, the CMBV has trained close to 200 young adult singers and boasts a high rate of professional integration, attesting to the effectiveness of its training programme and the support offered to emerging artists.
As choristers, soloists, choral conductors and voice teachers, former Chantres of the CMBV are recruited by numerous ensembles and institutions, including Radio France, Accentus, Le Concert Spirituel, Les Arts Florissants, the choir of the Opéra Royal, Les Épopées, Le Poème Harmonique, Pygmalion, Correspondances, among others.
Some go on to pursue advanced soloist training at prestigious European conservatories (Paris, Lyon, Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Lausanne, Geneva, etc.), found their own vocal ensembles, or develop international careers.
Admission
The programme is open to all French and international singers aged 18 to 30, across all voice types (soprano, countertenor, haute-contre, tenor, baritone and bass). The maximum intake is 17 students over the two-year programme.
Qualifications required:
- Music and singing: completion of the end of the 2nd cycle of conservatory studies in music theory (formation musicale) required; strong choral experience. An instrumental or music theory DEM is desirable.
- General education: baccalaureate required
Admission is by competitive audition for entry in September 2026.
- REGISTRATION: MARCH 2 TO APRIL 3, 2026
Online application with recording of three pieces from different periods, including one of French baroque music.- 1st round: preselection on the basis of applications
- FRIDAY 8 AND SATURDAY 9 MAY 2026
- 2nd round: auditions and musical training and sight-reading tests before a jury (10-12 minutes)
- 3rd round: placement in the choir and in lessons with the teachers, individual interviews.
This full-time programme (student status) requires an annual registration fee of €450 (academic year 2025–2026).
