Couples Maurice and Carole Claveau and Claudette and Yvon Lévesque, have been volunteering at Mondial Choral for the past three years.
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
On call for the past three years
With the conclusion of the free concerts held in churches, a ten-day period of intense activity ended for Maurice and Carole Claveau and Claudette and Yvon Lévesque.
This was the third year that the two Vimont couples provided comfort and safety for choral singers and spectators who participated in concerts held at the magnificent St-Elzéar church where they serve as festival volunteers. When everyone is seated and all unexpected situations have been resolved, Mr. and Mrs. Claveau allow themselves a little happy dance step or two at the back of the church.
The first to arrive on site to prepare the communication centres to be used by the singers and to set up the seating arrangements in the church, the volunteers are also the last to leave. And if the shuttle picking up the singers is late, they wait with them on the steps of the church until it arrives. "The choir sang for us until the bus came to pick them up, at around midnight," recalls a smiling Claudette Lévesque.
The ship sails
From the first Mondial in 2005, the front of the church has been replete with lawn chairs brought by spectators who could not find places inside the church. "Claudette had to tell people to sit a little closer in the church benches," relates a laughing Maurice Claveau, the person responsible for the venue.
The four volunteers still have vivid memories of the heat wave that prevailed that first year. They recall that one of the singers fainted on stage, succumbing to the intense heat. After that incident, Mr. Claveau took first-aid courses to prepare for situations of this type.
Although they did not know each other before meeting at Mondial Choral 2005, these four volunteers believe that they've grown to become an effective team. "We complement each other," says Mrs. Claveau.
Becoming a volunteer
In this volunteer team, Mrs. Claveau includes the parish Priest, Claude Desrochers, who is present at all performances and helps set up the church for the concerts. Through the experience of the last three years, the volunteers have succeeded in winning the confidence of the priest who truly appreciates their work.
It was Messrs. Claveau and Lévesque who first read the notice about volunteers needed for the first Mondial Choral. "My wife was already volunteering, so I told myself that it was probably time I did the same," relates Yvon Levesque.
Loving music in general, Mr. and Mrs. Levesque were not necessarily at home in the world of choral singing. But since attending many concerts in the past three years, they now say they've developed an interest in this type of vocal art. "Last year, we took one night off to rest … to go and hear an Austrian choir," states Claudette Levesque, laughter ringing in her voice.
Asked if they'll be at the fourth Mondial Choral, the two women are cautious, but Mr. Claveau is quick to confirm that they'll be there. Same for Father Desrochers, who thinks that the Saint-Elzear Church is an ideal setting for this type of show, considering its size and excellent acoustics.
Photo:benevoles2
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Météo: Laval, 18 juillet 2008 / 19°C
/ Couvert
/ Vents: 11 Km/h / Humidité relative: 88 % 
Steven Guilbeault - Chronique environnement
Richard Cléroux - Le fouineur politique
