HEMU Choir

With around 100 choristers, the Choeur de l’HEMU (HEMU Choir) brings together Bachelor students from the HEMU – Haute École de Musique, including both singers and instrumentalists, for vibrant sessions. The programme includes a cappella pieces, multidisciplinary projects, and impressive musical compositions, orchestrated beautifully in collaboration with other HEMU ensembles and renowned conductors.

The institution has practised choral music since its foundation in 1861. Throughout its history, the Conservatoire de Lausanne has always had professors and directors active in Vaud’s choral world within its walls, from its founder, Gustave-Adolphe Koëlla, to Carlo Hemmerling, from Alexandre Denéréaz, Paul-André Gaillard, Charles Troyon and Jean-Jacques Rapin.

Although the student body has become more international, this influence remains strong, and participation in the HEMU Choir is compulsory for all Bachelor's students, regardless of whether they are singers. Guided for many years by Véronique Carrot and subsequently led by guest conductors such as Dominique Tille, Laurent Gendre, Jean-Luc Waeber and Céline Latour Monnier, this experience is considered essential even for the most inexperienced instrumentalists, as it teaches them to breathe together and experience the exhilarating emotion of large choirs. It also enables them to lose any preconceptions they may have about the surprising world of choral music.

The calendar is organised into sessions, alternating between large-scale projects such as “L’HEMU se chante”, which was conceived as part of the 750th anniversary of Lausanne Cathedral. This event featured works by HEMU teachers and students, conducted by Céline Latour Monnier, and saw the choir collaborate with the Lausanne-Renens Circus school on stage.

Videos

Seen & Heard

• 1 chef de haut vol + 240 musiciennes et musiciens = une soirée magique
• Choeur de l'HEMU - autour de Fauré

2025-2026 season concerts

Coming soon