Director’s of the Schola Cantorum

“The school and the temple of rue Saint-Jacques”, “the truant school of the conservatory”, “the beaver school”, “the second chance school”, “the buzzing hive”, “Jurassik Schola”, or more familiarly and universally: “the Schola”. These are some epithets and aphorisms that have flourished to designate the Schola Cantorum: two words full of meaning and history.

History of a will first and of a single man: in 1890, Charles BORDES (1863-1909), its founder, laid the foundations of a company and in 1894 brought together a few friends, benefactors and shareholders to create the company “Schola Cantorum”.

Among the first collaborators with whom he surrounded himself were two musicians whose fame would support his project: Alexandre GUILMANT (1837-1911) and Vincent D’INDY (1851-1931). The school officially opened its doors on October 15, 1896, rue Stanislas in the Montparnasse district.

From 1900 to 1931, the history of the institution was intertwined with the emblematic figure of Vincent d’Indy, who for thirty years and until his death presided over its destiny. Since then, the school has occupied a historic and active place in French and international entrepreneurial, educational and artistic life, having won its titles of nobility throughout a troubled 20th century and of which it will have embraced all the contours, resisting the -beyond all hope, withstood the test of time, two world wars and multiple economic and societal civilizational crises. It is now one of the oldest private musical institutions in the world, the 120th anniversary of which we celebrated in 2014, and which belongs to the history of music and to history in general.

It is estimated that nearly 100,000 students were trained directly and left the Schola. Among these, many played an important role in the establishment of musical schools and centers around the world, thus contributing to its influence. Also, if it is the fruits that the tree knows, we can affirm that they were fruitful and innumerable, and in the end hundreds of thousands of students will have benefited from its influence. Professors and masters of exceptional prestige have illustrated its history.

La Schola is also – it must be emphasized – a company, one of the oldest in activity in our country and which represents in more than one way one of the most meritorious efforts of private initiative and one of the most fruitful applications of independence if ever there was one, and of freedom, essential to teaching and artistic creation.

The Schola Cantorum currently has nearly 1,200 students and 80 teachers. Everyone, welcome to the Schola,

Michel DENIS
Director
Musical Director