The event is over.

Originally from Belgium, the singers of the Royal Choir “Les Rossignolets de Sainte-Marie d'Arlon” will give a concert of sacred and secular songs on Thursday July 11, 2024 at 14 p.m. in the crypt (free participation). They will also accompany the mass on Friday July 12 for the feast of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, at 11 a.m. at the Basilica.

Who are the Rossignolets of Arlon?

The Royal Choir “Les Rossignolets de Sainte-Marie d’Arlon” is a vocal group of young people, girls and boys, aged 7 to 21.

The origins of the group date back to 1949, the year of the founding of a boys' choir within the Institut Sainte-Marie d'Arlon (Belgium). At the time, the repertoire was mainly composed of sacred songs. In 1983, the choir opened up to diversity. Since then, girls have been the backbone of the sopranos and alti. Over time, diversity has also spread to the musical repertoire, enriched with secular songs.

Each year, a tour, a musical camp or an international conference allows all the young people in the group to discover new countries, regions and customs. At the start of the 2024 school year, the Rossignolets will celebrate the 75th anniversary of their foundation which will be punctuated by numerous events and will end with participation in the International Congress of Pueri Cantores in Munich in July 2025.

A glimpse into History

From the origins to the 80s

It was around 1949 that the students of the establishment were brought together by Brother Charles Lesire, music teacher at the Institut Sainte Marie d'Arlon (ISMA), to form a vocal ensemble. From then on, this boys' choir enhanced religious, patriotic and school festivals with these songs.

Very quickly, Brother Charles established contact with Mgr. Maillet, Director of the Little Singers at the Wooden Cross and Founder of the Federation of Pueri Cantores. This is how he obtained the affiliation of his choir to the International Federation of Pueri Cantores under the official name: “Les Rossignolets de Sainte-Marie d'Arlon”.

In 1954 a dozen “Rossignolets” participated in their first International Congress of Pueri Cantores in Rome. On this occasion the small delegation was received by HE the Belgian Ambassador to the Vatican. This was the beginning of the choir's travels across Europe as well as official honors and receptions.

At the same time, a great tradition of concerts or masses began for the benefit of sick or disadvantaged people, as well as the “Christmas in the City” campaign.

In 1962, “Les Rossignolets de Sainte-Marie d’Arlon” reached an important milestone in their history by recording several radio masses broadcast by Radio Luxembourg (L) and Radio Sarre (D) and even televised by TV Saarbrücken (D) then more later by Belgian Radio Television (RTB).

It was therefore quite natural that in 1964 the choir recorded its first 45 rpm. Many more will follow.

The recognition of the public and the media of the time was more than justified since in 1965 “Les Rossignolets de Sainte-Marie d'Arlon” won the “Collier de l'Etoile d'Or” competition.

In 1983, Brother Charles died at the age of 73. The “Rossignolets” are then orphans. Everything could have ended there, but that was without counting on one of the most faithful choristers, Walter Theis, who took over the direction.

From 1983 to the present

It is under the leadership of its new director and a renewed committee that the choir will then experience its most important change: diversity.

The involvement of girls was therefore increasingly important until they constituted the backbone of the sopranes and altes.

This change should not make us forget certain traditions of our founder. This is how the “Rossignolets” continued to sing for sick or disadvantaged people, to bring the joy of “Christmas in the City”, as well as to travel in particular on the occasion of the national and international congresses of the Pueri Cantores.

“Les Rossignolets de Sainte-Marie d’Arlon” had the opportunity several times to perform before their Majesties King Baudoin and Queen Fabiola then their Majesties King Albert and Queen Paola.

In 1999, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their foundation, the choir received the honorary distinction of Chorale Royale and the official name then became “Chorale Royale Les Rossignolets de Sainte-Marie d'Arlon”, but more commonly known as simplified name of: “Les Rossignolets d’Arlon”.

Since 1983, several choir directors have taken over as director. Each of them bringing their personal touch and opening the choir to an increasingly varied repertoire. This is how songs by the Beatles, Voulzy, Goldman, etc. can rub shoulders in the same concert with sacred songs by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Handel and many others. But let's not forget the songs from regional traditions like “Zu Arel op der Knipchen”, traditional song from the Arlon region”, “La Brabançonne”, Belgian national anthem, or even the “Ons Emmecht”, anthem national of our neighbors in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.