2026 Academy
The percussion ensemble SIXTRUM offers a chamber music workshop focused on contemporary music and the staging of percussion works. Students will perform in groups ranging from 3 to 12 percussionists, working on repertoire pieces (Iannis Xenakis and Steve Reich) or compositions written specifically for SIXTRUM. The workshop will emphasize chamber music practice and foster exploration through creation workshops (object theater, gesture analysis, electronic performance, staging). Students will perform alongside all SIXTRUM members in the final concert of the workshop. In addition to rehearsals, coaching sessions, and concerts, participants will also attend master classes.
Typical Day
- Morning: Group warm-up followed by chamber music practice
- Afternoon: Chamber music, creation workshops, and master classes
- Evening: Chamber music rehearsals
Fabrice Marandola
Fabrice Marandola is an Associate Professor of Percussion and Contemporary Music at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University (Montreal). Previously, he was a professor of percussion at the conservatories of Angers and Grenoble in France, a pedagogy instructor at the Conservatory of Paris, and an invited professor at the Crane School of Music (SUNY-Potsdam, NY). A founding member of Canadian percussion ensemble SIXTRUM, he has an active career on the New Music scene, commissioning, performing and recording new works for solo and chamber ensembles. His artistic activities have received numerous distinctions and awards from Conseil Québécois pour la Musique, Académie Charles-Cros and Montreal English Theatre Awards.João Catalão
Catalão is interested in how theatrical approaches and acting techniques can be applied to music. This work earned him a doctorate in performance from the University of Montreal and awards at the PAS-Brazil Composition Competition, a finalist spot at the IPCL in Luxembourg, and the “Outstanding Contribution to Theater” award with “Angélique”. A guest professor and head of the percussion sector at the University of Montreal, he is active in the contemporary, jazz, and pop music scenes in Quebec and Canada.
In addition to the what is mentioned above, the workshops also include:
- Chamber music coachings
- Opportunities to participate in one or more student concerts
- Networking activities with fellow musicians and faculty members
- Accommodation in double occupancy and three meals per day
- Practice studios equipped with pianos (available from 7AM to 12AM)
- Housekeeping, laundry (for a fee), parking, and free WiFi
- Free tickets for concerts at Salle Gilles-Lefebvre (subject to availability)
- Opportunity to discover the beautiful landscapes of Parc national du Mont-Orford, the majestic Lake Memphremagog, and the tourist activities of the city of Magog