The Republican Harmony marks the event with an exhibition and a weekend of festivities surrounding music.
On Sunday, as part of the Grand Market event, the opening of the exhibition Il était une fois l’Harmonie républicaine de Coursan took place at the headquarters of Coursan Information Patrimoine. Present at the event were President Jean Boyer, choir director and music school director Christelle Thiel, Mayor Edouard Rocher, Departmental Council Vice President Séverine Mateille, and Coursan Information Patrimoine President Line Héral. The exhibition will remain in place until April 28th and can be viewed from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 12 pm. This group was founded on January 22, 1876, and with 150 years of history, it is the oldest musical society in Aude still active. Through meticulous work by Bruno and Dominique Vaesken and Paul-Henri Viala, who compiled archives, photos, posters, programs, flags, and ancient instruments, the rich life of this association (since 1923) is portrayed. The association has accompanied many local events, experienced sad and happy moments, and has seen hundreds of musicians pass through its ranks.
The celebration continues: ask for the program!
The anniversary festivities will continue throughout the weekend, starting on Friday, April 10 at 8:30 pm at the multipurpose hall with the musical story of Marco Polo. The event will feature music (performed by the orchestra under the direction of choir director Christelle Thiel), readings by Thierry Visentin, Benoit Laurens, and Laurent Savio, and movements by the Corps et voix Company. This collaboration showcases the talents and demonstrates the richness achieved through sharing and cross-pollination of artistic sensibilities.
The celebration continues on Saturday, April 11 with the 6th Harmony Orchestra Festival, Coursan harmonizes, starting at 8 pm in the multipurpose hall. Performances will be by the Narbonne Harmony Orchestra, the Day Harmony class, and the Coursan Music School Orchestra. Before the musical performance, Valérie Dumontet, vice president of the departmental council for participatory democracy, and Séverine Roger-Mateille, departmental councilor of the Basses Plaines de l’Aude, representing the department, will inaugurate the acquired equipment (renewal and acquisition of instrumental equipment) as part of the “Promoting music in Aude” project, one of the winning projects of the 2025 Citizen Budget. The Harmony is one of the 38 winners of the 2025 Citizen Budget, chosen by the people of Aude and fully funded by the department.
On Sunday, April 12 beginning at 2:30 pm in the multipurpose hall, The Fanfare du Patio des Arts from Grand Narbonne, the Harmony of Sète, and the Republican Harmony of Coursan will perform. On November 27, 1923, the Harmony was declared a nonprofit organization. It was customary at the first general assembly to shout “Long live the Harmony” at the end of the meeting. To carry on this tradition, let’s all shout “Long live the Harmony”!
