The Choirs of the Green Country celebrate their 50th anniversary

On Sunday, October 11, 2026, Chorales du Pays Vert invite you to celebrate their 50 years at the Maison des Géants from 12:15 PM. The choir conductors, the choristers, and the accompanists of Chorales du Pays Vert offer you a concert "the Song of the Flowers" at the Maison des Géants within the framework of the Floralies. You will find there the choirs and their choir conductors: Borelais, Pascaline Flamme; Les Meslinotes de Meslin l’Evêque, Pierre Wuidart; Saint Jean de Ghislenghien, Marie-Paule Echterbille; À Cœur Joie d’Irchonwelz and Sainte Cécile de Moulbaix, Stéphane Douillié, Price: 6 € for the concert, the exhibition, and the visit to the Maison des Géants. 50 years of existence... in summary! It was at the initiative, in 1976, of the Saint-Pierre de Lessines choir, choir conductor Oger Brassart, that the first Christmas vigil was organized in its church, with the Saint Pierre de Beloeil and Rencontre d’Ath choirs directed, respectively, by Jean Lagae and René Berte, assisted by Sabine Godon. Each choir sings for a quarter of an hour and, an organ piece is interpreted, between the performances, by Pierre Duelz, Jean Lagae, and Paul Lambotte. In closing, the 140 choristers sing "Douce Nuit", under the eye of Doyen De Keyser. The glass of friendship is served: which allows the choristers to continue singing among themselves! Little by little, other choirs participate... At the beginning of the 1980s, the "Edelweiss" choir, renamed "Les Meslinotes", of Meslin l’Evêque, with its conductor André Terman who directed it for 20 years, joined the group as well as the Borelais and Maffle choirs under the direction of Madame Watrin; Ellezelles and Flobecq were added. In 1982, the Mainvault choir, of Bois Hellin, arrived under the direction of its conductor Paul Monserez. The very young Laurent Rasmont, aged 18, joined the ensemble by directing, with his legendary smile, the "A Cœur Joie" choir of Irchonwelz. In 1986, it was the turn of the Saint Jean de Ghislenghien choir and its conductor Marie-Paule Echterbille to join the group. Given the number of choirs, the vigils were becoming far too long and it was necessary to adapt! The group was split into 2 performances, in 2 churches. With time and the various imperatives of the choirs, Rencontre left the group and Lessines organizes its own vigil in its Lessines entity. Currently, 5 choirs perpetuate, every year, the traditional Christmas vigil. It is them that you will listen to during the "Song of the Flowers". They organize themselves in a rotation. Each choir, in turn, receives the others and organizes the evening with its personal touch during the interludes: classical instrumental pieces, reading of a story, intervention of musicians from the village brass band like last year in Meslin, ... This evocation would be incomplete if we forgot to mention the wonderful concert, which marked the 10 years. It was about interpreting, in a sort of tour, songs of Europe. This concert leaves fantastic memories that we would like to tell you about. Alas, it would be too long! But we will be able to share 50 years of anecdotes after our concert, next October 11. Happy anniversary to Chorales du Pays Vert, their choir conductors, their choristers, their accompanists of today and yesterday!