About Cantabile d'Eymet
Cantabile d’Eymet is the Franco-British choir open to all who love to sing music from many traditions, with up to fifty singers of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass voices. We celebrated our 30th anniversary concert in June, singing Vivaldi, Schubert, Verdi, Rutter and Bruckner and are delighted to announce our November 2025 Mozart and Handel concert programme in Eymet and Bergerac. We’ll be joined by French and English guest soloists and led by eminent guest choir director Dr. David Flood, musical director of Canterbury Cathedral’s music 1988-2021.
The Association
Cantabile d’Eymet is 30 years old this year so we celebrate three decades of music-making! As an Association of the Commune of Eymet, the choir benefits in many ways, from the provision of our rehearsal space, co-promotion of our concerts, communications and collaboration with local organisations.
Cantabile d’Eymet continues to renew itself, to grow and attract talented amateur singers from a wide catchment area. More than one third of our choir members is French, alongside members from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Musical Directors
Our Musical Directors combine long experience of teaching, performance and accompaniment. Their style is constructive, encouraging and challenging to bring out the best in each member of the choir.
Penelope Martin-Smith is a Licentiate in Singing Performance from Guildhall School of Music, London and holds a B.Mus Honours degree from London University. A soloist and choral soprano, she is Vocal Director of Vivaldi’s Women, Associate Director of Oxford Youth Choirs, Director of Monteton Anglican Choir and Eymet Jazz Choir.
Adrian Inscoe is a widely experienced organist, accompanist and bass soloist whose musical interests span ecclesiastical, theatrical and jazz settings. He has directed choirs and sung as a Deputy Lay Clerk at Canterbury Cathedral, England.
Venues
As its home base, the choir regularly performs at Eymet’s beautiful church of Saint Martin-les-Vignes; at <La Gare>, Eymet's new salle multi-activités and in collaboration with Les Amis de l’église d’Issigeac, at the magnificent C15 church of St Félicien. We’re delighted to add Bergerac’s Temple Protestante this year to our range of venues. Cantabile d'Eymet also performs at Eymet’s Armistice Day commemerations and Communal Carol Singing celebrations, in collaboration with the Eymet Mairie and local primary school.
Join Cantabile d'Eymet
Cantabile d’Eymet has a loyal membership of singers of from French, Dutch, Canadian, South African and British heritages. Its tradition is one of friendship and enjoyment. We welcome singers whether confident sight readers or learning with audio/visual rehearsal materials. Contact us via the Messagerie on the Welcome page of this website and we will respond.
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New members typically join at the start of a new term to integrate fully into the choir with a new programme of music. Cantabile d’Eymet has three terms per year (September-December, January-March, April-June) during which rehearsals are held weekly from 19.00-21.00 at 'La Gare', Eymet’s new centre for community activities and events. Rehearsals are conducted bilingually, in English and French. Written communications to the choir, also, are published in English and French.