Early this semester, Professor of French Wynne Wong organized an Outreach Seminar on “Quebec in and for the 21st Century: Art, Culture and Innovation” in collaboration with Grandview Heights High School, Denison University, the Quebec Delegation Office in Chicago, and the American Council for Quebec Studies. The event featured Quebecois musician, a prize-winning classical pianist, conductor and choral enthusiast turned singer-songwriter, Gregory Charles.
Charles joined the event not just as a musician, but also as an important figure in Quebecois culture. He talked about the important role that music has played in affirming Quebec’s distinct linguistic and cultural identity as well as his new virtual program, "Je suis Québécois," an innovative online tool designed to help new immigrants learn French and the culture of Quebec to integrate better into Quebec society.
The two-day seminar kicked off with a screening of the film “Monsieur Lazhar,” a Quebecois film directed by Philippe Falardeau and released in 2011. The main day of the seminar started with a talk-show style discussion with Charles mirrored after the popular Canadian program Tout le monde en parle. A clip in which Charles talks about former OSU football player Cris Carter and how people can overcome their inner demons can be found here.
This was followed by three panels: Quebec in the Curriculum, Quebec in the Arts, and Innovation in Public Education. The panels featured instructors and professors from Ohio State University and other higher education institutions from around the state. Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Garrett Heysel gave opening remarks and FRIT graduate students Thierno Diallo and Kirby Childress served as panel moderators.
Ohio State and Grandview Heights High School students got to meet Charles in person on the morning of the concert. Students had a chance to have a discussion with Charles and to sing a mashup of the songs "Le temps est bon" and "Hang on Sloopy.” A video of his visit with students is available here.
Charles’ concert took place the second evening of the seminar. His performances are always exhilarating, mind-boggling, heart-racing, and memorable, and this concert was no different. A polyglot who is also know as the human Spotify, Charles can perform virtually any song on demand including songs in French, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish. Audience members enjoyed an interactive concert experience with Charles in which he performed songs based on random dates provided by attendees ranging from the 1800s to present day. Charles also exhibited his vast array of styles, and performed everything from opera, to big band, to blues, to rock, to grunge. He allowed the audience to enjoy, to think, and to travel. Students, instructors, and community members alike experienced a unique and unforgettable performance.
