Discover the experience
Overlooking Mount Royal, Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a Montreal heritage landmark whose musicality takes many forms.
First, the grand Beckerath organ, located in the heart of the basilica, sets the tone for a rich program of concerts led by titular organist Vincent Boucher and his guests. There is also a Casavant organ, which has graced the crypt of the Oratory for over 100 years.
The Oratory is also home to the Petits chanteurs du Mont-Royal, a choir of 210 boys whose repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant to contemporary vocal works. They perform at several ceremonies and concerts each year.
In addition, there is the Oratory’s carillon, an imposing instrument with more than 60 bronze bells (weighing a total of nearly 19,000 kg!). From Wednesday to Sunday, recitals are performed by titular carillonist Andrée-Anne Doane.
The Basilique-Cathédrale Saint-Michel in Sherbrooke houses a remarkable Casavant organ, installed in the rood screen. Built in the 20th century by the renowned Casavant company, this organ was actually first installed in the original church, known as the Pauline Chapel, around 1918, before being moved to its current location when the cathedral was built in 1957.
Organ workshops are available for groups of 8 to 12 people interested in discovering the history and culture surrounding this instrument, in addition to enjoying a unique musical experience.
A visit to Old Montreal would not be complete without a stop at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, the city’s oldest chapel. In addition to being a place steeped in history, the chapel has a wooden vaulted ceiling that gives it exceptional acoustics, making it perfect for hosting several musical productions each year.
Check the calendar to stay up to date on upcoming concerts at the Chapel, which include the famous Choralies every December.
Located in the heart of Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles, the St. James United Church stands out for its main organ, which has 64 stops, four keyboards and nearly 6,000 pipes. Originally built in 1888, this instrument has since been restored, notably by the Casavant Frères organ building company and more recently by Létourneau.
With the help of this impressive instrument, the church hosts numerous concerts, including those of the MusOrgue Festival, a series of free organ concerts that aim to promote Canadian music. The next edition will take place between June 21 and August 2, 2026, with performances on Sundays.
But the music program is not limited to the summer season. Located in the church’s Dawson Hall, Le Balcon, a concept halfway between a New York cabaret and a Parisian café-theatre, presents various concerts and dinner shows throughout the year, ranging from jazz to Portuguese fado.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Québec City decided to focus more on music starting back in 2015, and now hosts a year-round program of classical, organ, and choral concerts. It’s not surprise seeing as the building’s architecture—inspired by the St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London’s Trafalgar Square, now a mecca for classical music in London—means it has some of the best acoustics in Quebec.
Titular organist Benjamin Waterhouse is renowned for his ability to bring out the most beautiful sounds from the 1790 chamber organ and the 1885 gallery organ.
This cathedral also carries on a 400-year-old English musical tradition with its rare eight-bell carillon. The team of bell ringers practises the art of “change ringing,” a collective, rhythmic and highly controlled technique in which several bells are played in precise, successive sequences.
The Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal is home to a liturgical choir recognized as one of the best in Montreal and Canada, performing nearly 500 pieces of music each year.
The cathedral’s main organ, installed in 1980 by German organ builder Karl Wilhelm of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, is inspired by the ancient organs of Northern Europe and is particularly suited to the music of Bach and his predecessors, while remaining versatile.
The cathedral regularly hosts concerts and special events, including events in the Candlelight concert series and themed performances, enhanced by the beauty of the building’s neo-Gothic architecture.
