About

Cafe des Voix Winnipeg

Cafe des Voix is a performance workshop series with a goal of providing singers the opportunity to learn new songs, work with a professional accompanist and receive coaching on style, performance and delivery. An emphasis is put on working with songs from jazz, blues, Broadway and popular repertoires.

How does it work?

At the rehearsal the accompanist will help you work out the best key for your song and will develop an arrangement for you to sing. You’ll be provided with a piano track to take home and practice with for each song.

A few days following the rehearsal singers will perform their songs at the “Cafe Rouge” – an informal cafe setting where family, friends and community members are invited to enjoy the music.    General admission for guests to the Cafe is $10.00 pp. 

Please email Grant Simpson at grantsimpsonmusic@gmail.com to be put on the singers email list.  You will be notified of upcoming opportunities to join in one of the cafes. 

The singers then attend a rehearsal to prepare their song for the upcoming Cafe des Voix 

Total Cost for one half-hour rehearsal and one Cafe performance with the pianist = $20.00 per singer. 

The environment is an informal set up like a coffeehouse where there is a clear view of the stage. Seating for about 25 people in the audience. Donations at the door to pay for accompanists. The church may take this opportunity as a fundraiser by selling snacks and refreshments during the intermission. Set up and tear down to be done by CDV volunteers.

Grant is happy to talk to singers about song selections/ideas/music etc leading up to the first date.      They can email grantsimpsonmusic@gmail.com or text/call 431-373-3108

Upcoming Cafes:

Cafe Rouge at Crescent Arts Centre (Crescent Fort Rouge United Church) 525 Wardlaw Ave.

  • January 5th (Rehearsals on Thursday, Jan 2nd between 11am and 5pm)
  • February 2nd (Rehearsals on Thursday, Jan 30th between 11am and 5pm)
  • April 6th (Rehearsals on Thursday, April 3rd between 11am and 5pm)

Rehearsals are 30 minutes each and can be scheduled by emailing grantsimpsonmusic@gmail.com

Cafe des Voix at Gordon King United Church (The Big Red Church) 127 Cobourg Ave

  • TBA

Swing Dance Cafes at Crescent Arts Centre (Crescent Fort Rouge United Church) 525 Wardlaw Ave.

At the Swing Dance Cafes, Singers from Cafe des Voix are invited to join the Grant Simpson Quartet in performing music to dance to from the Swing Era. There will be dancers and dance instructors present from River City Swing. If you’d like to join in Grant will help you select a swing tune that is appropriate for dancing.

  • Saturday, January 11th (Rehearsals on Thursday, Jan 9th between 11am – 5pm)
  • Saturday, February 15th (Rehearsals on Thursday, Feb 13th between 11am – 5pm)
  • Saturday, March 8th (Rehearsals on Thursday, Mar 6th between 11am – 5pm)

Rehearsals are 30 minutes each and can be scheduled by emailing grantsimpsonmusic@gmail.com