Tetras Lyre Orchestra

Location: Chambery

Challenge: Various Disabilities

Website: ww.tetras-lyre.com

It was in 1982 that an educator from the IME of Challes-les-Eaux in Savoie, Anne-Marie MARTIN, brought together three young people who wanted to "make music" beyond the activities of awakening, rhythm and singing offered as part of their training. It succeeded in developing apprentice musicians and attracted new recruits. The young people choose a name for their new orchestra in reference to the beautiful bird of our mountains with its very special song:

The musical ensemble TETRAS-LYRE was born!

Soon a tour was organized in Savoie. Little by little, the group became more structured, the repertoire was enriched and Savoie became too small. The orchestra was invited for three years to the European Festival of Mentally Handicapped Artists in Figeac and in many cities in France and Europe. The orchestra also played at Notre Dame de Paris on the occasion of the Days of Dignity in 1997.

In 2000, it was Isabelle HERLIN, a qualified music teacher, conductor and accomplished musician, who gave a new impetus to the group by expanding the repertoire, introducing new instruments, and finding and highlighting the gifts of each person in discipline and good humor.

It was in 2005 that an eponymous support association was created. The latter took over the management of the orchestra and its performances, as well as the functioning of music education by developing a real school of adapted music.

Tetras-Lyre takes the rhythm of participating in about ten concerts a year. Some concerts became common with other local musical ensembles, and Tetras-Lyre began to provide the instrumental part and orchestration of the choirs participating in the concerts.

The musical value of the orchestra was quickly recognized and it went on to win awards and distinctions and occasionally perform with musicians and orchestras of national and international renown.

Tetras Lyre Orchestra