Baroque on the Bayou returns May 22–24

Baroque on the Bayou Returns to Celebrate Faith, Heritage, and Harmony

ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. — The second annual Baroque on the Bayou festival will return May 22–24, 2026, offering three intimate concerts that blend timeless European masterworks with the living musical traditions of South Louisiana. Presented by the Atchafalaya Orchestra under the direction of Music & Artistic Director André Courville, the festival seeks to create an experience where history, faith, and culture meet in harmony.

“My vision is to celebrate the cultural riches we have here in St. Martin Parish while offering an intimate musical experience — just like Baroque music’s original small-hall performances — so that people truly feel part of the music,” Courville shared.

Psalm 150:4 declares, “Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes.” In many ways, Baroque on the Bayou echoes that ancient call — lifting praise through strings, voices, and sacred song in spaces where faith and artistry intertwine.

Sacred Spaces and Living Tradition

The festival opens Friday, May 22, at NUNU Arts & Culture Collective in Arnaudville, featuring works by Vivaldi and Bach alongside original French songs by Cajun fiddler and vocalist Jourdan Thibodeaux. His music bridges centuries, pairing Louisiana’s French storytelling tradition with the Baroque forms that helped shape it.

Saturday evening’s concert will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Henderson — freshly renovated and hosting its first concert. For Courville, it is a meaningful homecoming; he served there as organist and choir director at just 12 years old. Sacred works by Handel and Marcello will fill the sanctuary, reminding listeners of Colossians 3:16: “Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Sunday’s finale takes place at the historic Duchamp Opera House in St. Martinville. Guest soprano Claire de Monteil, traveling from Paris, will perform Italian opera arias by Handel and French songs by Édith Piaf. The setting evokes the 19th-century cultural life of the region, when artists from New Orleans’ French opera spent summers performing in St. Martinville.

World-Class Artists, Local Heart

Courville, an internationally acclaimed bass-baritone trained at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, has appeared on stages including Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. Yet his heart remains rooted in Acadiana, where he continues to nurture artistic excellence close to home.

Claire de Monteil brings international acclaim of her own, with performances at Teatro alla Scala in Milan and major opera houses across Europe. Meanwhile, Jourdan Thibodeaux and his band Les Rôdailleurs embody Louisiana’s living Cajun heritage, preserving tradition while carrying it forward for new generations.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 reminds us there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Through music, these artists speak across centuries — telling stories of faith, longing, celebration, and identity.

An Invitation to Encounter Beauty

Launched in 2025, Baroque on the Bayou was created to make world-class music feel immediate and local. One-hour concerts in intimate venues invite both seasoned classical listeners and first-time guests to experience something sacred and communal.

In a fast-paced world, the festival offers a moment to pause — to sit beneath vaulted ceilings or historic rafters and let melody minister to the soul. As Philippians 4:8 encourages, believers are called to dwell on whatever is true, noble, and beautiful. Baroque on the Bayou seeks to do just that.

Tickets and additional information are available at bayoutechemusic.com.

Prayer for the Festival and Community

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of music that lifts our hearts and unites generations. Bless the artists, organizers, and communities participating in Baroque on the Bayou. May every note played and every song sung draw listeners closer to truth, beauty, and Your divine presence. Let this celebration strengthen the cultural and spiritual fabric of St. Martin Parish. In Jesus’ name, Amen.