In a world where the stage has long been dominated by familiar voices, the Stella Musica Festival continues to carve out a distinct and necessary space, one that amplifies the creative force of women in music.
Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the Montreal-based festival remains a vibrant platform dedicated to celebrating women’s artistry across styles, generations, and cultures.
Founded and directed by pianist Katarzyna Musial, Stella Musica was born from a simple conviction: that women’s stories, expressed through sound, deserve to be heard and seen.
“This festival is both a tribute and an act of advocacy,” Musial explains. “It’s about recognizing the immense range of women’s musical expression while creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration.”
The 2025 edition unfolds from October 17 to 26 at Place des Arts, beginning with a luminous concert at Cinquième Salle.
The evening will feature Innu soprano Élisabeth St-Gelais, performing works by Cécile Chaminade, Charles Gounod, and Antonín Dvořák. The Voix Boréales girls’ choir, under the baton of Philippe Ostiguy, will lend a choral dimension, while singer Élisapie and Cree composer Sherryl Sewepagaham weave contemporary and Indigenous voices into the mix.
The performance will also include tributes to Édith Piaf and Diane Dufresne, alongside dance interpretations by Fuego Flamenco and twelve-year-old prodigy Adeline Kerry Cruz.
Tickets and more info : https://www.placedesarts.com/evenement/10-ans-a-faire-rayonner-talent-feminin
The second concert on Oct 26th at 3:00 pm , staged at Salle Claude-Léveillée will take on a more intimate tone, highlighting the Duo Aster, featuring the captivating saxophonist Clio Theodoridis with pianist Jonathan Nemtanu who will weave a vibrant instrumental mosaic: from Mediterranean breath to klezmer colours and jazz accents, with the fiery dance energy of Spain, thus revealing the full expressive richness of the saxophone and piano.
Also on the program, the enthralling voice of mezzo-soprano Justine Ledoux will take you on a vocal journey from Puccini, through fiery Carmen, to the theatrical world of cabaret.
Throughout the concert, remarkable women composers such as Laurence Jobidon, Grażyna Bacewicz, and Fernande Decruck, whose musical worlds enrich this unique path, will be honored.
This is a program that will bridges classical lyricism and modern sensibility.
More info and Tickets : https://www.placedesarts.com/en/event/intimatemusical-journey
Beyond the performances, Stella Musica offers audiences something deeper: a reflection on connection.
Musial often describes the festival as “a dialogue through music,” one that links established artists with emerging talents, composers with dancers, and traditions with innovation.
“Each concert becomes an encounter,” she says, “where generations and genres intertwine to create something entirely new.”
As Stella Musica steps into its second decade, it continues to broaden its scope. Jazz, klezmer, and Mediterranean influences now share the stage with classical and contemporary works.
Upcoming editions promise workshops, roundtables, and interdisciplinary projects aimed at fostering mentorship and creative exchange among women artists worldwide.
In the glow of this milestone year, the festival stands as both a celebration and a call to action, a reminder that the resonance of women’s voices in music is not only vital but transformative.
