The Ariege Chamber Orchestra (Orchestre de Chambre d'Ariège "OCA") is an orchestra of variable size (between 12 to 20 musicians). It has become a privileged partner to the Choir Ensembles of the Ariege Department and theToulouse Region in South-West of France. The OCA has at heart to work locally and to bring culture to all.
During its 3 first years of existence, the OCA performed major masterworks (Requiem de Mozart, Bach Christmas Oratorio, Mozart Crowning Mass,Purcell Dido and Aeneas,...), and has worked with artists like Jean-Pierre Schmitt (guest Conductor from New-York), Javier Oviedo (the renown saxophone player)...and they also programmed very rarely played and known saxophone pieces and repertoires.
In October 2010, the OCA meets the concert violinist Marie Cantagrill. They perform Bach Concertos during their first tour together. This new collaboration boosted the orchestra and led the ensemble to name Marie Cantagrill Musical Director of the OCA in 2011. A new start for the OCA and its musicians who started working towards excellence with Marie.
Working regularly with contemporary composers (such as Nimrod Borenstein (UK), Louis Babin (Québec), Xavier Armenter (Spain)...), the OCA and Marie Cantagrill give every year an “Artists on Residence” session in Foix during which they work and Premiere a piece composed for them in concert.
They've been performing many more major works and are invited to play regularly in Venues and Festivals in their region as well as in France
