Event Host: Department of French and Italian
Short Description: Gregory Charles' unique brand of entertainment to Columbus on Sept. 28 to participate in the outreach seminar, "Quebec in and for the 21st Century: Art, Culture and Innovation." Charles will talk about the important role that music has played in affirming Quebec’s distinct linguistic and cultural identity as well as his new virtual program, "Je suis Québécois," an innovative online tool designed to help new immigrants learn French and the culture of Quebec to integrate better into Quebec society.
Saturday, September 28
9 a.m. - Students’ meeting with Gregory Charles
10 a.m. - ACQS Outreach Seminar
7:30 p.m. - Performance
Grandview Heights HS Auditorium
1587 West Third Ave
Grandview Heights, OH, 43212
A different kind of entertainer is coming to Columbus at the end of September. Gregory Charles, a prize-winning classical pianist, conductor and choral enthusiast turned singer-songwriter, has performed with the greatest names in show business. This musical genius, born to parents of Trinindadian and French Canadian descent, has toured with fellow Canadian Céline Dion and has also sung with the likes of Pavarotti, Streisand, Garth Brooks and Stevie Wonder.
Charles' performances are always an exhilarating, mind-boggling, heart-racing, memorable – and interactive – affair. He has toured all over the world and will now bring his unique brand of entertainment to Columbus on Sept. 28 to participate in the outreach seminar, "Quebec in and for the 21st Century: Art, Culture and Innovation." Charles will talk about the important role that music has played in affirming Quebec’s distinct linguistic and cultural identity as well as his new virtual program, "Je suis Québécois," an innovative online tool designed to help new immigrants learn French and the culture of Quebec to integrate better into Quebec society.
This program also pays tribute to Charles’ late father (who was a friend of Martin Luther King and an activist in the civil rights movement) who was himself an immigrant and who spent much of his life helping and enriching the lives of other immigrants who decided to make Quebec their home. Upon his passing last year, Charles expressed that like his father, he wants all new Quebeckers to have the resources to be successful so that they stay to enrich the culture of Quebec.
A polyglot who also knows about 100 songs in Japanese, 80 in German and about 50 in Chinese and 50 in Spanish, Charles will also talk about the importance of learning languages. The seminar — scheduled to start at 10 a.m. — and a free concert at 7:30 p.m. have been organized by Professor Wynne Wong from the Department of French and Italian in collaboration with Grandview Heights High School, Denison University, the Quebec Delegation Office in Chicago and the American Council for Quebec Studies. Students will have the rare opportunity to meet informally with Charles at 9 a.m. This event is open to people outside of Ohio State and to the community. The seminar and concert are free but tickets must be reserved.
