Musiciennes à Ouessant

The Island of Women Celebrates Forgotten Female Composers

Musiciennes à Ouessant is a classical music festival founded in 2001 by pianist Lydia Jardon on the island of Ouessant, off the coast of Finistère. This Breton island, nicknamed 'the island of women' due to the maritime tradition where men would go to sea, has become the setting for a unique tribute to the forgotten female composers in music history.

An Original Concept: Classical Music and Celtic Harmonies

The festival is based on a strong and original concept: the marriage of Celtic instruments and harmonies with classical music. This musical hybridization, rooted in the Breton territory, creates a unique sonic experience that distinguishes Musiciennes à Ouessant from all other classical music festivals. The works of little-known or unjustly forgotten female composers are presented alongside those of the great masters, in a dialogue between past and present, between Celtic tradition and contemporary creation.

Exceptional Concert Venues

The concerts take place in emblematic locations on the island of Ouessant: the Saint-Pol Aurélien church, which hosts the majority of concerts in a remarkable acoustic setting, the Hôtel Sport Ouessant & Spa for more intimate concerts, and the Stiff lighthouse, a magical place at the end of the world where music dialogues with the elements.

A Feminist and Artistic Commitment

Since its creation, the festival has honored 21 female composers from different eras and countries. Over 130 concerts have been given by 170 different artists, making Musiciennes à Ouessant a major player in the rediscovery of the female musical heritage. The festival is part of a feminist and artistic approach, contributing to rewriting the history of music by making women's creations visible.

The Ondine Ouessant-Bretagne Association

The festival is supported by the Ondine Ouessant-Bretagne association, founded in 2002 by Lydia Jardon. Beyond the Ouessant festival, the association has expanded with the creation of Musiciennes en Guadeloupe (2012), Musiciennes en Martinique (2016), and Musiciennes à Paris 13, applying the same concept in other territories. Lydia Jardon has been the artistic and general director of the festival, which she has led with passion and high standards for over twenty years.