Yes or Notes — Festival of Contemporary Music

A festival born from musical passion

Yes or Notes was born in 2005 from an initiative by Luc Gosselin, a professor at the Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray conservatory, who wanted to offer students from jazz and contemporary music workshops a real stage experience. Before the festival's creation, a more modest format called "La boîte de jazz" already existed, but was limited to a single evening. Yes or Notes allowed this framework to be surpassed by offering a multi-day event with several simultaneous stages and invited external groups.

The festival's name is a multilingual pun — "Yes, oui, ja, tak or notes" — which summarizes its spirit of openness and musical affirmation.

A unique amateur festival concept

The uniqueness of Yes or Notes lies in its concept: each group has a full hour to present its repertoire in a professional concert space, with equipment and sound quality identical to those of a professional festival. The conservatory's classrooms are transformed into real concert stages — the Raymond-Devos hall, the Maurice-Béjart hall, the Léonard-Bernstein hall, the Steve-Reich hall, the Wilfride-Piollet hall — allowing amateur musicians to perform in optimal conditions.

Concerts take place simultaneously on different stages, creating a permanent musical buzz where the public can move freely from one hall to another, discover various styles, and immerse themselves in the diversity of contemporary music.

An international dimension

Yes or Notes has progressively developed an international dimension thanks to the twinning programs of the city of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray. Musicians and dancers from Germany (Nordenham), England (Gateshead), Ukraine, Argentina, and Senegal regularly participate in the festival, creating unprecedented musical encounters and cross-border artistic collaborations.

A rich program beyond concerts

Yes or Notes is not just about concerts. Each edition offers:

• Exhibitions: posters from the festival's 20 years, cultural mapping, works on peace and children's rights
• Creative workshops: workshops for children, wooden games, family activities
• Dance performances: performances by international dancers and conservatory students
• A festive picnic: a moment of shared conviviality outdoors
• A catering area: bar and food on site, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings

Twenty years of music and sharing

In 2025, Yes or Notes celebrated its 20th anniversary with an exceptional edition featuring 65 groups over four days, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. From the three stages of a Sunday afternoon in 2005, the festival has become a major cultural event in the Rouen metropolitan area, driven by the passion of its musicians and the commitment of the city and the conservatory.