For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Rockland High School Students Attend Concert by Well-Known French Singer Eric Vincent

ROCKLAND — Superintendent Alan Cron is pleased to announce that students in Rockland High School French teacher Julie Dore’s class attended a concert featuring internationally recognized singer, songwriter and guitarist Eric Vincent.

The show took place in the Rockland High School auditorium on Friday, Oct. 18.

Vincent, from Paris, is on tour in the United States this fall. His songs represent the tradition of the chanson française, and can be classified as a mix of folk, rock and jazz.

Students were encouraged to sing along as Vincent performed his repertoire of popular French songs. The concert, which lasted for more than an hour, featured songs with rhythms that reflect the music of Africa and the Caribbean.

“I really liked the concert,” Sophomore Ava LaBollita said. “Eric Vincent is an entertaining guy with a unique style of French music with a Caribbean influence.”

Vincent began his career in Paris at the famous cabaret “Le Port du Salut.” His Facebook page says that he has “a special passion for taking his music to every corner of the globe,” and he has performed in more than 140 countries. In the United States, he has performed in every state except Hawaii and Alaska.

Dore said that music is an integral part of her teaching, and that her students receive a great deal of understanding about the nuances of the French language by listening to songs in French. She said that a live performance can add more to the learning experience as it relates to not only the language, but also the culture.

Vincent said that he enjoys performing his music for students in the U.S. because he believes that music breaks down language barriers in many ways.

Vincent is featured in various French textbooks, such as “Discovering French Today” by Valette and Valette, which is the textbook used by the French classes at Rockland High School.

“Vincent’s singing was beautiful, and he was really fun and active on the stage,” sophomore Ayanha Lascase said, adding that she also liked that Vincent talked and sang about other countries, such as Brazil, during his show.

After the concert, Vincent met with students and took time to sign autographs.

The World Languages Department at Rockland High School looks forward to bringing Vincent back next year for another performance.

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