Emmanuel Pesnot
About Emmanuel Pesnot
Despite being the son of a music-loving pastor and a piano teacher, Emmanuel Pesnot turned to music—and specifically singing—later in life, following a career in radio. He (re)discovered the wonders of polyphony, with a particular affinity for the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Driven by a passion for oral tradition folk music, he studied under numerous masters (Martina A. Catella, Lucilla Galeazzi, Évelyne Girardon) before founding the Mundovox ensemble and the Brigade d’Intervention Vocale (Nantes) to bring these traditions to the stage. His expertise spans Italian folk songs, Occitan traditions, and the complex vocal architectures of Sardinia, Georgia, and Albania.
Today, he focuses on mentorship and education, coaching various polyphonic groups (such as La Malcoiffée, Barrut, and Sylvain Girô), leading workshops, and training future “Song Carriers” (Passeurs de Chant). He also frequently speaks as a lecturer on his favorite subjects: folk music, the history of polyphony, and the profound connection between sound, meaning, language, and culture.