M. Pierre Debat
Since 1999
Born in 1966, Pierre Debat started studying music at the age of 7 with his father. In 1976, he entered the Regional National Music Academy, in Nice. He graduated in 1986 with a First Prize obtained in Mr René Saorgin’s organ classes.
In 1974, he integrated the Choir of Monaco’s Cathedral. He was himself a Little Singer during numerous years, and from 1982 he was in charge of the Choir accompaniment with organ and piano, for all circumstances both within the Cathedral Services and during the concerts tours.
The teamwork deepened and his father trained him to choir management, to vocal technique and also to all administrative duties related to the Choir. He was in charge of coordinating the concerts tours, among many other tasks. At the same time, he assisted René Saorgin at the Great Organs.
In 1989 he was appointed Organist of the Palace Chapel of the Prince. From Assistant to Deputy of the Chapel Master, in 1999, Pierre Debat is appointed Chapel Master of the Cathedral and Director of the Little Singers of Monaco.
Under his guidance, the Little Singers travelled to Argentina for the first time, then went back several times to the USA (Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, New York, Maryland...) and to Canada. They accomplished various concerts tours in Asia (South Korea and China) and performed concerts in Europe.
In Monaco, the choir is involved in concerts with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo and secures children’s choir parts in many productions of the Monte-Carlo Opera (Werther, Tosca…), it recorded a new compact disk, interpreted Fauré’s Requiem, and gave a concert with Ruggero Raimondi.
In 2004, Pierre Debat organized and conducted the events celebrating the Century of the Foundation of the Choir of Monaco Cathedral. He ordered a “Te Deum for H.S.H. Prince Rainier III” to the French composer Philippe Mazé. The opus was written for choir, orchestra and great organs. It was published by “United Music” editions and was performed for the first time on the National Holiday as a worldwide creation with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo.
In 2005, he conducted the funeral mass of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III, and further conducted the same year the masses which celebrated the investiture, and later the enthronement of H.S.H. Prince Albert II.
In 2007, he was appointed Chapel Master of Palace of the Prince of Monaco.
