Happy to be a Chorus-singer  
Élise Duguay -The Voice Behind Céline Dion 

Élise Duguay has a solid reputation in the Quebec musical world: her voice, warm and rich, has led her to the largest cities of the world. Now a chorus-singer for Céline Dion, she is considered cherished by the trade... Caption With Photo: The talented Élise Duguay acknowledges not being attracted to becoming a solo artist.. She prefers, to remain in the background and work with musical harmony. 
Chorus-singer with the small screen for the first time for the television show " RSVP ", and then in "Beau et Chaud ", Élise Duguay then took part, in 1989 and 1990, with the tour of Quebec rocker Roch Voisine. In 1997, she is in company of Céline Dion which takes her all around the world.. However, this 34 year old woman, soft and always smiling, shows no sign of pretension. Here the voice behind Céline... 

~Élise, how did your career of chorus-singer start? 
~While studying the cello at Laval University, I sang in a jazz quartet for the events of Quebec 84. Our group was then hired as the opening act for René Simard's Cruise Boat Tour. When the contract was finished, Guy Cloutier asked us: "There is a large project I'm doing in Montreal, in September. Would be you interested to take part in it? " We thought that it was idle talk! " (laughter) ~That was obviously not the case... ~No! He asked us back to be chorus-singers for " RSVP ", a variety show hosted by René Simard. This contract lasted two years. 

~And after, you were very connected... 
~ With television, you meet a lot of people in the business, and you create contacts for yourself. I thus took part in various projects: albums, telethons, official receptions, etc, and I did some work as a freelance performer. 

~Had you already worked with Céline Dion? 
~Yes. In 1987, I did a small part of the Incognito tour, with Céline's band. I visited 10 to 15 cities at most. 

~What did you do then? 
~I took part in " Beau et Chaud " for four years, 1988 to 1992; I did the Roch Voisine tour, in 1989 and in 1990, I sang and played of the cello for the Cirque Du Soleil, in Japan in 1992, and I obtained several contracts as a freelancer.

 ~How did you go from there to working again for Céline? 
~Denis Savage, my husband, had worked as sound engineer for Céline for several years already. February 7, 1994, I went to join him in Los Angeles. (she smiles) We were not married at the time... My first day there, Claude Lemay, the bandleader of Céline, called " Mego ", told me that one of the chorus-singers left the tour. He then asked me if I was interested in working with them. I accepted and a few weeks later, on February 25, I went to Céline's concert in Boston, it is there that Mego gave me a tape of the show. 

~Why? 
~So that I could learn the words, to know where to sing, to practice the choreography, etc. I had only one week to prepare for my first show. The first show of Céline's in which I took part took was in Toronto on March 5. Since then, I've performed everywhere in the world: in Canada, in the United States, in Europe, in Asia, in Australia... 

~Your job is not just to make voices?
 ~Oh no! In addition to making voices and various vocal harmonies, we dance, we move around and carry out choreographies. There is a beautiful rapport with Céline. Sometimes during the show, she makes faces at us and winks. She is very big tease! Sometimes, I collaborate with Céline when we sing " Power of Love " and " Destin ". In " Misled, and "Love Can Move Mountains ", the chorus-singers are placed at front of the stage, to clap our hands and try to bring in the audience participation.

 ~How does it feel to be the voice behind Céline, to get to share the world's stages with her? 
~I am very proud! But I remain modest nevertheless. Céline does not have an inflated ego and she shares that with us; everyone is astonished by the simplicity of our team. 

~A team which is, I believe, made up mostly of Quebecers! 
~A crew of 55 people! But we also have a construction crew in each city where we go, and the members of a catering service which follows us from one place to the other in order to prepare the meals. On the whole, one must be at least 80! The caters often say to us: " Céline's tours are the best business we've ever had! " 

~Is Céline what makes the difference? 
~Céline, makes all the difference! (laughter) She eats, laughs, dances and has fun with us. She does not spend all of her time locked in her hotel room. She spends time with the musicians, technicians, with the truck-drivers... She is cordial, maternal and very protective. If somebody is sick, you can be sure that Céline is the first to be worried. Another example: after each concert, when the audience has left the building, she thanks all the team by the portable radio. It should be done that way by everyone! 

~She is also known to be very generous! 
~Enormously! She adores people. She's professional, disciplined, always in a good mood, and she can compose herself in any situation. 

~As chorus-singer, do you have a different relationship with her from that of the other members of the team?
 ~I don't know... (She reflects) Our relationship is not really different. However, Céline and I have a common concern: the voice! We both pay a lot of attention to it. We often do singing exercises to warm our vocal cords together. 

~Have you dreamed of becoming soloist? 
~(Burst of laughter) I was waiting for that question! I am not attracted by the life of a solo singer. Me, I am impassioned by the harmony of the voices, the way in which they marry and mix. The union of several voices, that's what gives me shivers. Like the musicians, I like to be in the air bringing it all together. 

~What is a typical day on tour like? 
~It is very different from one person to another. Céline, musicians, technicians... There aren't two of us which are on the same schedule! 

~Describe to us what a typical day is for you . 
~Here in Europe we get into the bus after each concert to move to the following city. On board the bus, we eat, watch television, listen to music, we talk, then we will finally sleep on our little sofas. Depending on the distance to be traveled, we arrive at our destination in the night or early morning and get checked in with the hotel. During the day, Denis and I, we visit a little of the city if time allows it. Then, at 4 or 5 o'clock, we do the sound checks. I do a little aerobics and warm up my voice. Then, we all eat together, and a little while later we're onstage. After, we again board the bus. My life is a loop to loop! 

~Your timetable is thus diversified enough... 
~Yes. Moreover, I find that it's better when we busy ourselves during the day. We can't all remain together 24 hours a day! 

~Do you find it difficult to have to leave Quebec for so a long time? 
~Of course! We are far from Quebec, our homes, our families... The last tour in Europe, for example, lasted more than 11 weeks. But because my husband also takes part in the tour, I am very lucky! (laughter)

 ~Everyone knows that Céline will take a break. What are your plans? 
~Well, first, this tour continues until May. After, I want a nice, long break. And maybe, like Céline, I will try to have a baby!