seen on the scene
2019 French Cultures Festival Kick-off Concert
By: Heidi Powell-Prera, Photographer/Journalist
Spoken by 300 million people on the five continents and by 2.1 million people in
the United States, French language is the second most widely learned language in
the world. Since 1970, French language has been celebrated on March 20, which
marks the birth of the Intergovernmental Organization of French-speaking na-
tions (Organisation internationale de la francophonie).
Each year in March, the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Houston or-
ganizes the French Cultures Festival (FCF) in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. A
celebration of the diversity of “francophonie”, it brings together people who not
only speak French, but also feel, in one way or another, connected to France and
the Francophone community.
One of the major objectives of the French Cultures Festival is to create awareness
of the diversity of contemporary French culture and to stimulate exchanges with
the public.
This year’s festival was officially launched during the 7th annual kick-off concert,
showcasing a bouncing mix of jazz, soul, R&B and funk sounds with three bands:
Scott Tixier(France), David Caceres (Houston, TX) and Andréanne Martin (Que-
bec).
IF Magazine’s own Jazz Photographer Heidi Powell-Prera, was on the scene to
capture Scott Tixier’s performance. “The evening was perfect for sitting out at
Discovery Green listening to music. The wind crescendoed with the band end-
ing the set with a light rain which just added to the Magic. As I walked through
the crowd I saw people mesmerized by the music and kids playing. Scott Tixier’s
playing was both energizing and relaxing at the same time. A Truly Inspiring per-
formance.”
Scott Tixier is one of his generation’s extraordinary talents, Scott Tixier has made
a name for himself as a violinist-composer of wide-ranging ambition, individual-
ity and drive.
18 iF Magazine |March 2019