Association À Cœur Joie

What Association À Cœur Joie does

Association À Cœur Joie is a French nonprofit association founded in 1948 in Lyon and recognized by the French State as an organization of public utility ('reconnue d'utilité publique'). It is the largest choral singing network in France, bringing together 280 affiliated choirs, approximately 6,000 individual members, and nearly 10,000 singers, supported by 11 regional poles and 8 salaried staff at its Lyon headquarters (24 avenue Joannès Masset). The association operates Éditions À Cœur Joie, the largest choral music publisher in France, which sells sheet music, scores, books, and accessories through an online store and offers purchase vouchers to member choirs. Its flagship event is the triennial Les Choralies festival in Vaison-la-Romaine (held since 1953), which mobilizes approximately 5,000 participants, 400 volunteers, 50 workshops, and daily concerts at the ancient Roman theater; the Chœur National des Jeunes (created 1999) is a 30-singer auditioned amateur youth choir (ages 16-28).

Name

Association À Cœur Joie

Legal name

Association À Cœur Joie

Website

https://choralies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Association À Cœur Joie is France's largest choral singing nonprofit, founded in 1948, serving 280 member choirs, 6,000 individual members, and 10,000 singers through training, publishing (Éditions À Cœur Joie), and the triennial Les Choralies festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Choral Music Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Choral network association
• Choral music festivals
• Choral sheet music publishing
• Vocal training programs
• Amateur choir membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Individual and choir membership fees form the primary revenue stream. Individual memberships are tax-deductible (66% deduction under French law for charitable donations). Choir memberships include proportional purchase vouchers for Éditions À Cœur Joie.
2. Publishing Sales (Éditions À Cœur Joie): Sale of choral sheet music, books, CDs, DVDs, accessories, and music stands through the association's publishing house, the largest choral music publisher in France.
3. Activity and Formation Fees: Fees for workshops, formation sessions, singing holidays, and other choral activities organized by the association and regional poles.
4. Government Subsidies: Financial support from the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, Ministry of National Education, Youth and Associational Life, and European funding programs such as Creative Europe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Association À Cœur Joie is a French non-profit association that organizes and federates amateur choral activity in France through member choirs and individual members. It runs flagship events such as the triennial Les Choralies festival, training sessions (formations), and singing holidays, and it sells choral sheet music and educational materials through its publishing subsidiary Éditions À Cœur Joie.

Product overview

Association À Cœur Joie operates as a unified associative network offering choral singing services rather than a software product. The portfolio centers on three flagship offerings: (1) Les Choralies, the triennial international participatory choral festival in Vaison-la-Romaine; (2) the Chœur National des Jeunes, France's national youth choir; and (3) Éditions À Cœur Joie, the largest choral music publisher in France. Between these anchor services, the association provides singing holidays (Séjours chantés), training programs for choir directors and choristers (Formations), senior vocal programs (Le chant des Séniors), and Café Choral networking events. Membership products (Adhésion Chœur and Adhésion Individuelle) provide access to insurance (MAIF), publishing discounts, and regional pole networks. Regional poles (Pôles régionaux) extend activities territorially across France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chœur National des Jeunes: National Youth Choir composed of 30 amateur singers aged 16-28, selected through auditions and operating under the association's umbrella since 1999.

Products and services

• Individual Membership
• Choir (Collective) Membership
• Les Choralies
• Formations (Training Sessions)
• Singing Holidays (Stages Vocaux)
• Éditions À Cœur Joie (Choral Sheet Music Publishing)
• Member Magazine

Quantifiable outcome

• 280 member choirs and nearly 10,000 singers served through the national network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and flagship.

• Ministère de la Culture et de la CommunicationcoreOthersThe French Ministry of Culture and Communication provides governmental recognition, approval, and likely financial support to À Cœur Joie as a cultural organization of public utility. The association is agréé by this ministry.
• Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale, de la Jeunesse et des SportscoreOthersThe French Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports provides formal approval for À Cœur Joie's associative activities, particularly related to youth and amateur choral practice.
• European Choral Association - Europa CantatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerÀ Cœur Joie is a member of the European Choral Association - Europa Cantat, a federation founded in 1960 that brings together 63 national organizations and 40 regions/countries across Europe. The association facilitates international exchanges, festivals, and musical sessions for its members.
• IFCM (International Federation for Choral Music)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Federation for Choral Music, created in 1982, facilitates communication and exchange between choral music actors worldwide. À Cœur Joie participates in initiatives including World Youth Choir auditions and international choral events.
• MUSICA InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSICA International, created in 1998, develops and propagates the use of the Musica database, the world's largest choral music database. À Cœur Joie participates in data entry and information dissemination alongside partners from 14 countries.
• Organisation Internationale de la FrancophonieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Organization of La Francophonie supports French-language cultural initiatives including choral singing, and partners with À Cœur Joie for cultural programs.
• MAIF InsurancecoreOthersMAIF is the negotiated insurance partner for À Cœur Joie, providing comprehensive coverage for member choirs including liability insurance, accident coverage during activities, and optional supplementary covers for property, travel, and event cancellation.
• Éditions À Cœur JoiecoreOthersThe publishing house Éditions À Cœur Joie is France's largest choral music publisher and music retailer. It operates as part of the association ecosystem, offering exclusive repertoire, purchase vouchers for member choirs, and discounts on bulk orders.
• SEAM (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAM (probably a music federation or association) is listed as a partner on the À Cœur Joie website footer, indicating collaborative relationship in the French choral music sector.
• COFAC (Confédération Française des Associations de Chorales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOFAC is the French Confederation of Choral Associations. À Cœur Joie represents its interests and collaborates on sector-wide advocacy before government partners.
• Chœur National des JeunesflagshipOthersThe National Youth Choir is operated by À Cœur Joie with support from the Ministry of Culture. It serves as a flagship project showcasing the association's commitment to youth choral development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Choral Directors Association: National professional and amateur choral association serving the United States. Highly comparable as a membership-based body supporting conductors, choirs, and singers with publications, conferences, and advocacy.
• National Association of Choirs (UK): UK choral membership association for amateur choirs and their conductors. Comparable as a membership-based national body offering events, training, publications, and a national choir competition.
• Chorus America: US national organization advancing the choral field through member services, advocacy, and professional development. Directly comparable model: membership-funded association serving choirs, conductors, and singers with conferences, publications, and grants.
• International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM): World federation of choral music associations founded in 1982. Comparable as a global membership and networking body organizing events (e.g., World Youth Choir) and supporting exchanges between national choral actors.
• European Choral Association – Europa Cantat: Pan-European federation uniting 63 national choral organizations. Although À Cœur Joie is a member, Europa Cantat operates a comparable model of federation-level membership services, festivals, and exchange programs across borders.
• Making Music UK: UK membership organization for amateur music groups including choirs, orchestras, and bands. Comparable as a national membership umbrella providing insurance, resources, advocacy, and training for amateur ensembles.

Regional players

• Bundesverband Chormusik Deutschland: Umbrella organization of German regional choral associations. Same function as À Cœur Joie at the national level — supporting choirs, training conductors, and representing choral interests — but operating in Germany with a different language and federation structure.
• Schweizerischer Chorverband (Swiss Choral Association): National federation of Swiss choral societies. Comparable as a membership-based national association serving amateur choirs with training, festivals, publishing, and public-sector funding — though focused on Switzerland rather than France.

Others

• MUSICA International: Operator of the world's largest choral music database, partnered with À Cœur Joie for data entry and dissemination. Adjacent in scope — providing choral repertoire data and information services rather than membership/event services.
• SEAM France: French music sector organization listed as a partner on À Cœur Joie's site. Operates as a coordinating body across the amateur and professional music scene in France, making it an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competing choral network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMl2ubTA_59fAT1QF7k25MQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/acoeurjoie.choralies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-%C3%A0-c%C5%93ur-joie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association À Cœur Joie