About Band Members

Vermont trio rocks traditional French music!

Vermont’s own Va-et-vient includes Carol Reed on voice, guitar and mandolins, Suzanne Germain on voice and percussion, and Lausanne Allen on voice, fiddles, flutes, and mandolins. With backgrounds rich in French cultures and language, through lifelong experiences living and traveling in French-speaking lands, they create beautiful harmonies, teaching and engaging audiences. Since 2001, this band has carved out its place in New England and particularly in Québec, where its ties to traditional musicians provide a fountain of resources in collections of songs, tunes, and dances. Wherever they travel, they add to their répertoire of French, Québecois, Cajun, and Créole music. ******* Le répertoire du groupe Va-et-vient se concentre essentiellement sur la musique du Québec, de la France et de la Louisiane. Une population considérable dans la Nouvelle Angleterre est d'origine franco-canadienne. Ces musiciennes célèbrent la richesse de cette culture et, à travers leur musique, la maintiennent en vie dans des spectacles ainsi que des ateliers, destinés aux plus jeunes comme aux plus âgés.
Carol Reed

Carol Reed

Voix, guitare, mandolines

Carol learned French at 10, attending school in Lausanne, Switzerland (1968-1969). This Middlebury College French major (’79) studied in Paris, playing guitar in the Métro, then traveled Europe performing street music. Retired from teaching French & Spanish, she travels often, regularly attending Québecois traditional music festivals, singing & teaching music & dance to all ages.

Carol Reed

Carol Reed

Voix, guitare, mandolines

Suzanne Germain

Suzanne Germain

Voix, percussion, flûte

Suzanne grew up speaking French in a Québecois family in South Burlington, Vermont. A Nurse Practitioner by day, she travels regularly for adventure and to lend her skills in communities in crisis around the world. Wherever she lands, she gathers songs and stories, and is a multilingual singer.

Suzanne Germain

Suzanne Germain

Voix, percussion, flûte

Lausanne Allen

Lausanne Allen

Voix, violons, mandolines, flûtes, pipeaux

Lausanne spends her life pursuing music, dance, and crafts. She has performed with many bands over the years, teaches several instruments, plays many more, and is a regular dance caller in New England. An avid traveler, she is quick to trade tunes and tales with musicians she encounters.

Lausanne Allen

Lausanne Allen

Voix, violons, mandolines, flûtes, pipeaux

Featured Events

Past concerts include International and French Heritage music festivals in Vermont, Quebec, Maine, New York; colleges, universities, high schools and elementary schools; the Flynn Theater (Burlington, VT); annual performances at First Night Burlington, First Night North St Johnsbury, and First Night Bristol; International Folk Alliance Showcases; vineyards, nursing homes, churches, fundraisers, and private family gatherings.

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More Work

'Addison Independent,' Feb 16, 2017: Va-et-vient honors its Franco-American roots

BY ELSIE LYNN PARINI Music has been used as a way to communicate and connect for a long time — a way to come and go freely across cultures, borders and languages.  The best part is that you don’t have to have a fancy degree or know all your scales; all you need to make music is the passion (a sense of rhythm helps, too). The local trio Va-et-vient — appropriately translated from French as “go-and-come” — is inspired by the members’ Franco-American roots.  With backgrounds rich in French culture and language, Carol Reed, Suzanne Germain and Lausanne Allen create beautiful harmonies, while teaching and engaging audiences on both sides of the

Addison Independent, Arts & Leisure cover, February 16, 2017