Camilla Jessen
What began as a peaceful concert inside a historic church took a terrifying turn.
What began as a peaceful concert inside a historic church took a terrifying turn when children began collapsing one after another.
Choir Performance Turns Into Medical Emergency
A group of young singers from France experienced a medical scare during their U.S. tour when eight children from the Chœur d’Enfants d’Île-de-France were rushed to hospitals after developing seizure-like symptoms mid-performance in a Cambridge, Massachusetts church.
The incident occurred on the evening of July 22 at St. Paul’s Parish on Mt. Auburn Street, during a free choir concert hosted as part of the group’s 2025 U.S. tour.
One Child First, Then Seven More
According to Cambridge Fire Chief Thomas Cahill, firefighters were first called to the scene after one child suffered an apparent seizure.
When they arrived, they found the child conscious but visibly shaken, sitting on the front steps of the church.
But things escalated quickly.
A Routine Call that Quickly Escalated
“That quickly escalated into 7 other people having seizure-like symptoms,” Cahill told local news station WCVB.
“This was somewhat unusual. It was a routine medical call that quickly escalated… not common.”
All eight children, aged between 11 and 13, were transported to nearby hospitals and treated for non-life-threatening conditions.
Nearly 70 Unaffected
While the affected children received medical attention, roughly 70 other choir members, attendees, and chaperones showed no symptoms.
All remained safe and were escorted from the church by staff and emergency responders.
Chœur d’Enfants d’Île-de-France
The Children’s Choir of Île-de-France, founded in 1970, is a well-known youth ensemble that has performed internationally with acclaimed conductors and musicians.
The group had arrived in Cambridge as part of its multi-city tour across the U.S.
A Strange Odor Raises Questions
Several people inside the church reported noticing a strange smell shortly before the children fell ill.
However, hazmat crews and the fire department conducted a full sweep of the building, using air-sampling equipment to check for hazardous materials.
“The results were negative and the buildings were ventilated,” Cambridge Fire Department later shared on Facebook.
No dangerous gases or chemicals were detected.
A Renovated Floor Might Be to Blame
One possible explanation came from Jonathan Deitch, a parent present during the incident.
He pointed to recent floor work in one of the rooms at the church as a potential factor.
“I think it was polyurethane,” Deitch told WCVB. “I think they were refinishing the wood floor and so there was the suspicion that maybe kids who were close to that were affected by that.”
Officials have not confirmed this theory, but the detail is being investigated as a possible cause of the mass illness.
Children Recovering, Concert Tour Continues
All eight children were released from the hospital following evaluation.
By the next day, they were already back to rehearsing. This time outdoors.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
