Something Smells: Eight Children Suffer Seizures At Church Choir Concert

What started as an enjoyable evening took a horrific and bizarre turn when eight members of the acclaimed Chœur d’Enfants d’Île-de-France, a French youth choir, suffered seizures. The group is renowned for touring sacred spaces worldwide. Their visit to Cambridge was one of several stops on a U.S. tour.

The concert took place at St. Paul’s Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when at 7 p.m., the audience of around 70 people watched in horror as the children, all between the ages of 11 and 13, started collapsing and going into convulsions.

Cambridge Fire Chief Thomas Cahill gave a press briefing late Monday and said this:

“This was not a typical call. It started as a standard medical issue and quickly escalated. We had to transport eight kids simultaneously. That’s not something we see every day.”

The big question is what caused this. When I first heard of the story, I suspected it was something that the kids had eaten, since I assumed the French children probably all ate together, but didn’t necessarily all eat the same thing.

However, some of the choir members told EMTs that they started feeling dizzy and nauseous just minutes into the concert. One complained that the symptoms began “right after smelling something weird in the air.”

The kids weren’t the only people who noticed the odor. Some in the audience described a strange odor inside the sanctuary, although by the time first responders arrived, the smell had dissipated. Fire crews and hazmat teams quickly searched the church but found no toxic substances or gas leaks.

Chief Cahill stated that, “There was no trace of any hazardous material. Air quality tests were negative, but clearly, something affected these children.”

As a precaution, the church was ventilated, and the investigation has expanded to include environmental factors, the HVAC system, and recent cleaning chemicals used inside the parish.

A representative from the choir has yet to issue a statement, but officials report that the children were hospitalized as a precaution, and they are expected to recover.

Chief Cahill eased fears by stating, “As of now, none of the children are in critical condition, and we’re hopeful this remains a contained incident, but we need answers.”

While some in the audience noticed a peculiar odor, no one else became ill. One witness who wished to remain anonymous reflected on the incident, saying:

“This was deeply disturbing. It went from beautiful music to absolute chaos in minutes. I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re all praying for the kids,” but we’re also asking—what the hell happened in that church?”

Cambridge police and federal health officials are now assisting in the investigation to determine the cause of the alarming situation.

As investigators seek answers, St. Paul’s Parish has canceled all future events. The building remains open for worshippers, but with increased monitoring.

Authorities have not dismissed the possibility of mass psychogenic illness—a rare but confirmed phenomenon where groups experience symptoms without a clear physical cause. However, they have stressed that the investigation is still ongoing.

This is a strange one, but I’m sure answers will be forthcoming. The concert was co-hosted by St. Paul’s Parish and the Harvard Catholic Center, which had promoted the event as a free performance featuring sacred and secular works by the renowned French youth choir.

“Founded in 1970, the youth choir has travelled extensively and performed with some of the world’s top conductors and soloists. The concert will feature an exciting mix of sacred and secular repertoire, as well as popular French songs.”

Prayers for the kids who were stricken with this illness, and we wish them safe travels for the remainder of their tour.