JMC has been offering mini concerts for seniors living in residences and long-term care homes (CHSLDs), in partnership with La SAMS and the JM Canada Foundation.
These musical moments create a unique opportunity for emerging young artists and an often-isolated audience to interact with each other. The concerts encourage a genuine exchange, where music becomes a catalyst for social connection, well-being, and vitality.
This project fulfills a dual mission and directly supports the social pillar of sustainable development by:
- Fostering intergenerational connections: Creates meaningful bridges between young professional artists and seniors, strengthening social cohesion and mutual understanding.
- Contributing to improved well-being and mental health: Because we believe that everyone—no matter their age or condition—has the right to music access, and these concerts have a direct impact on quality of life.
The support of our partners ensures the sustainability of this essential project for the next three years (2025–2028). It specifically aims to expand the programme’s reach to an additional 500 seniors per year, for a total of nearly 1,500.
Our Goals
- Provide access to classical music for older adults in publicly funded senior residences
- Promote classical music through a socially meaningful project
- Offer a wider range of residences the experience of an at-home concert in Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritime provinces
- Provide JMC Artists with a rewarding experience and enrich their tours
- Train young artists to present performances in senior residences, in collaboration with a music therapist
Tangible Benefits
For seniors:
Emotionally and socially, these concerts help break isolation, stimulate memory, and rekindle joy. They also help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting better mental and physical health. Many staff members report that residents are more alert, smiling, and communicative after the performances.
For emerging young artists:
The experience is deeply enriching: they witness firsthand the impact of their art on residents and develop heightened awareness of music’s social role. This experience equips them as engaged cultural ambassadors, enhancing their professional careers far beyond their technical performance skills.
Testimonials
“A big WOW!!! Residents were emotional and amazed by this concert — it was simply PERFECT! A show that is truly out of the ordinary!”
— Staff member, CHSLD La Sarre
“It was a very sweet moment for us, the musicians, and the residents. We received so much love from them. It was a very positive experience for everyone. I can’t wait for the next one!”
— Élie Lefebvre-Pellegrino, JMC artist in concert at the Maison des aînés de Rouyn-Noranda
“When I heard the residents hum along to the melodies I was playing and saw their smiles, I was happy to see the positive impact the music had on them.”
— Tommy Dupuis, JMC artist in concert
Our Partners
We would like to thank our partners for their generosity and commitment to this senior-concert project.
