Fund for Access to Classical Music

Bringing Music to Every Child

During the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Jeunesses Musicales Canada and the 40th anniversary of the Jeunesses Musicales Canada Foundation, the Foundation wished to create a lasting initiative capable of leaving a meaningful legacy for generations to come. This is how the collective initiative of the Fund for Access to Classical Music was born.

This permanent fund enables 2,000 children from underserved communities to discover classical music each year through activities offered by the network of Jeunesses Musicales Canada Centres across the country.

On May 12, 2025, the Jeunesses Musicales Canada Foundation welcomed nearly 350 guests to its annual benefit gala. Thanks to the generosity of donors and partners, the funds raised during the evening made it possible to establish a fund promoting equitable access to classical music for young people.

 

Why This Fund?

Access to culture — and particularly classical music — is still often limited by socio-economic barriers. Many children are deprived of cultural experiences that are essential to their development.

At the Jeunesses Musicales Canada Foundation and Jeunesses Musicales Canada, we believe that encountering music is a source of openness, discovery, and personal growth. Regardless of background, every child deserves access to this experience.

 

Our Objectives

Inclusion and Equality
Provide 2,000 children with the opportunity to attend a youth concert free of charge, in collaboration with selected schools and community organizations in Montreal and across the regions.

Opening Doors
Allow young people who might not otherwise have access to this art form to discover it.

Holistic Development
Help children experience the positive effects of music on concentration, listening skills, creativity, and emotional expression.

 

Expected Impact

Cognitive and Creative Development
Music is a powerful stimulus for learning, imagination, and curiosity. 

Emotional Well-Being 
Concerts provide moments of escape, calm, and focus, contributing to children’s well-being. 

Social Belonging 

• Participating in a professional cultural event values the child and creates a sense of belonging through a shared collective experience.
• This fund is a tangible way to spark a love of classical music among young people while promoting cultural equity. 

 
Testimonials

“We all danced together – the costumes were beautiful, and the venue too. The songs were great, and I loved how the conductor controlled the musicians.”

“I learned a lot because I didn’t know the instruments they used. Guillaume was very funny. I loved the songs and when we danced at the end.”

— Two children from Marc-Aurèle-Fortin School speaking about the performance of Opera Candy: The Gastronomical Adventure of Hansel and Gretel with the Orchestre Classique de Montréal.

 

Concerts Presented — 2025–2026 Season 

• Les Aïeules — February 25, 2026, Montreal
• Can We Be Friends? — March 24 to 27, 2026, Montreal
• The Great Rythmobile Adventure — April 20, 2026, Caraquet
• Mozart’s Flights of Fancy — April 30 and May 1, 2026, Ville-Marie

 

Thank You to Our Founding Partners

Thanks to their commitment, this fund enables thousands of children each year to experience a memorable first encounter with classical music. 

 

GALA SPONSORS

Platinum | $25 000

Silver | $10 000

Bronze | $5 000

		Les Viandes Francoeur inc

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INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DONORS

$5 000 and over

Fondation Famille Laoué Cerceau

$1 000 to $4 999

Fondation Bourbeau	Fondation Jeanniot		Philippe Loyer et associés évaluateurs-estimateurs inc.
	Anonyme

$100 to $999

Canaccord Genuity Corp

Daoust Lestage inc.

Fondation famille Morris et Rosalind Goodman

Globepro

Jatoba

La Maison Simons

Orchestre classique de Montréal

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INDIVIDUAL DONORS

$25 000 and over

ANONYMOUS

$10 000 to $24 999 

Normand Ricard

$1 000 to $9 999

Pierre Brossard

Daniel Lalonde

Denis Messier

André Poulin

$100 to $999

Vânia Aguiar	Imad Hamad	Olivier Morel
Julie Beliveau	Patricia Hamelin	Isabelle Nadeau
Hervé Bouchereau	Isabelle Hervet	Gaston Ostiguy
Guy Breton	Joy Jamra	Carl Parent
Jean-Yves Cailles	Marjolaine Jemesse	Suzanne Parenteau
Jacques Chagnon	Joseph Kira	Luc Perreault
Vincent Decitre	Jean-Guy Lahaie	Catherine Pilon
Véronique Desjardins	Daniel Lalonde	Louise Roy
Martin Dufresne	Julien Lassande	Richard Speer
Gerard Fagouet	Jean-Claude Lauzon	Francis Tourigny
Nathalie Fernando	Claude Leblanc
Alexandre Forest	Catherine Loubier
Guy Fournier	Clemns Mayr
Serge Gadbois	Dave McFarlane
Jeremy Ghio	Michelle Mercier
Jacques Grenier	Real Mimeault