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The History of the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra (JMWO)

The Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra was founded in 1970 by Canadian Gilles Lefevbre as the first international youth orchestra. Since its foundation it has brought together thousands of musicians from some 45 countries, played all over the world, and inspired the creation of many other similar youth orchestras.

The idea of an international Jeunesses Musicales youth orchestra dates back to the late 1940's. From 1949-1969 an international orchestra performed each year at JMI's Annual General Assembly, based on an idea of Sir Robert Mayer (founder of the first orchestral concerts for children in the 1920's in Great Britain).

In 1968, Gilles Lefevbre proposed to transform this "conference orchestra" into a professional touring ensemble that would unite the best musicians from JM member organizations under the direction of a top conductor.

UNESCO artist for Peace

The orchestra quickly gained a worldwide reputation of high artistic quality and became a symbol of international understanding and peaceful cooperation between nations. The JM World Orchestra has been described as a harmonious community of musicians without borders or as the United Nations of Music. The Orchestra was honored with the title of "UNESCO Artist for Peace" in 1996 for these reasons.

Many distinguished conductors have worked with the World Orchestra, including Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur and Yakov Kreizberg, enabling the young musicians to learn from the very best.

The Orchestra has given performances in prestigious concert halls worldwide (including a decade of regular winter concerts at the Berlin Philharmonie). Highlights of these performances include playing several times at the Olympic Games: in Germany in 1972, in Canada in 1976, in Spain in 1992 and in Norway in 1993.

Inspiration

In 1987 the World Orchestra performed Britten’s War Requiem to commemorate the 750th Anniversary of Berlin, on both sides of the wall. The Orchestra commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the State of Israel in 1997 and the beginning of World War II in Poland in 1999. In 2000 the World Orchestra toured former Yugoslavia.

The orchestra has been an inspiration and a musical meeting point for thousands of young musicians for generations, drawn from countries across the globe.

Today its alumni play in leading professional orchestras and perform as soloists everywhere.
   


   
email: info@jmwo.com