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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.
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