The OSM supports Dr. Julien's Foundation: 500 children will be attending an
OSM Youth Concert - $5,000 will be turned over to the Garage à musique
project

MONTREAL , Oct. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is pleased to be welcoming more than 500 children from five primary schools associated with the social pediatrics centres of Dr. Gilles Julien . As part of the Garage à musique project of Dr. Julien 's Foundation, the children, from the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Côte-des-Neiges districts, will have the chance to attend their first classical performance - " Halloween at the OSM" - on October 22 at 1:30 p.m. , one of the OSM Youth Concerts.

"This is a very special opportunity for schoolchildren to learn about music, for promoting openness to the arts and to culture, and for contributing to the development of the artistic dimension in children," explains Gérald Bélanger, principal of the Saint-Nom-de-Jésus primary school. The Nussia & André Aisenstadt Foundation has made it possible for the OSM to invite 500 children from five schools associated with Dr Julien's social pediatrics centres: St-Nom-de-Jésus, Baril, St-Clément, Le Petit-Chapiteau and St-Pascal-Baylon.

In addition, for the "La Collection selon..." exhibit presented at Loto-Québec's Espace Création from September 30 to December 6, 2009 , Maestro Kent Nagano chose Dr. Julien 's Garage à musique as the organization receiving a donation of $5,000 from Loto-Québec. Dr Julien is delighted at the participation of Maestro Nagano and the OSM. "We believe it's the start of a beautiful collaboration, and one that is sure to have an impact on the development of children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds," he stated.

In the spring of 2009, Dr. Julien 's Foundation launched the pilot Garage à musique project by enabling all students at the Saint-Nom-de-Jésus primary school to take djembe lessons at the Samajam percussion school. School principal Gérald Bélanger confirms that "The atmosphere quickly changed right through the school. Everyone got interested, the teachers as much as the students."

And having aroused a pronounced interest in music in both the students and school staff, Dr. Julien 's Foundation is seeking to carry on with the experiment, offering courses to students throughout the school year. The contribution of Loto-Québec through Maestro Nagano will be used to defray some of the costs of those courses.

The purpose of Garage à musique is to foster social commitment in children and young people in a vulnerable situation, putting in place a range of services and care that will answer to their needs and interests. "It's a promising teaching model that will stimulate cognitive development and motivation for learning in children from underprivileged backgrounds," says Dr. Julien .

For further information: Lucie Paquin, Head of Media Relations, [phone], [email protected]; Caroline Richard, Directrice des relations publiques et des communications, Fondation du Dr Julien, [phone]; Source: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal