Equal opportunities through music

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Démos
Action zones
France
Overseas

The project

SolidarityEducation
DÉMOS is a social inclusion project centered on orchestral music practice, aimed at children who do not have easy access to music practice in existing institutions.
50
Demos orchestras
are deployed throughout France.
11 000
children
have benefited from the project since its inception in 2010.
50
%
of children continue to play an instrument after completing their 1st cycle.

Solution

Today in France, access to musical practice is not egalitarian. This is particularly true in the so-called "urban policy" priority neighborhoods, as well as in rural areas far from cultural venues.

Yet musical activity is known to have highly beneficial effects for those who practice it, especially children, and practicing it collectively helps to strengthen "living together" within our society.

Faced with this observation, the Philharmonie de Paris is committed to offering every child, whatever their social situation, the chance to blossom through music. This is the aim of the Demos children's orchestra project, a genuine school for living together.

The benefits for these children are immense: greater self-confidence, better concentration and attention span, enhanced listening skills and respect for others...

A new year of instrument presentations and Demos concerts
A new year of instrument presentations and Demos concerts
Since January, there has been one event after another across the region, bringing together families, supervisory teams, elected representatives and partners around our apprentice musicians. Here's a small selection from this musical start to the year!

IN MOSELLE, A SERIES OF INSTRUMENT PRESENTATIONS

From January 9 to 15, 13 instrument presentation ceremonies took place in the social structures hosting the Metz Moselle Est and Metz Moselle Nord Démos orchestras: in Sarrebourg, Hombourg-Haut, Crewtzwald, Thionville, Uckange, Metz, Fameck and Sarreguemines.

INSTRUMENT SALES ALSO IN VAL D'YERRES VAL DE SEINE...

Instruments were handed over to the 99 young members of the new Orchestre Démos Val d'Yerres Val de Seine, supported by the Communauté d'agglomération, on Saturday January 13 at the Maison des Arts et de la Culture in Epinay-sous-Sénart, in the presence of the mayor of Epinay-sous-Sénart and vice-president for youth, Damien Allouch, the vice-president for social cohesion and urban policy Thomas Chazal, the councillor for artistic education Sabine Pellon, the regional councillor and deputy mayor of Brunoy for youth Sandrine Lamiré, and several local elected representatives and Philharmonie representatives.

... AND IN BORDEAUX

Same thing in Bordeaux on January 13! It was at the Auditorium de l'Opéra National de Bordeaux, which carries a 3rd edition of the Orchestre Démos Bordeaux Métropole Gironde, that children from 7 different territories officially received their new musical instrument. The event took place in the presence of their families, local councillors, representatives of partner cultural and social organizations and sponsors. Thanks to the entire artistic team, led by conductor Jane Latron, and at a ceremony orchestrated by pedagogical referent Fabien Piquemal, the children were able to demonstrate the work they have been doing since October around singing and dancing.

RESTITUTION OF THE KREIZ BREIZH YOUTH ORCHESTRA TO THE GREAT SATISFACTION OF FAMILIES

At the end of a day and a half of orchestra training on February 3 and 4, the Communauté de communes du Kreiz Breizh wanted to open the doors of the rehearsals to families and let them discover the orchestra as their children experience it. Parents therefore attended a work session on Antonín Dvořákc's Danse Slave n°8 led by conductor Aurélien Azan Zielinski. They were even invited to sit next to their children to listen to the music from inside the orchestra and experience the same sensations as their musical children. Finally, a presentation of Bedřich Smetana's La Moldau and the various tableaux in this symphonic poem was given by the students, illustrated by musical extracts from the orchestra.

THE DÉMOS GRAND VERDUN'S TURN TO RECEIVE ITS INSTRUMENTS

On Saturday February 17, 76 children from the Communauté d'agglomération du Grand verdun received their instruments and treated their families to a musical surprise led by their conductor Flavien Boy, and in the presence of elected representatives. This is the second edition of the Orchestre Démos Grand Verdun to be launched on the territory. And there are still 15 places for apprentice musicians up for grabs, among the brass and percussion groups!

THE FAMILIES OF THE DÉMOS ORCHESTRA - ORCHESTRE DE PARIS ALSO INVITED TO A RESTITUTION

As in Centre Bretagne, the Orchestre Démos - Orchestre de Paris closed its 3-day course on Tuesday February 20 with a small concert for families, at the Philharmonie. Led by conductor Corinna Niemeyer, the young musicians presented and performed excerpts from Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique, and Edward Elgar's Variations Enigma. The rest of the musical program worked on by the orchestra this year will be presented at the June concert at the Cité de musique, so parents will have another opportunity to marvel at the work accomplished by their children.

The money will be used for

The money raised will be used to equip the youngsters joining a Démos orchestra in 2024 with musical instruments, and to ensure the maintenance of the instrumental park, i.e. the upkeep of the instruments already in the hands of the children taking part in the project. With €40,000, a full Demos orchestra (i.e. 105 children) can be equipped with musical instruments (violins, cellos, trumpets, flutes, oboes...).

60 € = 1 archet de violon

5
5
already funded
58 difts
Why we love it?

This fine institution lives up to its public-interest mission and stands up for equal opportunity by providing access to rigorous, high-quality musical education for all.

One of our objectives is to act on young people's career paths. Music plays a fundamental role in increasing their cultural capital, their capacity for choice and their social integration.
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Gilles Delebarre
Managing Director, Demos Project
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