The leader of the OSM, Rafael Payare, dreamed since his arrival in Montreal of launching the El Sistema Music teaching program, from which he benefited during his youth in Venezuela. This has been done since November in four schools in Montreal North. And this is just the beginning, he promises.
Posted at 12:06 p.m.
Updated at 5:46 p.m.
Rafael Payare was beaming with happiness Friday during the press conference which officially announced the establishment of El Sistema in Montreal. “It brings me a lot of joy,” said the chef with his always contagious enthusiasm. “In this dark world, I find that it gives hope. »
The project is still small: two schools in Montreal-North have been participating since November, Saint-Rémi at the elementary level and Calixa-Lavallée at the secondary level. Two other establishments were added in January.
“We have a pilot project in Montreal North, but what we would like is to create nucleos, as they call them, throughout Quebec,” says the CEO of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) , Mélanie La Couture.
The OSM aims to reach 600 young people over five years. Currently, 69 are registered, including 48 at Saint-Rémi school: this is where the Music for Children project was launched by Kent Nagano in 2016, which allows 200 preschool toddlers to have access to 30 minutes of music every day. Subsequently, a music school was opened, and a day camp started in 2022.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE
Rafael Payare watches three young people from the first cohort of El Sistema: Aneida Benjamin, 9 years old, Diego Lopez Figueroa, 8 years old, and Thanina Hamiche, 11 years old.
“We are expanding what has been developed here,” says Rafael Payare, who has adopted this motto of El Sistema: for him, music is not a privilege, but a right. Born in Venezuela, this intensive method of teaching orchestral music for all, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, is now established in around sixty countries, and has helped to train millions of children. The artistic director of the OSM is a pure product of it, and he knows all the benefits.
“I know from experience, this is not a fabrication! » What did that change for him? ” All ! If I hadn’t discovered music, I wouldn’t be the person I am. I wouldn’t have played the French horn, I wouldn’t have become a conductor, I wouldn’t have moved to Montreal. Another world has happened. » But the goal is not to make all these little musicians professionals, explains Rafael Payare.
What is important is that with this education, they know that they must get along, harmonize, so that it results in something more beautiful. And if we think this way, it can change a lot of things in all walks of life. It will never be lost.
-Rafael Payare, artistic director of the OSM
Rafael Payare dreams of seeing El Sistema develop throughout Quebec. ” Why not ? That’s why we say it’s a system: it starts with one, then two, and then it’s like roots. It goes everywhere. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE
Mélanie La Couture, CEO of the OSM
Mélanie La Couture also thinks it’s possible. All overseen by the OSM? Quebec is still big! “We are already in discussions with regional conservatories, who could take charge of this. We would help with the programming, the curriculum. And we have a partnership with El Sistema Venezuela, we will be able to benefit the rest of Quebec. They still have 50 years of expertise! »
The big difference with Venezuela, however, is that there, El Sistema is financed by the government. “It’s true,” she said. Here, it’s completely private at the moment. But when we have proven the benefits of the thing, public funding will be added. We won’t be able to support this everywhere in Quebec just with philanthropy! But we are happy that donors are getting involved and allowing us to launch the project. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE
Rafael Payare, who wanted to establish El Sistema since his arrival in Montreal
Rafael Payare is already planning to lead a major concert on the Esplanade of the Olympic Stadium with the OSM and several hundred children trained by El Sistema. “Imagine! » We want to believe it: after attending classes at the Saint-Rémi school, Wednesday afternoon, we could see that this first cohort had progressed well. At Christmas, after barely a month and while the majority of them had never played their instrument, they were already performing Long live the wind.
Rafael Payare’s smile says a lot about his pride. “And be careful, it’s going to go even faster.” Fasten your seat bealt ! You will see. »
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