Orchestre de la francophonie: Empowering the Next Generation in Montreal

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Summer 2026 marks Julien Proulx’s first tenure as Artistic Director of Orchestre de la francophonie (OF). Founded in 2001 by Jean-Philippe Tremblay, OF brings pre-professional musicians from across the French-speaking world to Montreal for an intensive six-week orchestral training program. In addition to being the conductor for Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville, Proulx has spent previous summers coaching budding conductors at OF’S sister organization, Institut canadien d’art vocal (ICAV), an opera training program.

Julien Proulx. Photo: Pascal Giguère

“I love working with young musicians,” says Proulx. OF members, he notes, “play exceptionally well,” with many pursuing advanced degrees on their instrument. The conductor, then, has the thrilling task of shaping instrumentalists into orchestral players. “We work on creating a shared sound, listening to one another, and building that living organism that an orchestra becomes,” he says.

Over the course of the program, participants are immersed in the fast-paced rhythm of a professional orchestra. “Usually, in schools, we take a lot of time to prepare a program. Here, they spend six weeks in Montreal, and we prepare five different programs…. It’s a pretty intense rhythm of work for them, for me, and for the whole team, but it gives them an idea of what it’s like in a professional orchestra,” he explains.

Despite the demanding schedule, musicians from around the world still take advantage of Montreal’s rich cultural scene, going to “the Jazz Fest, Francos de Montréal,” and the various symphonic shows around town. “I think they are very appreciative to spend their summer going to see other shows,” says Proulx.

Orchestre de la francophonie

Members not only benefit from, but also contribute to, the city’s rich cultural life. Their 2026 season has already become part of Montreal’s distinctive summer scene, including an outdoor concert at Parc La Fontaine’s Théâtre de Verdure for an audience of more than 2,000 people. The season also featured a children’s performance of Peter and the Wolf at Gare Dalhousie, a restored railway station in Old Montreal.

But summer isn’t over yet. In addition to serving as the orchestra for the ICAV’s production of Offenbach’s opera Les Contes d’Hoffmann on July 24 and 25, OF will perform some of the great works of the classical repertoire on August 2 at Maison Symphonique. The program, which includes the premieres of two contemporary works commissioned by Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, will feature Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Brahms’ Fourth Symphony, and Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto no. 1, performed by acclaimed French-Canadian pianist Élisabeth Pion. This closing concert, notes Proulx, “will be the culmination of those 6 weeks of training.”