MEMBERSHIP into JEUNESSES MUSICALES INTERNATIONAL

JMI was created in Brussels in 1945 by Rene Nicoly, France and Marcel Cuvelier, Belgium, in order to build an organization that “would actively work against the causes of international conflict through the universal language of music”.

Initiated to encourage the spread of classical music, it has soon developed into an organization that comprised music camps, festivals, competitions, information exchange network, school concerts, and most of all, promotion of young musicians and youth exchanges both on national and international level. The JMI member sections reach 58,000 annual events: concerts, festivals, camps, workshops, competitions, discussion groups, orchestras and choirs. Total audience reach of 6 million people, 6000 professionals and volunteers in more than 2,000 cities all over the world.

JM International is opened to all musical genres including traditional music, jazz and pop/rock, although classical music continues to be the main one.

The Jeunesses Musicales Europe was founded in Brussels, 1990, as a regional network coordinating information between the European member sections and organizing, on a political and project level, the work of JM Europe within the JMI framework.

Administration, project development and realization as well as fund-raising for both International and European projects are coordinated from the JM International Head Office in Brussels.

JMM are full member of Jeunesses Musicales International as of 1995.

The JM World Orchestra was created in 1970 but has a tradition dating back to 1948. It is the only orchestra on a world-wide scale for young musicians, reflecting the aims of the Jeunesses Musicales movement: promotion of music youth and international understanding through music.

The JMWO tours twice a year (summer and winter) and has so far appeared in 30 countries across the globe. It has performed with some of the world’s top conductors including Kurt Masur, Charles Dutoit, Zubin Mehta and the late Leonard Bernstein. Every year a search is made across all continents for 100 or more of the most talented young players aged between 16-25 years, selected by audition. In 1970 there were a mere 18 countries represented in the World Orchestra. Now the orchestra receives applications from about 50 countries and can boast having nearly 100 members from over 40 countries of all continents.

By now the JMWO has appeared in about 80 cities, festivals, cultural programs of the Olympic Games, anniversaries of cities like Berlin, Bonn, Montreal and at other festive occasions.

“It has been called the United Nations in Music and time and time again been praised for its artistic excellence, freshness of sound and musical enthusiasm expressed by all players…”

THE WORLD YOUTH CHOIR
“The World Youth Choir is the only choral group of its kind in the world. It gathers together 100 talented young singers aged between 17 and 26 years from every part of the globe, providing an exciting mix of the world’s rich and varied choral traditions. The Choir was launched in 1990 and convenes twice a year for its summer and winter international tours. Since 1996, the World Youth Choir has been part of the UNESCO "Artists for Peace" programme…”

The World Youth Choir project is under the patronage of the International Federation for Choral Music and JM International, managed by the International Center for Choral Music in Namur, Belgium.

IMAGINE FESTIVALS
“What does a young rock band from France, a jazz musician from Sweden and a folk player from Ireland have in common? They are all part of a unique JMI project to expose young people to a range of musical styles, from classical, jazz and traditional to rock and pop.

Underneath the "umbrella" of the Imagine Festivals program, you find regional, national and international festivals, workshops and competitions which each year involve up to 40,000 young musicians…” 

The Imagine festivals strive to introduce young people to different musical genres and styles and to promote live performance opportunities for young musicians.

The Imagine festivals are being developed and executed in the following countries: Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Malawy, Mozambic, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay, Zimbabwe. 

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC CAMPS
Mostly organized during the summer, the Music Camps aim to further develop the technical skills and performance abilities of the participants. At the same they are the most common traditional forms of music gatherings of the young people, meeting other cultures and values.

JMM has developed co-operation with partner organizations, which organize summer music camps in order to enable young musicians from Macedonia to take part in their activities. At the same musicians from abroad are most welcome to take in the Summer Music Camp organized by JMM in Ohrid during the period July – August annually.

Summer Music Camps’ highlights according to the Macedonian participants in the last three years:

The Jeunesses Musicales International Center of Groznjan (Croatia)
The International Master Course for Chamber Ensembles in Weikersheim (Germany)
The International Chamber Orchestra in Dolenjske Toplice (Slovenia)
The International Orchestral Camp in Sornetan (Switzerland)
The Summer Academy for Spiritual Music in Studenica (FR Yugoslavia)

ETHNO MUSIC CAMPS FALUN, SWEDEN
open for all music instruments and vocal traditions. The ETHNO Camp is based on workshops where the participants teach each other, mainly by ear, but written music can be used for support. Ethno is not based on performances, but you will have the opportunity to present your music and what you´ve learned by participating at some concerts, evening dances and street performances.

The closing event of Ethno 2000 takes place during the famous Falun Folk Music Festival (July 12 –15),an international folk music festival with 500 top artists from 40 nations and more than 70 000 enthusiastic visitors!

BELGRADE JM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITON

The Belgrade Competition was created in 1969, dedicated to the most promising young musicians at the beginning of their international careers. Every year the Competition welcomes young talents from all over the world, competing and comparing their level of professional readiness. The next Belgrade Competition open for violin and string quartets.

BUCHAREST JM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
is the second neighboring International Competition on which many Macedonian young musicians participate in a regular basis. The next Bucharest Competition opened for violin and flute players.

MEDITERRANEAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA
JMM started the co-operation with this youth orchestra as of the 2000 session. The Orchestra, founded 1984, gathers about 100 young musicians aged 18 to 27. The rehearsals take place in the French region of Provence, from where the Orchestra originates. The rehearsal period is followed by a concert tour in selected countries of the Mediterranean. Besides the Symphony orchestra, as of this year another one has been created, made of traditional instruments.

WIENNA INTERNATIONAL MASTER COURSES
Existing for 25 years, the Courses are open for young musicians preparing for professional careers, helping them to work out problems of artistic development. The master courses operate high professional level of education and teaching, working with world-renowned professors. Musicians have the opportunity of working in excellent modern facilities, with possibilities of private practice at the Conservatory of Music in Vienna. The best participants are presented on a public recital.

ORFORD ARTS CENTER CANADA
Is a meeting place where young musicians from all over the world enjoy professional master-classes by world-renown professors, working on further skills development and various techniques.

“NEW NAMES” FOUNDATION Russia
Through the Music and Ballet Association of Macedonia, JMM have developed co-operation with the Moscow-based Foundation “New Names”, thus enabling several youth exchange activities to take place in the last couple of years. Further to the participation of Macedonian musicians to the Suzdalj Summer Academy, comprising instrumental master-courses, young Russian artists take part at the JMM Summer Music Camp through participation in the Youth Podium and in the JMM Chamber Orchestra.