Montréal, February 4, 2024 – The Conseil des arts de Montréal and the Conseil québécois de la musique are delighted to award the Prix Opus Montréal – Inclusion and Diversity to Ensemble Caprice for its “ClassiqueInclusif” project.
The award, which comes with a $10,000 grant, goes to an artist, collective or organization from a culturally diverse or Indigenous background, or one that adopts inclusive practices in the service of groups that are under-represented in Montréal’s cultural landscape. It shines a light on outstanding achievements that have had a significant artistic or social impact on the concert music community over the past season.
Under Artistic Director Karin Cuellar Rendon, ClassiqueInclusif aims to elevate and celebrate diversity in classical music by presenting concerts curated by and in collaboration with performers, composers and members of the visible minority and Indigenous communities in Greater Montréal. The concerts presented as part of this project celebrate these communities’ rich and diverse cultural heritage and facilitate the sharing of stories of immigration, identity and belonging through music, poetry and storytelling.
The initiative also aims to build lasting relationships with groups of musicians from communities traditionally under-represented in classical music. To that end, Ensemble Caprice works with one such group at a time for a one-year period, partnering with local institutions that support and bring the communities together. Groups represented in 2023–2025 include Latin-American immigrants (2022–2023), Indigenous peoples (2023–2024) and Arab immigrants from West Asia (2024–2025).
The jury cited Ensemble Caprice’s openness and the substantial effort it has invested in the project, its focus on dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds, the initiative’s positive impact on communities, and the genuine sharing of music to which it gives rise.
About the Prix Opus awards
Created in 1996 by the Conseil québécois de la musique, the Prix Opus awards are dedicated to concert music. They are presented each year in February and honour musicians, events and presenters. For over 20 years, the Conseil des arts de Montréal has joined forces with the Conseil québécois de la musique to honour the quality and diversity of Québec concert music at the Gala des Prix Opus.
About the Conseil des arts de Montréal
Through its various forms of assistance, the Conseil des arts de Montréal supports artistic innovation and creative expression in all its diversity, with the aim of promoting Montréal’s artists, producers and presenters. Since 1956, it has played a unique role as a catalyst for this artistic ecosystem, helping make Montréal a cultural metropolis known worldwide for its vibrant arts scene.
