The ambition of the DEMOS Orchestra is to teach and disseminate music to young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This social music and orchestral education programme was first launched in 2010 by Cité de la Musique and is now being continued by the Philharmonie de Paris.
Its principle: to allow 450 children aged 7 to 12, who do not always have the economic, social or cultural resources to do so, to discover and play classical music. For three years, they benefit from educational supervision by social workers and very intensive training provided by professional musicians from renowned ensembles such as Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Symphonique Divertimento, Ensemble Aedes, etc.
Each child has their own instrument and receives four hours of lessons per week, outside of school time, in the neighbourhood social structure that they usually attend. Through regular group and individual work, children develop a sense of discipline and self-confidence. They are also regularly invited to concerts with their parents.
Every year in June, DEMOS orchestras perform in prestigious concert halls (Salle Pleyel, Philharmonie de Paris, etc.) and take part in festivals including the Berlioz Festival in La-Côte-Saint-André. After an initial experiment in the Ile-de-France region, the scheme was extended to the Aisne and Isère regions. At the end of the first phase of DEMOS, 50% of the participating pupils had continued their studies at a music school or conservatory.
The Foundation is the founding sponsor of this educational programme.