Founded | 1945 |
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Type | Non-profit, Interest group |
Members
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48 Member Organisations |
Website | http://www.jmi.net |
Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) is the largest youth music NGO in the world, created in Brussels, Belgium in 1945 with the mission to "enable young people to develop through music across all boundaries". JMI has established four priority activity fields: Young Musicians, Young Audiences, Youth Empowerment and Youth Orchestras & Ensembles. With member organisations currently in 45 countries and contact organisations in another 35, JMI is a “glocal” network with over 36,000 diverse musical events annually which embrace all styles of music, reaching almost 5 million young people up to the age of 30. The work of JMI is supported by the Federal Government of Belgium - BELSPO, ACTIRIS and the CREATIVE EUROPE Programme of the EU
The idea of creating a movement evolving around music and young people was born in the late 30s of the 20th Century by Marcel Cuvelier (Belgium). Following the occupation of Belgium, young people started to organise public concerts playing and singing for peace (1940). It was a form of protest against the war and the occupation of their country. This is the birth of Jeunesses Musicales of Belgium. Immediately after the end of the war, Rene Nicoly creates Jeunesses Musicales of France inspired by the youth music peace movement in the neighbouring Belgium. Jeunesses Musicales International was founded on 17 July 1945, by Marcel Cuvelier (Belgium) and René Nicoly (France) in the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium under the name of "Federation Internationales des Jeunesses Musicales". JMI initially focused on presenting "good music" (classical music) to young audiences through concerts in the main concert halls and later through school concerts. The focus changed over time to also encompass young musicians through music camps, competitions and youth orchestras. JMI was the pioneer organisation and paramount structure in the establishment of youth music activities in its member countries. Since the beginning it received substantial financial and political support from governments, influential personalities and head of states, giving birth to many common youth and music activities in the world today: youth orchestras and choirs, school concerts, the promotion of young musicians, young audiences development …
Originating as a peace movement, it quickly adopted a strategy that aimed at the overall development of the young generations through music, exploring the socio-cultural impact of music. In the late 60's, JMI also opened up to other styles of music such as contemporary classical music, ethnic and traditional music, jazz and pop/rock.