Concert-workshops at Bordeaux prison
Since 2021, Orchestre de l’Agora has been presenting a series of monthly concert-workshops (approximately 11 per year) for men incarcerated at the Montréal Detention Facility (Bordeaux Prison). Through classical music and occasionally other repertoires, these sessions offer a genuine moment of pause, reflection, and introspection, where art becomes a lever for well-being.
Each concert-workshop lasts about one hour and is led by ensembles of two to four musicians, together with prison chaplain Stéphane Roy, with whom the Orchestra works closely. Each session alternates between musical performances and accessible introductions to the works, followed by a facilitated discussion period. Throughout the concert-workshop, conversation and communication between the incarcerated participants and the musicians are encouraged: participants can share stories, memories, and reflections inspired by the music they have heard.
The activities take place in the prison chapel, a setting distinct from daily carceral life, conducive to discussion and a form of symbolic escape. On average, between 50 and 75 people attend each concert-workshop. To date (2021–2026), more than 1,400 incarcerated individuals have taken part in the program.
This initiative draws on principles of receptive music therapy: listening to music becomes a support for better recognizing and expressing emotions, strengthening self-esteem, and fostering openness to others. Unique in Canada, the program is recognized for its benefits and its rehabilitative potential, notably through its positive influence on the overall atmosphere within the Montréal Detention Facility.
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