A Montreal First! The Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show (MMMIS)

Consistent with its desire to offer the festivalgoing public only the most stimulating of experiences – and to promote music-making in its diverse forms – the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is once again innovating, with the launch of the first Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show (MMMIS) at the up-coming 26th edition of the Festival. The new forum will be free of charge to visitors and the first of its kind in North America. The inaugural edition will take place at the complexe Desjardins’ Grande Place, from July 7 to 10, 2005.

In creating the new non-profit event, the Festival hopes to contribute to an increase in the number of people for whom music-making is part of daily life. It will become a meeting place for manufacturers of musical instruments, equipment and accessories; for distributors, retailers, music schools and others active in the industry; for associations, publishers and specialized media. A place where the public and professional or amateur musicians can interact. Visitors will get to know the nuts and bolts of music and learn about the most recent products, all in a relaxed atmosphere conducive to learning and discovery. The event will also allow the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal to develop new programming elements to be of further interest to professionals and members of the public at large, consolidating the Festival’s role as an international catalyst for musical expression.

Activities for amateurs and professionals alike

Beginners’ workshops, demonstrations and instrument manufacturing will all take place on site. There will be musical performances, specialized master classes and meet and greet events featuring well-known artists. The Salon will be a veritable hub of activity and contribute to bring music-making to the music-loving public. Direct sales or solicitation will not be permitted on the MMMIS site. An auction, however, will take place where an autographed instrument or show tickets will be given away, to finance the event, and a portion of the amount raised on the site or by Internet will be donated to Young Musicians of the World. As a partner of Jeunesse du monde (Youth of the World), the organization is dedicated to the launching and operation of schools throughout the world that specialize in the teaching of traditional music. In Montreal, for example, Jeunes musiciens du monde is presently working to set up a school for Quebec traditional music, the École de musique traditionnelle La Bolduc. It will soon be opening its doors in Montreal and offer free instruction to young people in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.

All activities will be open to the public and take place on stage or among the 50 kiosks to be assembled in the complexe Desjardins’ Grande Place. These will include special workshops for small groups of amateur musicians, students or professionals who will take advantage of the opportunity to try out musical instruments, learn the techniques of their favorite artists and participate in contests.

All in all, the Salon will offer a new, interesting and value-added element to festivalgoers from at home and abroad. It will also become yet another tourist attraction for Montreal and its jazz festival, with the potential to grow even bigger and better, bringing even more economic benefit to the entire community.

On-line information at www.mmmis.ca

Musical organizations interested in participating in the MMMIS (www.mmmis.ca) can obtain more information at the following addresses:
• [email protected] (sponsors)
• [email protected] (advertising space buys)
• [email protected] (comments and questions about the MMMIS)

Complete programming for the first Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show (MMMIS) will be announced simultaneously with the free outdoor program of the 2005 Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, which will take place from June 30 to July 10.

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Source:
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal – (514) 523 3378

Media Information:
Myriam Achard, Media Relations Director - (514) 523 3378, ext. 535 ; [email protected]
Marie Eve Boisvert, Press Attachée - (514) 523 3378, ext. 666 ; [email protected]

Public Information:
Bell Info Jazz Line – (514) 871 1881 or toll free 1 888 515 0515 ; www.montrealjazzfest.com Internet Site: www.mmmis.ca