The Orchestre Classique de Montréal, formerly the McGill Chamber Orchestra, was founded in 1939 by violinist, conductor and composer Alexander Brott and his wife Lotte Brott. The OCM quickly became one of the most established chamber orchestras in Canada, boasting tours in five continents, multiple recordings, and regular appearances on radio and television.
Since 2005, directed by Boris Brott, O.C., O.Q. one of Canada's most renowned conductors, the OCM is a vibrant, innovative and flexible ensemble, made up of the best professional musicians in Montreal. The OCM presents its concerts throughout the year and is now in residence at the Salle Pierre-Mercure while presenting one major concert a year at the Maison Symphonique of the Place des arts and at the Saint-Joseph’s Oratory.
OCM's repertoire is wonderfully eclectic featuring traditional, rare and contemporary works while celebrating Quebec, Indigenous and Canadian music and talent. The OCM has commissioned and presented more new works than any other orchestra. This repertoire of world premieres includes works by Pierre Mercure, Claude Champagne, Jacques Hétu, Maxime Goulet, Barbara Assiginak, Larysa Kuzmenko, Carmen Braden, Jaap Nico Hamburger, Alcides Lanza, Kevork Andonian, Jean Vallerand, Walter Boudreau, Jean Papineau-Couture, Nicole Lizée, Alexander Brott and many others.
In keeping with its mission to celebrate diversity and inclusivity, the OCM has created the Music for Everyone program, which works with many newcomer communities and Montreal organizations to make OCM’s performances accessible to everyone. For more information: orchestre.ca
The OCM is grateful for the continued support of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada, and the support of all its donors and sponsors.
