The Junior Jury – A unique learning experience for young musicians studying in Montréal

The Junior Jury offers advanced students in piano, violin, and voice from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, the Faculty of Music at the Université de Montréal, as well as the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, the opportunity to experience a major international music competition from the inside. United by a shared passion, they are not merely observers but are fully engaged in the evaluation process and are called upon to demonstrate their artistic judgement.

The young jury members attend all the performances during the First Round at Bourgie Hall, assessing each competitor according to their own criteria. Alongside the work of the international jury, this is an opportunity for them to engage with diverse perspectives, to analyze and reflect in new ways, and to develop their critical thinking while honing their listening skills.

The development of these essential skills has a deep impact on their own instrumental practice, their interpretive choices, and their relationships with the repertoire. 

With this jury, leading music education institutions can use the Concours as an educational tool and offer their promising young musicians a unique chance to experience a major international music competition from the inside. Furthermore, this experience, rich in inspiring encounters, gives participants the opportunity to forge valuable links with the other members of the emerging jury and to expand their professional networks.

And who knows? Inspired by this experience and driven by the desire to reach new heights, these young artists could well be future competitors in the Concours!

At the conclusion of the First Round, the members select the winner of the Robert Trempe* Junior Jury Prize, a cash award of $1,500.

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* Robert Trempe (1937−2025), a patron and cultural administrator who was deeply committed to the classical music milieu in Québec, and to young artists in particular.