cultural INITIATIVES
Stradivaria places particular importance on its role as a cultural bridge, seeking to transmit not only emotion but also knowledge, in order to strengthen the shared foundation that connects us all: culture.
Facilitating access to classical music means working with carefully identified partners who are engaged in this approach, to design our programmes, shape their concert presentation, and adapt the narrative through a variety of outreach initiatives.
Beyond one-off awareness actions, this work is part of a long-term commitment by the orchestra, closely tied—whenever possible—to its new concert programmes.
As part of Les apartés, Stradivaria organises guided concert performances for primary school pupils in Nantes and for adult groups with limited access to cultural programming.
During these concerts, the musicians introduce their instruments, the programme, the composers, and their historical context.
The audience is also introduced to body percussion and shares a moment of connection and complicity with the musicians.
In preparation for their visit, pupils work with their teachers to create posters inspired by the concert, some of which you can see here.
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poster created by children who attended a concert with commentary by Stradivaria
La musique baroque en chansons, a participatory project
For the third consecutive year, Stradivaria is working with four classes (Years 3 to 6) from a primary school in Nantes, in partnership with the Nantes Conservatoire, on a participatory project exploring French Baroque music through popular songs from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The project explores key themes such as nature, dance music, fables, and popular song.
It is led by a dumiste (music educator from the Conservatoire), who works with the pupils once a week over the course of a term, introducing them to music and rhythm and teaching them songs.
Three sessions are led by Stradivaria musicians, who introduce their instruments, the historical context, and the major composers of the Baroque era.
At the end of the project, the pupils join the Stradivaria musicians on stage to take part in the final performance, presented mainly for other school groups.
This project is funded by the Nantes Conservatoire.
The School on Stage !
Stradivaria is delighted to have established a partnership with the Nantes Conservatoire.
This collaboration gives advanced-level students the opportunity to perform as the opening act for each concert in the Les apartés series, a season of candlelit concerts produced by Stradivaria.
In addition, access to the season’s concerts is free of charge for all Conservatoire students.
In 2026, Stradivaria will lead a series of workshops with the second-cycle string orchestra at the Nantes Conservatoire, introducing students to the Baroque repertoire as well as specific performance techniques associated with this style.
A final showcase, bringing together the early music classes and the string orchestras, will take place at the end of the academic year.
A moment of togetherness with senior audiences
Stradivaria is actively engaged with audiences in care homes and independent living residences. For the past three years, the ensemble has been visiting care homes in the city of Nantes and across the Loire-Atlantique region, thanks to the support of the De la musique avant toute chose Foundation.
The De la Musique avant toute chose Foundation supports musical projects aligned with its mission: to promote high-quality music by prioritising initiatives aimed at young people and at audiences who have limited access to, or are distant from, music. These include summer academies for young amateur musicians, support for CD productions by emerging artists, funding for festivals, assistance for music performances aimed at young audiences, targeted actions in underserved areas, the preservation of musical heritage, and the financing of instruments—all of which fall within the foundation’s areas of support. Since its creation in December 2018, the Foundation has supported more than 40 music projects across France (including Hauts-de-France, Alsace, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Occitanie, Auvergne, Normandy, and Île-de-France). The De la Musique avant toute chose Foundation—under the auspices of the Fondation de France—is funded exclusively through donations and can only carry out its activities thanks to the support it receives.
The Concours International de Musique Ancienne du Val de Loire (CIMA), a springboard for the next generation of professional musicians
Between 2015 and 2024, Stradivaria organised the Concours International de Musique Ancienne du Val de Loire (CIMA), awarding prizes to promising young instrumental ensembles from the European early music scene. Among the laureates, many ensembles are now recognised within the professional music world. Following the withdrawal of funding from the Pays de la Loire Regional Council, Stradivaria announced the end of the competition.
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