JM France

JM France (Jeunesses musicales de France) is a French non-profit association founded in 1944 by René Nicoly with the aim of sharing music with as many people as possible, particularly children and young audiences. Recognized as an association of public utility, it promotes young artists and access to music for children and young people. According to its own communications, around 500,000 children and young people gain access to music each year through JM France. The organization operates a national network of volunteers and local branches that organize concerts, musical workshops, and cultural action projects. Its programming spans classical, contemporary, and world music, and it works with artists, teachers, and local venues. JM France publishes an annual artistic brochure (for example, the 2024-2025 brochure) and offers pedagogical resources, show resources, and a musical fund (Fonds musical JM France). JM France is part of the international Jeunesses Musicales movement, which it helped create in 1945 together with Jeunesses Musicales Belgium. The French association has historically been a major player in French cultural life, running national programs such as Élèves au concert and Music'Ado, and for a period operating the Jeune Ballet de France. It remains active in promoting music education and live performance for young audiences throughout France.

The Jeunesses musicales de France (JMF or JM France) were created by René Nicoly in 1944 to share music with as many people as possible. They are a non-profit association recognized as being of public utility, promoting young artists and access to music for children and young people. Today, according to the association, 500,000 children and young people gain access to music each year through JM France. 1939-1944: Launch. On the eve of the world conflict, René Nicoly, head of the orchestra service at Éditions musicales Durand, experimented with a commented concert for students of the grandes écoles then in military preparation. The success of the formula was immediate. In the same spirit, Marcel Cuvelier, director of the Société philharmonique de Bruxelles, created a movement called "Jeunesses musicales" with the firm intention of "removing youth" from indoctrination efforts and "helping it maintain a state of grace and hope." From the development of their respective actions and their meeting in 1941 came the decision to adopt the same title together: Jeunesses musicales. The Jeunesses musicales de France (JMF) were officially constituted as an association at the Liberation, on 6 November 1944. A year later, the JMF and JM Belgium jointly created the Jeunesses musicales internationales — today JM International, whose president and tireless organizer was Marcel Cuvelier. The success would be immense. 1945-1970: Growth. "Young people play for young people." From their origin, the JMF organized concert-lectures aimed mainly at high school and university audiences, with classical and contemporary programming. Young iconic musicians such as Samson François participated in this action. From the 1950s, there were nearly 200,000 members and more than 1,000 concerts in 130 cities. The JMF became a key player in the French cultural landscape, actively campaigning for the development of music at school, at a time when policies initiated by André Malraux and composer Marcel Landowski were being structured. The Journal des JMF, created in 1949, became in 1966 the Journal Musical Français, under the leadership of columnist Jacques Lonchampt. In the same period, initiatives such as the Club national du disque (1954), training for musical facilitators (1960), collaborations with ORTF, musical commissions, and a choir were implemented. National fundraising campaign. The effervescence of these musical democratization actions did not prevent the JMF from being chronically in deficit. In 1959, the JMF experienced a serious financial crisis. To save them, a national appeal for donations was organized in connection with Europe 1 and the program Vous êtes formidables hosted by Pierre Bellemare. On 2 June 1959, the JMF raised 15 million francs and were saved. The JMF thus became a social phenomenon, and it is no coincidence that François Truffaut used a JMF concert at the Salle Pleyel as the setting for a scene in Antoine et Colette, from the film L'Amour à 20 ans. 1970-2000: Regionalization and opening. With changes in records, radio, and leisure practices, the 1970s saw the JMF move toward a younger audience, under the direction of Jean Pierre de Lavigne and the presidency of Louis Leprince-Ringuet. Creation of the "Festival des musiques des collégiens et lycéens" springboard. In 1982, the JMF organized their first national springboard: the "Festival des musiques des collégiens et des lycéens," which quickly took the name "Music'Ado." This initiative by Robert Berthier (director of the JMF from 1983 to 2001) was in line with the policy led by Jack Lang, with the creation of the Fête de la Musique by Maurice Fleuret (director of Music and Dance), and aimed to encourage young people's musical practice. The Festival, first created in Paris in the courtyard of Lycée Condorcet, quickly took on national and even international scope, with, in 1985 (International Youth Year), the participation of more than 500 young middle and high school students from 20 regional meetings and 5 foreign countries, for a grand finale in the UNESCO auditorium. It was a superb demonstration of what its organizer, Bernard Delcroix, called a true "musical ecumenism," as rock or jazz groups, classical quartets, recorder ensembles, and all kinds of world music alternated on the same stage. In 1991, the JMF simultaneously celebrated two anniversaries, the association's fiftieth anniversary and the 10th anniversary of "Music'Ado," over 4 days at the Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione. This major event brought together professional artists touring for the JMF, several dance companies including the Jeune Ballet de France, and 600 young musicians from all French regions and 25 foreign countries (including China, Russia, Uruguay, and Guinea). Creation of the Jeune Ballet de France. Created in 1983 by Robert Berthier, the Jeune Ballet de France occupied a special place in the French ballet world until 2001, as a tool for professional integration and a renowned showcase under choreographers such as Maurice Béjart, Carolyn Carlson, Claude Brumachon, Philippe Decouflé, Daniel Larrieu, Régine Chopinot, and Angelin Preljocaj. 2002-2014: A new phase of development. In 2002, Bruno Boutleux became director general of the JMF. He initiated a policy of partnerships with venues, festivals, contemporary music stages, and major orchestras such as the Orchestre de Paris. In 2008, the Ministries of National Education and Culture designed with the JMF the Élèves au concert program, a national program intended to enhance and develop the offer of concerts for school audiences. Present. JM France continues to operate a national network, publishing an annual artistic brochure (2024-2025), organizing shows, workshops, and cultural action projects, and offering resources for audiences, volunteers, artists, and teachers.

• 2008

  Élèves au concert program designed with Ministries of National Education and Culture.

• 2002

  Bruno Boutleux becomes director general of JMF.

• 2001

  End of Jeune Ballet de France; Robert Berthier's directorship ends.

• 1991

  JMF celebrates 50th anniversary and 10 years of Music'Ado at Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione.

• 1985

  Music'Ado international edition with 500+ young participants from 20 regional meetings and 5 countries at UNESCO.

• 1983

  Robert Berthier becomes director of JMF; creation of Jeune Ballet de France.

• 1982

  First national springboard: Festival des musiques des collégiens et lycéens (later Music'Ado).

• 1966

  Journal des JMF becomes Journal Musical Français.

• 1960

  Training for musical facilitators launched.

• 1959

  National fundraising campaign saves JMF from financial crisis; 15 million francs raised on 2 June.

• 1954

  Creation of the Club national du disque.

• 1949

  Creation of the Journal des JMF.

• 1945

  JMF and JM Belgium jointly create Jeunesses musicales internationales (today JM International).

• 1944

  Jeunesses musicales de France officially constituted as an association on 6 November.

A public-utility association dedicated to music education and live performance for young audiences, operating through a national volunteer network.

• Concerts for young audiences

  Live music performances programmed for children and youth across France.

• Musical workshops (Ateliers musicaux)

  Participatory workshops introducing music to young audiences.

• Élèves au concert

  National program to develop concert offerings for school audiences, created in 2008 with ministries.

• Music'Ado

  National springboard for young musicians, originally Festival des musiques des collégiens et lycéens.

• Les Étincelles

  A JM France program or event series listed on the official website.

• Fonds musical JM France

  A musical fund presented on the official website.

1. 1Grandir en musique avec JM France | JM Francejmfrance.org
2. 2Spectacles | JM Francejmfrance.org
3. 3Une Brève Histoire du Son | JM Francejmfrance.org
4. 4Jeunesses musicales de France - Wikipediafr.wikipedia.org
5. 5Wikidata Q3178199wikidata.org