Collectif9

Montreal’s cutting-edge classical string ensemble Collectif9 has been gathering steam since its 2011 debut, attracting diverse audiences in varied spaces. Known for energized, innovative arrangements of classical repertoire, Collectif9 employs lights, staging, and amplification more commonly seen at rock acts and heralds a new age in genre-bending classical performance. The ensemble combines the power of an orchestra with the crispness of a chamber ensemble for a unique experience. The musicians and friends met as students at Université de Montréal and McGill University: they wanted to create something different yet complementary to traditional representations of classical music, more relatable to pop culture. Learning from the classical works that have influenced non-classical musicians and the structure of pop concerts, Collectif9 looks for ways to break the stigma of inapproachability, searches for new ways of expression within the classical medium, and attempts to foster communication and collaboration between artists and within their community.