Ensemble Obiora: Redefining the Canadian Orchestral Landscape

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In 2021, as the world slowly emerged from a deflating pandemic, Allison Migeon and Brandyn Lewis sprung into action. By founding Canada’s first classical music ensemble composed primarily of professional musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds, they forged a new path in the national orchestral landscape.

“With everything happening at the time, such as the death of George Floyd, we started asking questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as our role as cultural workers,” explains Migeon. As a cultural coordinator in France, she aspired to innovate the world of classical music.

Awarded the Opus Prize Montréal for “Inclusion and Diversity” and the “CBC Black Changemakers” award in 2023, Ensemble Obiora’s vision for classical music concerts showcases works by composers from diverse cultural backgrounds. The word obiora means “the heart” or “the people’s desire” in the Igbo language of Nigeria, a nod to the co-founders’ ancestral origins.

Paradoxically, Lewis’ presence on various online platforms during the COVID-19 lockdown made them realize how many culturally diverse musicians were scattered across Canada. “No one knew each other, and this fuelled our desire to come together and showcase our talents,” says Migeon.

For their first concert, Ensemble Obiora performed works by composers of African descent, including Jeff Scott, Joseph Bologne, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, alongside Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, Op. 48. “Even though our mission emphasizes cultural diversity, we wanted to show that our orchestra can perform works from the traditional repertoire. By doing so, we addressed the common prejudice that an orchestra made up of culturally diverse musicians must be an amateur ensemble, which is not the case,” Migeon adds.

This season, Migeon and Lewis, also the orchestra’s solo double bass, have favoured smaller ensembles that can easily join educational initiatives, such as outreach concerts for families and young audiences. “In February, our string quartet will participate in an event organized by the Quebec Equity Diversity Inclusion Network,” says Migeon. “We strive to integrate the community, which is a foundational aspect to our ensemble,” she explains.

“Much of our audience loves classical music but has never attended a classical concert before. We bring the music to them.” Ensemble Obiora’s next concert, Sororité, is a tribute to three female composers and will take place on March 2, 2025, at Salle Pierre-Mercure in the Centre Pierre Péladeau.