About us - Centre des musiciens du monde

> A word from the Directors

The choice of Solomon’s knot to symbolize the Musicians’ Centre rests on the universality inspired by its lines, which can cross the entire universe without ever stopping, radiating from a central point which symbolizes universal human values, while the variety of different blues represents the specific characteristics of the various musical cultures of the world, and the greater or lesser degrees of knowledge that we have about them. Accordingly, the mission which the Musicians’ Centre has chosen is to promote the diversity of the world’s musical traditions as a space for gathering around universal human values.

Frédéric Léotar

General manager

Kiya Tabassian

Artistic director

> Mission

Through its audacious and integrated approach, the CMM is working to build a vision of an inclusive dynamic generous society.

The Centre des musiciens du monde (CMM), a Nonprofit formed and based in Montreal, is a place of creation, education, dissemination and research dedicated to developing, enhancing and promoting the world’s musical traditions. A hub of innovation, welcoming and exchange, the CMM wishes to transmit the richness of these traditions within its community and on the international stage, to enrich the world’s cultural heritage, participate in its evolution, celebrate its diversity and promote its benefits.

Creative residencies from different cultural and musical traditions

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World musicians featured at traditional music events

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World music lessons and workshops for all ages

Check all our courses

Turnkey workshops for daycare centers, schools and community organizations

Check all workshop

Team BOD

Frédéric Léotar

Executive Director

Co-founder and Executive Director of the Centre, Frédéric manages and develops the organisation in support of its artistic and social mission. He undertakes the organization of various projects to promote the recognition of musicians from different traditions and greater linkage with academic institutions and the public.
Recognized specialist in music of oral tradition in Siberia and in Central Asia (PhD), Dr. Léotar is a teacher, lecturer and consultant (UNESCO). His research projects have been repeatedly supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). He is a regular member of the Observatory of Interdisciplinary Research and Creation in Music (OICRM).

Kiya Tabassian

Artistic Director

As Constantinople’s artistic director, Kiya Tabassian supervised the creation of about 40 new works with accomplished musicians from different traditions in more than 130 cities around the world. As the Centre’s artistic director, Kiya Tabassian will develop the artistic vision, manage the musicians’ residencies and extend the Centre’s artistic activities.

Sylvianne Lagueux-Tremblay

Coordinator - Cultural Outreach

Sylvianne, holder of a Bachelor‘s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Montreal, is interested in the oral traditions and the cultural productions of local communities. She has participated in the development of various community-based projects and citizen’s initiatives in New York, Guatemala and Montreal in the past years. She is committed to maintaining good relations between the various members of the community. Sylvianne’s mission at the Centre is to coordinate the artistic and pedagogical activities between musicians and artists, and schools, families and the public.

Meridalba Muñoz Bravo

Receptionist

Meridalba arrived in Montreal in the summer of 2018 where she has since integrated into society by learning the language and traditions of Quebec while taking an interest in the multicultural nature of Montreal. At the Centre des musiciens du monde, Meridalba’s mandate is to welcome the public and help with the smooth running of administrative and logistical operations. Before that, she taught architecture at the Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela), with a strong interest in music since her early childhood. Today she plays Venezuelan melodies, lullabies and Latin American songs on the guitar for fun.

Arielle Acosta Perelman

Reception and renting manager

With a master‘s degree in information science from the Université de Montréal, Arielle has always had a passion for art and culture. Her stay in France at the École nationale supérieure des sciences de l’information et des bibliothèques gave her the opportunity to do an internship at the Centre Pompidou. This experience only amplified her desire to work for and with today’s artists. Already a lover of traditional Latin American music and dance, the Centre des Musiciens du Monde enabled her to broaden her passion to other horizons.

Etienne Lintanf

Marketing and communications specialist | Responsible for the protection of personal information

Etienne has a master’s degree in project management and is in charge of marketing and communications at the Centre des musiciens du monde.
Originally from Brittany, his love for music and his passion for travel have taken him to many countries in search of different cultures and sounds.
In the summer of 2022, he settled in Montreal, determined to put his professional skills to work for the benefit of music and cultural diversity.
A drummer for several years, it is now the bağlama that he practices as an amateur.

Milan Simas

Responsable à la diffusion

Titulaire d‘une maîtrise en Musicologie (Université d’Amsterdam), Milan a travaillé d‘abord en partenariats chez MUTEK, Les Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma, M pour Montréal, et Mundial Montréal. Passionné de musique du monde et musicien lui-même, il occupe le rôle d’agent de spectacles pour les projets musicaux représentés par le centre qui sont exportés au Québec et à travers le monde.

Elise Charbonneau

President

Dedicated to cultural management for over 20 years, Elise Charbonneau is an excellent strategist,
results-oriented and endowed with an entrepreneurial spirit, Elise Charbonneau is a manager who has built an extensive network and is recognized for her expertise in helping projects grow and evolve with impact.
After 19 years as Director of Development, Financing and Events at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Elise Charbonneau is now Director General of Cirque Éloize.

Carolina Klimas

Treasurer

A lawyer since 2017, Carolina has worked for a major artists’ association and a well-known Montreal boutique firm in the entertainment industry. She has solid experience in the film and television, entertainment and music industries, and in labor relations in these sectors. She is a fervent lover of art from here and abroad, which makes her very enthusiastic about her work in the cultural industry.

Louis-Martin Dubé

Secretary

Hala Khattar

Board member

Born in Montreal, Hala grew up in Lebanon before settling in Montreal in 2016.
Trained as an engineer and a manufacturing entrepreneur for many years, Hala has been an IT consultant and business analyst since 2020. She discovered the arts and artists through her entrepreneurial spouse in the world of art galleries, exhibitions and events. Very dynamic, she is often involved in or the source of new projects for her community and environment. Motivated by the satisfaction of a job well done, as well as by team involvement and the process used to achieve objectives, Hala is known for getting her whole team on board with projects and taking the time to appreciate the victories.

Abolfazl Kamali

Board member

Currently based at McGill University’s Project Management Department as Senior Project Manager in Montreal, Abolfazl is also a member of the Quebec Order of Engineers and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Kiya Tabassian

Artistic Director

Frédéric Léotar

Executive Director

Frédéric Léotar

Kiya Tabassian

Creative residencies from different cultural and musical traditions

World musicians featured at traditional music events

World music lessons and workshops for all ages

Turnkey workshops for daycare centers, schools and community organizations

Frédéric Léotar

Kiya Tabassian

Sylvianne Lagueux-Tremblay

Meridalba Muñoz Bravo

Arielle Acosta Perelman

Etienne Lintanf

Milan Simas

Elise Charbonneau

Carolina Klimas

Louis-Martin Dubé

Hala Khattar

Abolfazl Kamali

Kiya Tabassian

Frédéric Léotar

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