A String Player’s Guide to Montreal

By Kate Bevan-Baker | From the March/April 2025 issue of Strings

Montreal is a wonderfully diverse city in many ways, embracing cultures from all corners of the globe. The city is a melting pot of traditions, ethnicities, and languages, and is a thriving hub for artists and musicians. Officially a bilingual city, Montreal is home to a large anglophone population, though French is the dominant language. One does not need to be bilingual to live and work in the city (I speak from experience).

There are certain universities that teach in French, including Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), and others where the dominant language is English (McGill and Concordia). The variety of academic institutions in Montreal allows string players to further their studies or branch out in a new genre (jazz or Celtic fiddling, for example) while still being able to freelance and earn a living at the same time. Grants are also often available for players looking to fund a creative project. Once you live in the province for two years, the pool of grant opportunities available to you greatly increases.

For the freelance musician, there are endless opportunities to perform and teach across many musical genres. My performance schedule varies greatly from week to week, and I often find myself changing musical styles from one gig to the next. This keeps things exciting, and I find that I’m rarely lacking in new musical experiences. 

Montreal has so much to offer in terms of gig opportunities and teaching outlets. If string players were to move to here, they would find opportunities including subbing with symphony orchestras and smaller ensembles, perhaps even playing in the orchestra for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. There is also a lot of contract work for musicals and theatre productions, soundtrack recording for video games, and even coaching actors for films and TV.

Teaching and coaching with the Mount Royal Youth Orchestra is a valuable opportunity for young professional string players, and Suzuki-qualified string teachers will have little trouble finding students to join their studios. You don’t have to go far to find a reliable luthier and violin shop in Montreal. Wilder & Davis and Olivier Pérot at La Maison du Violon are among the most respected and reputable in the city.

Just as the city is multicultural, so is its music scene. Outdoor concert series in the summertime expose Montrealers to musicians of every genre. The energy of the city buzzes as one walks down the bustling streets of St. Catherine or St. Denis, but there’s also opportunity to relax along the Lachine Canal (a picturesque waterway stretching 14.5 km and a National Historic Site) to enjoy the city’s more tranquil side. Buskers of diverse musical genres can be found in metro stations and at the outdoor markets around the city.

Music festivals of all genres can be found through the year, but especially in the summer. Some of the most popular events include the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Montreal Bach Festival, and Osheaga. Music lovers and musicians alike can find a festival or concert series to suit any musical taste, including a number of multicultural festivals like the Festival du Monde Arabe, Italfest MTL, International First Peoples’ Festival, POCHA MTL (Korean festival), YATAI MTL (Japanese festival), Montreal Ukrainian Festival, International Portuguese Festival, Festival Bloomsday Montreal (Irish festival), and Festival International Nuits d’Afrique. If you’re a newcomer to the city, be sure to attend Francos de Montreal in June—a celebration of French language music where you will fall in love with la belle langue (if you haven’t already).

Classical musicians and music lovers will not be disappointed with the exciting performance seasons offered by symphonies, namely the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) and the Orchestre Métropolitain (OM). The OSM even presents outdoor summer concerts, many of which are free and family-friendly, including opera screenings and musical yoga! If you’re under 35, you can enjoy regular-season OSM concerts for just $40 a ticket. Beyond the large concert halls, you will also find smaller gems, such as Salle Bourgie and Maisons de la culture, in each borough of the city with diverse and often free programming all year round.

Traditional musicians in Montreal are spoiled by the jam sessions and festivals found throughout the city all year round. The Montreal TRAD Festival showcases the best in Quebec’s rich traditional cultural heritage through concerts, participatory workshops, and open sessions. If you are new to traditional music, fear not, because there are countless opportunities to discover and try out new musical styles. There’s even an Irish music school (Siamsa), where you can sign up for group classes on various instruments at all levels for a very affordable price.

Jam sessions of many genres can be found on any given night. Some of my recommendations would be Mondays at La Petite Marche for a super traditional Quebecois jam, Tuesdays at Hurley’s Irish Pub for an Irish music jam, and Thursdays at Grumpy’s Bar for a bluegrass jam. There’s a slow Irish session on Saturday afternoons at the Lord William Pub for those not yet expert in the genre or simply wanting to play at a slower pace and pick up tunes by ear.

Even just a short trip to Montreal will charm the visitor. The city embraces modern diversity while holding onto its deep historical roots. From a string player’s perspective, the opportunities are endless, and the city is inspiring; it truly is a place where everyone is different, and anyone can fit in.

Food & Drink in Montreal

Montreal is often referred to as the Paris of North America, and as might be expected, the food scene is incredible. Drawing inspiration from the cultural diversity of the city, its culinary roots lie in French cuisine. To sample some, try Leméac, L’Express, or Bouillon Bilk. For an authentic Montreal experience, you must try poutine: the quintessential comfort food consisting of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. A good poutine is perfect for that post-concert hunger! Many people say that La Banquise serves the best poutine in the city, but I’m partial to Frite Alors! Other Montreal food musts include smoked meat sandwiches and the iconic Montreal-style bagels (in my opinion, better than New York–style bagels!).

Coffee breaks are important for Montrealers, and you don’t have to go far to find a delicious espresso or freshly baked croissant. And spirits are equally plentiful. The province of Quebec produces nearly 300 gins, and there’s a beer festival in Montreal every May where you can sample over 400 beers.