Orchestre de l’Agora (OA), under the direction of Nicolas Ellis, uses music as a tool for sustainable social change while presenting innovative and audacious concerts. Its musicians, who are young professionals from the Montreal area, are among the finest of their generation and actively take part in its social actions and outreach efforts through music. Founded in 2013 by Nicolas Ellis, OA is focused on the core values of initiative, collaboration, commitment and boldness. These values have been reflected in the Orchestra’s many undertakings over the years like Gala de la Terre pour les enfants, which raised $255,000 for environmental and humanitarian causes. On February 5, 2023, Conseil québécois de la musique awarded Orchestre de l’Agora the Opus prize for “Musical event of the year” for Gala de la Terre pour les enfants of June 22, 2022, which featured Gustav Mahler’s 3rd Symphony. The Orchestra has begun a partnership with the Montreal Detention Centre in 2021-2022, to present concert-workshops for incarcerated individuals. The Orchestra’s musicians, in partnership with Share the Warmth, have given music lessons and mentoring to hundreds of underprivileged children since 2013, one of the many projects OA has in the community.