The Two Faces of the Dream - A National Dialogue on Classical Music and Mental Health,

About the event

Project Summary

The two faces of the drame is a bold, nation-wide concert and dialogue series that explores the profound connection between classical music and mental health. Inspired by the life and emotional world of composer Robert Schumann, the project weaves together live performances and public conversations to destigmatize psychological vulnerability and promote healing through the arts.

Each event features a powerful pairing: a concert of emotionally resonant works by composers such as Robert Schumann—composers who struggled with mental illness—alongside a pre-concert dialogue led by licensed mental health professionals. Together, these two parts foster reflection, empathy, and open discourse around emotional wellbeing.

Held in cities and communities across Canada throughout 2026, the series emphasizes accessibility, relevance, and emotional connection. Concerts will take place in cultural centres, universities, and community spaces, inviting audiences to experience classical music not only as beauty, but as a compassionate and humanizing force.

By blending art and mental health advocacy, The Two Faces of the Dream challenges stigma, amplifies lived experiences, and positions classical music as a vital space for public care and conversation.

Format

Each event will consist of two parts:

1. Public Dialogue Segment – A 60-70 minute bilingual talk or moderated conversation led by a licensed mental health professional, addressing the psychological experiences and creative processes of selected composers.

    

2. Live Concert Performance – A 60–70-minute concert by emerging Canadian classical artists, performing the music discussed in the talk, curated for emotional resonance and historical depth.

    

    

Tour Plan (2026)

The project is planned as a national tour from January to December 2026, with performances in approximately 20 cities across Canada. Planned stops include Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Québec City, Ottawa, and several university towns. Concerts will take place in community venues, universities, cultural centres, and local concert halls. In each city, we will engage local media and mental health networks to promote attendance and community involvement.

Goals & Impact

• Mental Health Awareness: Foster public conversations on mental health, using music history as an emotionally resonant entry point.

   

• Audience Development: Attract younger, diverse, and culturally curious audiences to classical music through an innovative format.

   

• Artist Visibility: Provide national touring opportunities for emerging Canadian and

  Canada-based musicians.

   

• Social Engagement: Partner with local organizations to reach BIPOC communities,

students, and underserved groups.

Target Audience

• Youth and students

• Mental health professionals and advocates

• Classical music audiences and newcomers

• University communities and educators

• Media and cultural institutions

Why This Project Matters

In an era of rising mental health crises, especially among youth and creatives, this project uses beauty and vulnerability to shift conversations. It is not only a performance series, but a national dialogue that repositions classical music as a space of empathy, reflection, and social relevance.

By illuminating the emotional lives of composers and openly addressing mental health through both music and conversation, Les Deux Visages du Rêve aims to dismantle stigma, challenge harmful misconceptions, and reduce the social marginalization often faced by those living with mental illness. Ultimately, the project seeks to foster a more open, compassionate public discourse that not only promotes understanding but also contributes to suicide prevention and emotional well-being across diverse communities

Why should you sponsor?

Why Support Harmonaire Musique?

Sound of Future: You can shape the next generation of classical music.

• Support artistic excellence by helping us present world-class performances by today’s most inspiring classical musicians.

• Support emerging artists as they take bold steps toward international careers — through concerts, residencies, and mentorship.

• Support innovation by funding new formats, new works, and new ways to experience classical music.

• Support a growing community of curious, open-minded listeners who believe in the power of live music.

• Support accessibility and inclusion, making space for young audiences, newcomers, and first-time concertgoers.

You are part of the Sound of Future. We offer a growing set of benefits to thank our supporters and visionaries.

Hong Cao

Harmonaire Musique: Our Origins and Vision

 

Harmonaire Musique was founded in 2025 as a federally incorporated non-profit arts organization in Canada, with a mission to integrate classical music into contemporary life and provide meaningful performance platforms for emerging artists. The organization was initiated by Clara Hong Cao, a senior IT team leader with a background in computer science and a lifelong passion for classical music and cultural advocacy.

 

The creation of Harmonaire Musique was born from the belief that classical music still has vital roles to play in today’s world—artistically, intellectually, and socially. Operating with a project-based, curator-driven model, the organization is intentionally agile, unbound by traditional institutional frameworks, and committed to fostering original programs that engage diverse audiences.

 

From the outset, Harmonaire Musique has centered its activities around producing artistically rigorous and socially conscious performances. Its inaugural season features four core projects, each designed to reflect a unique curatorial vision:

 

• The Blue Lounge – A late-night classical music series created for younger urban audiences, blending high-level performance with a relaxed and immersive setting;

• Les Deux Visages du Rêve – A lecture-concert series exploring mental health and the inner lives of composers, fostering reflection and dialogue through music and ideas;

• On the Earth – An international touring initiative spotlighting Canadian emerging artists, creating opportunities for global cultural exchange and artistic visibility;

• Cataraqui Chamber Music Festival – A summer festival held in the Cataraqui region of Ontario, combining Indigenous perspectives with the traditions of Western chamber music.

   

Each of these projects functions not only as a concert series, but as a cultural gesture—seeking to revitalize the role of classical music in civic life, and to create authentic opportunities for young musicians to perform, connect, and be seen.

 

Although newly founded, Harmonaire Musique is already establishing collaborations with artists, designers, video creators, and cultural organizations across Canada. Its early momentum is supported by a growing network of volunteers, donors, and advisors who share the vision of making classical music more accessible, vibrant, and relevant.

 

Looking ahead, Harmonaire Musique aims to expand its annual performance season, build strong partnerships both locally and internationally, and continue developing a sustainable, artist-centered model grounded in curatorial excellence and cultural impact.

 

 

ABOUR OUR NAME

 

Our French name is “Harmonaire Musique”, and our English name is “Harmonaire Music Association”. We are a federally registered non-profit organization based in the culturally diverse city of Montreal, dedicated to promoting classical music and supporting emerging artists. “Harmonaire” is a coined term combining the French word “Harmonie” (harmony) and the English word “Air” (melody, breath), pronounced [ahr-moh-NAIR]. It symbolizes the harmony and vitality of music. Through music, we aim to connect diverse cultures and emotions, fostering artistic innovation. As a cultural non-profit, we focus on producing classical concerts, nurturing emerging talent, and advancing multilingual, multicultural artistic projects to provide inclusive and enriching musical experiences for audiences.

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