Newswire | The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Médecins Francophones du Canada Launch Music on Prescription

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Feature photo: Sacha Cohen – TUX Creative House

Montreal, October 29, 2025 – United by a shared mission to bring the many benefits of music to the community, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Médecins francophones du Canada are joining forces to launch a new initiative: La musique sur ordonnance (Music on Prescription). Beginning today, physicians who are members of Médecins francophones du Canada and practice in Montreal will be able to prescribe an OSM concert to their patients, offering free access to a live musical experience as a complementary tool for wellness and health. The program will run from October 29, 2025 to October 28, 2026.

A MUSICAL PRESCRIPTION, A MEASURABLE IMPACT

Several studies have shown that music and attending a concert boosts overall well-being and may help to relieve certain symptoms within a healing context. When paired with medical expertise, music becomes a powerful tool for supporting mental and physical health, reducing social isolation and boosting quality of life. This program is built on a synergy between the arts and medicine, with doctors serving as channels of influence for promoting a comprehensive approach to health.

“The OSM believes in the beneficial power of music, and we are pleased to be joining forces with Médecins francophones du Canada for the creation of this program. This partnership marks an important step in our action of social responsibility towards others in the community. By offering La musique sur ordonnance, the OSM is putting its artistic excellence in the service of our collective well-being, underscoring that art, in all its forms, can actively contribute to health and quality of life for all,” emphasized Mélanie La Couture, OSM’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

PUTTING THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE

The literature and existing research demonstrate that music has positive effects across multiple dimensions of physical and mental health: reducing stress, improving mood, promoting relaxation, stimulating memory, and fostering a general sense of well-being. In today’s context—where diversifying therapeutic approaches and promoting strategies for overall health are increasingly prioritized—music is emerging as a compelling auxiliary tool. Through the program La musique sur ordonnance, the OSM and Médecins francophones du Canada join a global movement in social prescribing, already well established in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom.

“At Médecins francophones du Canada, we firmly believe that the well-being of physicians and that of their patients are closely intertwined. With the initiative La musique sur ordonnance, we aim to remind people that self-care is an essential part of medical practice. By offering these wellness prescriptions, physicians provide their patients with a moment of emotional connection and renewal—while also acknowledging the importance of maintaining their own balance. This gesture strengthens the therapeutic relationship and recentres care on the human being,” affirmed Nicole Parent, Ph.D., Executive Director of Médecins francophones du Canada.

“We are delighted that an institution as prestigious as the OSM can provide doctors with an additional tool, one that is human-centred and inspiring, for assisting patients in their health journey. As doctors, we wish to position ourselves as ambassadors of integrated health in our communities and hope to see results as promising for our Quebec patients as those observed in similar initiatives, notably in the United Kingdom,” added Dr. Hélène Boyer, family physician and former President of Médecins francophones du Canada.

OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM IN A NUTSHELL

Physicians who are members of Médecins francophones du Canada and actively practising in Montreal can register for the program starting now. Each physician will receive two official prescriptions to be handed out during consultations, allowing two patients to attend an OSM concert with a guest. Following the experience, participants will be invited to complete a questionnaire assessing their enjoyment of the activity and the concert’s perceived impact on their well-being and relationship with their guests. The collected data will be analyzed to measure patient engagement—based on actual concert attendance—and to assess the feasibility of implementing such a program. Eligible patients must be of legal age, understand French or English and live independently. Médecins francophones du Canada will analyze the results to evaluate the program’s effects on participants’ health and quality of life, as well as its potential for broader application.