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Arriving in Canada in 2019 with a graduate degree in orchestral conducting, Evgenii Sakmarov is making his mark among Montreal’s young conductors. After completing a second doctorate in orchestral conducting at the University of Montreal under the tutelage of Jean-François Rivest and Paolo Bellomia in 2022, Sakmarov is now embarking on an ambitious project: founding a new symphony orchestra.
While striving to build his life and career in Canada—a challenge immigrant musicians know all too well—Evgenii is launching a new symphony orchestra in Montreal in 2025. Its mission: to popularize classical music by presenting concerts in hospitals and facilities for people with special needs, while also providing young musicians with their first experience playing in a symphony orchestra.
“The MTL Orchestra offers students a rare opportunity to play with professionals,” explains Sakmarov. “About thirty musicians have followed me since my last doctoral recital at the University of Montreal. I recruited another thirty among students at UdeM, McGill, and CEGEPs.” Together, he brings together 60 to 70 musicians, professionals and students alike.
At their opening concert of the 2025-2026 season on December 15, they will perform Tchaikovsky’s Suites from The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Two more concerts are planned before June 2026.
“I want to grow this orchestra by attracting more musicians,” says Sakmarov. “But it’s very difficult without significant financial support.” For now, he is self-financing the orchestra’s essential needs: sheet music, music stands, chairs, and advertising. Despite his commitment, Evgenii understands that without additional financial support, the orchestra’s existence is impossible.
For the 2025-2026 season, Sakmarov is receiving support from the YM-YWHA’s Sylvan Adams Centre and the Friendship Circle. “They are providing us with a rehearsal space as well as a concert hall for our first season’s programming. With recurring financial support, we could present benefit concerts for hospitals and organizations supporting people with special needs. Music is a powerful vehicle for well-being,” says Sakmarov.
“Since childhood, I’ve dreamed of becoming a conductor. That’s why I launched this project: I’m not doing it for the money, but because this mission inspires me,” he adds.
Throughout his career, Sakmarov has qualified for several international competitions alongside a dozen conductors selected from hundreds of applicants. He has studied and participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned conductors, including Neeme Järvi, Rafael Payare, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Boris Brott, Yuri Simonov, Yoav Talmi, Michael Newnham, Adrian McDonnell, Günther Stegmüller, Jean-François Rivest, and Paolo Bellomia, among others.
Maestro Neeme Järvi said of him: “Evgenii possesses a highly sensitive musicality, an innate sense of gesture and rhythm. He already has extensive experience working with professional orchestras. Evgenii is driven by excellence, is a dedicated learner, and has a remarkable personality. Considering all his human, musical, and conducting qualities, I am convinced that a promising future awaits him.”
If you support the mission of Evgenii and the MTL Orchestra, you can donate using the QR code or by emailing them at [email protected].
The MTL Orchestra debut concert will take place on December 15, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sylvan Adams Centre of the YM-YWHA (5400 Westbury Ave, Montreal, Quebec H3W 2Y8).
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