Ensemble Caprice

What Ensemble Caprice does

Ensemble Caprice is a Montreal-based non-profit baroque and classical music ensemble founded in 1994 by flautist Matthias Maute. Its core product is live concert performance of baroque repertoire on period instruments (recorder, baroque flute), delivered through a regular Montreal concert series at Maison symphonique, Salle Raoul-Jobin, and the new Le 9e heritage venue, alongside international touring across four continents. The ensemble operates as a project-based artistic collective of roughly 9 staff-led employees supplemented by an extended network of hired musicians (4,500 engaged in the Mini-Concerts Santé program between 2020 and 2024).

The ensemble has developed a diversified portfolio beyond traditional ticketed concerts. It runs two flagship community programs — Mini-Concerts Santé (free door-to-door concerts in disadvantaged neighborhoods, with 13,500 concerts delivered to 100,000 recipients across 394 regions between 2020 and 2024) and ClassiqueInclusif (concerts curated with immigrant, refugee, and indigenous communities, awarded the 2023 Prix Opus for Inclusion and Diversity). It also maintains a discography of approximately 20 recordings on Analekta, ATMA Classique, and Antes Edition, distributed in nearly 50 countries, including the Juno Award-winning Gloria! Vivaldi and his Angels (2009).

The business model is a multi-stream non-profit funding stack: (1) earned revenue from concert tickets starting at $39.85 and season subscriptions starting at $53 with a 30% discount, (2) major donor patronage through the Mécénat Caprice program structured as $25,000 units leveraged to $70,000-$250,000 via the Mécénat Musica matching mechanism, (3) government grants from Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts de Montréal, Conseil québécois de la musique, and Québec government programs, and (4) corporate and foundation sponsorship from TD, BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, Fondation Azrieli, Molson Foundation, McCarthy, and Canada Life. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with representatives from Banque TD and independent consultants, and is led by Maute (Artistic Director), Sophie Larivière (Co-Artistic Director), and Mariame Aboulhab (Executive Director).

Name

Ensemble Caprice

Legal name

Ensemble Caprice

Website

https://ensemblecaprice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ensemble Caprice is a Montreal-based non-profit baroque music ensemble founded in 1994 by Matthias Maute, serving classical music patrons, immigrant communities, and disadvantaged neighborhoods through live concerts, an international touring program, a 20-album discography, and community outreach initiatives including Mini-Concerts Santé and ClassiqueInclusif.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Baroque music performances
• Classical music concerts
• Live concert series
• Community music outreach
• Classical music recordings

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual concert tickets and season subscriptions for performances at venues including Maison symphonique, Salle Raoul-Jobin, Le 9e, and various festival locations
2. Donations and Patronage: Charitable donations from individual patrons and the Mécénat Caprice program where donors contribute $25,000 units that are matched through the Mécénat Musica program
3. Recordings and Discography: Sales of classical music recordings on Analekta, ATMA Classique, and Antes labels, distributed internationally in nearly 50 countries

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ensemble Caprice is a Montreal-based baroque and classical music ensemble that performs live concerts at venues in Canada and internationally, sells recordings through labels such as Analekta, ATMA Classique, and Antes, and runs community-focused programs including Mini-Concerts Santé (free outdoor door-to-door concerts) and ClassiqueInclusif (concerts curated with immigrant and indigenous communities). It also offers season subscriptions, the Le 9e chamber music series, and the Mécénat Caprice patronage program.

Product overview

Ensemble Caprice is a Montreal-based baroque and classical music ensemble founded by flautist Matthias Maute, offering a portfolio of live performance products and community-focused music programs. The core offering consists of live concert performances (featuring baroque, classical, and crossover repertoire) sold through season subscriptions and individual tickets, complemented by award-winning recordings distributed internationally. The organization also operates distinctive community programs including Mini-Concerts Santé (free outdoor concerts for disadvantaged neighborhoods), ClassiqueInclusif (inclusion-focused concerts for immigrant and indigenous communities), and Le 9e | Classical Music at 5PM (intimate chamber music at a heritage venue). A patronage program (Mécénat Caprice) facilitates major cultural donations. The ensemble performs regularly at prestigious venues including Maison symphonique, Salle Raoul-Jobin, and at international festivals across four continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mini-Concerts Santé: Free outdoor community concerts bringing music to disadvantaged neighborhoods, delivering door-to-door performances to address isolation and loneliness.
• ClassiqueInclusif
• Le 9e | Classical Music

Products and services

• Live Concert Performances
• Season Subscriptions
• Mini-Concerts Santé
• ClassiqueInclusif
• Le 9e | Classical Music at 5PM
• Recordings and Discography
• Mécénat Caprice (Patronage Program)
• Garage Concerts

Quantifiable outcome

• JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral Performance (2009, 2020)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAFLA (Centre d'aide aux familles latino-américaines)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for ClassiqueInclusif project, helping identify and invite Latino immigrant and refugee community members to participate in concerts
• The Refugee CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for ClassiqueInclusif project supporting refugee integration through music
• Richard Heason - The Creatively Curious (England)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTouring agent in England representing Ensemble Caprice for international bookings
• Ewelina Mikluszka - ARTem Künstleragentur (Germany)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTouring agent in Europe (based in Frankfurt, Germany) representing Ensemble Caprice for international bookings
• AnalektacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian classical music record label that has released most of Ensemble Caprice's approximately 20 recordings, distributed internationally
• ATMA ClassiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec-based classical music record label that has released Ensemble Caprice recordings including Les Sept Sauts and Alla Turca
• Ensemble ArtChoralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoir ensemble collaborating with Ensemble Caprice on major works including Handel's Messiah, Bach's St Matthew Passion, and Bach's Magnificat
• Ensemble ArtChoralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiator with Ensemble Caprice of the Mini-Concerts Santé and Mini-Opéras Santé initiative under Mécénat Musica
• Concerts noncertominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mini-Concerts Santé and Mini-Opéras Santé initiative

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Apollo's Fire: Cleveland-based baroque orchestra founded by violinist Jeannette Sorrell. Comparable as a North American period-performance ensemble with award-winning recordings, national and international touring, and crossover programming.
• Boston Baroque: North America's first permanent baroque orchestra, founded in 1973. Comparable North American period-performance ensemble performing large-scale baroque works (Handel, Bach) with subscription series and recordings.
• Bach Collegium Japan: Tokyo-based period-performance ensemble under Masaaki Suzuki, acclaimed for its Bach recordings on BIS. Comparable international baroque ensemble with award-winning recordings, specializing in choral-orchestral baroque works.
• Piffaro: Philadelphia-based Renaissance and early-baroque wind ensemble. Comparable as a North American period-instrument chamber ensemble focused on early music with a touring and recording profile.
• Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Toronto-based baroque orchestra and chamber ensemble founded in 1979, performing on period instruments. Directly comparable as a Canadian period-performance ensemble with international touring, recordings on multiple labels, and a similar focus on baroque repertoire with innovative programming.
• Les Violons du Roy: Quebec City-based period-instrument orchestra associated with Bernard Labadie. Highly comparable as a French-Canadian baroque ensemble of similar scale and profile, sharing Montreal/Quebec talent pools and touring circuits.
• Handel and Haydn Society: Boston-based period-instrument orchestra and chorus founded in 1815. Comparable as an older, larger baroque/classical ensemble with subscription series, educational programs, and Grammy-winning recordings.
• Arion Orchestre Baroque: Montreal-based baroque orchestra with which Ensemble Caprice's co-artistic director Sophie Larivière has performed. Direct peer operating in the same city and same period-performance market with overlapping audiences and donor base.
• I Musici de Montréal: Montreal chamber orchestra with which Matthias Maute has appeared as guest soloist/conductor. Comparable Montreal-based classical ensemble with subscription programming and shared local institutional partnerships.
• Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal: Montreal-based early-music ensemble specializing in medieval, Renaissance, and baroque repertoire. Direct peer with overlapping performers (Sophie Larivière's previous affiliations) and the same local audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ensemblecaprice
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnsembleCaprice
• Instagraminstagram.com/ensemblecaprice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ensemble-caprice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ensemble Caprice