The Great Lakes Music Makers is a rising force in the classical and crossover-classical music scene. What started as an idea between two dedicated musicians has blossomed into an inspiring cultural endeavour that enriches the Ancaster community and surrounding areas.

Incorporated in October 2023, Great Lakes Music Makers was the brainchild of Megan Jones and Jacqui Templeton Muir. Having spent years at Brott Music, the duo found themselves at a crossroads in the summer of 2023. A chance conversation with Colin Lapsley, Executive Director of the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, revealed a missing piece in the local arts landscape—a dedicated classical music program at The Centre. This remark immediately sparked ideas and vision in both Jacqui and Megan……and they embarked right away on an ambitious journey to fill this gap.

With the help of a trusted business friend, they assembled their first concert series, almost overnight!  Calling the series Captivating Classics, they immediately engaged talented artists and secured local sponsors, crafting a five-concert annual series running from September to May for that first season

Their primary mission was to provide musical performances of the highest quality, offering a platform for both emerging and established musicians.  At its core, Great Lakes Music Makers is about more than just performances— the aim was to build connections and so their concert series is designed to showcase outstanding musical talent.  Local businesses have been a VITAL part of the support structure required for such a venture. Without willing and wholehearted contributions, ranging from actual donations, displaying advertisements, providing door prizes and most importantly, for business owners and residents regularly attending the performances, the start -up of this organisation would have been so much harder. ‘We felt from day one that the community had our backs and wanted us to be successful’ says Jacqui.‘The top- of -mind business mandate of the organization is dedication to fair, industry-based compensation ensuring a supportive environment for artists. So often musicians are asked to play for reduced fees – people know that musicians love to play, so it is easy to get them to agree to play for less than they deserve. We didn’t want that’.

Ongoing partnerships with other arts organizations and businesses help expand their reach. Collaborations with Guelph Musicfest, The Hamilton Conservatory of Music, and The Hamilton Philharmonic.  As well, a concert in combination with McMaster University has bolstered impact and added to the aim of fostering a rich cultural experience for audiences and musicians alike.

A turning point in the organisation’s growth came in June 2024 when the Incite Foundation awarded the organization a three-year sponsorship. This support has been a game-changer, alleviating financial uncertainty and as Jacqui said, ‘ allowing us to sleep at night’ and concentrate on bringing the best of the best musical ensembles to Ancaster.

Captivating Classics is poised to become an important part of the local arts scene, with a strong foundation and now a dedicated audience. The organization continues to push forward, bringing world-class classical music to Ancaster and the surrounding communities.