*This event will take place primarily in French. We will make every effort to provide translations of presentation slides.
AGORA symposium: Artisans | Guitare | Ondes | Recherche | Acoustique
The aim of this symposium is to bring together different professions around a central theme: the guitar. Beyond the interdisciplinary approach that has characterized AGORA since its inception, the 2026 edition explicitly aims to:
- nurture and advance knowledge in stringed instrument making;
- promote concrete dialogue between science, performance, and instrument manufacturing;
- contribute to the development of increasingly inspiring, high-performance, and innovative instruments;
- support and highlight the exceptional expertise of Quebec luthiers, who are recognized worldwide.
We firmly believe that the convergence of acoustic research, artistic experimentation, and craftsmanship can have a real impact on the evolution of the contemporary guitar. AGORA is thus intended to be a living laboratory where instrument making, scientific research, creation and performance, spatialization, waves, and immersive technologies intersect. AGORA also encourages exchanges with the general public.
Registration
This event is free and open to all, but spaces are limited. The deadline has been extended to March 13, 2026, please fill this MS form to register: https://forms.office.com/r/0CNtTgN97P
Ticket reservations and location of the March 26 evening concert will be provided later.
*If there is enough interest among CIRMMT members, we will organize a bus for return transportation from Montreal to Sherbrooke. Be sure to fill out the question on bus travel in the above MS registration form.
**For CIRMMT students, attending this event may take the place of one Distinguished Lecture or live@CIRMMT attendance for funding consideration.
Program
Day 1: Thursday March 26
Thursday will be devoted entirely to technical discussions.
9:00–9:30am: General introduction to the day
9:30am–12:00pm: État des lieux : la guitare telle qu’on la connaît
Alternating scientific presentations, instrument presentations, and guitar performances.
12:00pm–1:00pm: Lunch (provided by the organizers)
1:00pm–2:00pm: Plenary lecture: Prof. Mark Rau, Assistant Professor of Music Technology, M.I.T. - Boston, USA (*in English)
2:00pm–5:00pm: Experiments and tests
Participants will be invited to take part in various workshops. For example, on measuring and perceiving the acoustic behavior of different guitar soundboards (different types of wood) to enable a concrete discussion between luthiers, craftsmen, and scientists on the quality of these soundboards. Vibroacoustic measurements will be taken on complete guitars. In addition, enhanced listening using bone conduction headphones will be organized by Andrea Gozzi (School of Music, UdS).
5:00–6:00pm: Round table discussion among participants / light meal (provided by the organization)
7:00pm: Presentation for the general public at the Musée de la Nature et des Sciences de Sherbrooke MNS2 – La guitare, c’est fait comment et comment ça marche ?
8:00pm: Concert in the city center (location and ticket reservations to be provided later)
Day 2: Friday March 27
9:00am–12:00pm: La guitare de demain ?
- Guitare et Karlax – Benjamin Lavastre (CIRMMT)
- Imprimer une guitare en 3D ? – Raphaël Jeanvoine (UdS)
- Les plaques structurées ? intérêt pour la lutherie ? – Mathis Vulliez (UdS – INSA Lyon)
- Les guitares ou autres intruements avec des matériaux modernes ou inusités – Olivier Robin (UdS)
- Other contributions welcome – Suggestions to be sent to olivier.robin[AT]usherbrooke[DOT]ca
12:00pm–1:00pm: Lunch (provided by the organizers)
1:00pm–4:00pm: Open to visitors and demonstrations for young people and the general public with EXPO sciences taking place at the cultural center
Guest speaker: Mark Rau
Professor Rau's background in research, acoustics, guitar, and lutherie explains his presence as a guest speaker.
Mark Rau is an assistant professor of music technology at MIT, where he divides his time between the Music and Theater Arts Department and the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. He recently earned his PhD from Stanford University's Center for Computer Music and Acoustics Research (CCRMA). He also holds a master's degree in music, science, and technology from Stanford, as well as a bachelor's degree in physics and a bachelor's degree in jazz music from McGill University.
More specifically, Prof. Rau is particularly interested in the fields of musical acoustics, vibrations and acoustic measurements, audio signal processing, and physical modeling synthesis. Prof. Rau is also a guitarist, and his research often focuses on topics related to the guitar and the audio effects commonly used with this instrument. These interests, combined with a passion for physical design and fabrication, led him to take an interest in lutherie, which guides Prof. Rau's research in the fields of acoustics, measurement, and modeling of musical instruments.