Last week, the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (NBYO) announced that it will be launching Sistema New Brunswick, a program designed to bring about transformational social change through music, this fall with a prototype children9s orchestra centre in Moncton.  The program, which will eventually be rolled out to a number of communities across the province,  will be modelled on an internationally renowned Venezuelan program. The National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela, known locally as “El Sistema”, brings together the country’s most disadvantaged youth and nurtures their personal development and talent through free instruments and instruction.
           
“During a tour of Venezuela to investigate their program, we concluded that it was indeed something that was needed here in New Brunswick,” said NBYO president Ken MacLeod. “We were inspired by what we found, so the logical next step was to bringing a version of the program here in order to bring positive change.  The goal is to influence children through music, to foster positive values such as discipline, teamwork, confidence and self-esteem, and to inspire in children a sense of hope, joy and the aspiration to succeed.”
 
New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, saying that “this is a wonderful way to inspire children and youth to achieve their full potential and to acquire the values they need20to grow and to have a positive impact in the society.  This is a perfect example of New Brunswickers coming together to make a significant positive contribution to the future of our children through the arts. The NBYO is a leading force in Canada for positive change for children and we are proud of their contributions.  As this program is rolled out across New Brunswick in the next few years, we will also see more jobs created for professional artists in the province.  A strong, vibrant, cultural sector is good for our economy.”
 
The prototype program for Sistema New Brunswick will be located at Beaverbrook School in Moncton, and will take in students from four schools, Monday to Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., to learn how to play music and gain other social skills in a co-operative, nurturing environment where personal qualities and achievement matter more than the quality of the music.  However, the program will not stop there.  According to Ken Macleod, “by 2015, we hope to open between four and six children’s orchestra centres throughout the province operating in both official languages.  We will engage visionary and socially driven musicians from New Brunswick, Canada, Venezuela and around the world who will collaborate with us.”