Our Story: 2009-2010 (Our Third Year)

September 2009

The third year of the OrKidstra and KidSingers programs got under way with a much-improved registration process in September and virtually all of our students returned from last year for another year of music-making.  We now have over 100 students taking lessons at the Bronson Centre!  The pictures below show most of the students from the different classes. 

The Orkidstra strings with instructors Susan Rupp, Margaret Tobolowska, Caren Abramoff, Grace Bruno, Gale Shehan; U of O students Francine Chiarello, Melissa Bourgault, Michelle Odorico; and mentors Rebecca Grey, Seth Allison & Kyle Bourghout.

The Orkidstra band with instructor Jennifer Martinez; U of O students Jessica Tse & Velia Ivanova; and mentors Zoe Humphries, Pegleess Barrios & Thea Humphries.

The KidSingers and guitar class with instructors Shannon Linton, Susan Rupp, Marg Stubington, Chris Milne; U of O students Mark Wilkinson, Travis Matte, Kayley Duff & Dan Levitt; and mentor Jessica Rabski.

October 2009

The really big news for October was that our Executive Director, Tina Fedeski, participated in an exciting four-day event in Toronto called The Glenn Gould Prize Celebration of Music.  The inspiration behind this event was the amazing work of Dr. José Antonio Abreu, the founder of the Venezuelan youth music program [El Sistema], who was in Toronto that week to receive the prestigious Glenn Gould Award. On Wednesday, October 28, Tina was part of a panel discussing El Sistema Around the World: Unlocking the Secrets of Success.  She shared the story of our El Sistema-inspired programs – the OrKidstra and KidSingers - along with two other founders of similarly inspired music programs from Glasgow and New York.  For more information on the day's events, please click  here .

The opening highlight of the week was a concert by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra (SBYO) conducted by Gustavo Dudamel in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 24.  Over the following few days there was a number of other events including concerts, masterclasses at local schools and presentations.   The week concluded with a spectacular concert by the orchestra in the Rogers Centre (formerly the SkyDome) with over 14,000 Ontario high school students in attendance.  Hopefully, you can still find more information on this spectacular event at www.glenngould.ca .

What made the week even more special for our program was that two of our students (Daniela Armas Kakorina [violin] and Peter Perez [clarinet]) and one of our youth orchestra mentors (Pegleess Barrios [flute]) were invited to attend the entire week by the Toronto-based film production company, Filmblanc.  Filmblanc are making a documentary on El Sistema inspired programs and are featuring the OrKidstra and KidSingers programs.  Our three "kids" had a once-in-a-lifetime experience that week and the following photos (with many thanks to Pedro Barrios) show the events of their exciting week.

Our intrepid adventurers in the wee hours of Monday morning outside of the Ottawa train station.  Left to right: Daniella, Pedro Barrios (Pegleess' father and their patient chaperone & photographer for the week), Pegleess and Peter.  All aboard!

 

Pegleess talks to Dr. José Antonio Abreu at a reception before he was presented with the Glenn Gould prize at Monday evening's concert.  Peter and Daniella are in the foreground.  In the background, Noemi Weis from FilmBlanc is talking to Rodrigo Guerrero, who is the International Affairs Officer for El Sistema and Dr. Abreu's right-hand man and translator.

The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra on stage Monday night at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts with their charismatic young conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

Tuesday was filled with educational events planned by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra.  Several chamber groups from the orchestra visited high schools in the Toronto region to give concerts and share their message with the children.  Our "kids", along with the film crew, attended several of these events.

On stage with the Venezuelan Youth Brass Quintet at a high school in Etobicoke.  Our band teacher, Jennifer Martinez (who also attended the weeks' events), conducted them in a performance of Pearson's Ayre and Dance that they rehearsed for five minutes or so with the quintet before taking the stage - what seasoned pros!

With Alexis Urbina, the tuba player for the Venezuelan Youth Brass Quintet.		Showing off their new t-shirts with Jennifer in their backstage dressing room!

On Wednesday, the symposium entitled The Power of Music: Transforming Young Minds and Lives took place at the newly renovated Royal Conservatory of Music on Bloor St.  The fabulous lineup for the day's events can be seen  here .  Tina was part of a panel discussing El Sistema inspired programs around the world (see pictures below).  Meanwhile, our "kids" were running around to various events (including the SBYO's rehearsal at the Rogers Centre, but made it back to the RCM in time to present four of our fun Leading Note exercises (complete with audience participation) at the end of Tina's presentation.

Tina giving her presentation as part of the panel on El Sistema Around the World: Unlocking the Secrets of Success.  The other panel members (from left to right) are Rodrigo Guerrero (International Affairs Officer for El Sistema), Helen McVey (cello teacher for Sistema Scotland in Glasgow) and Anne Fitzgibbon (director of the Harmony program in New York City).

 

The "kids" had the privilege of attending the rehearsal of the SBYO at the Rogers Centre.  After the rehearsal they were fortunate to each have a small lesson with a member of the orchestra.  Pegleess is shown with Katherine Rivas (principal flute), Daniela with Felipe Rodriguez (one of the first violins), and Peter with Carlos Escalona (clarinet).

On Wednesday evening, we all attended a performance of the brass and percussion ensemble from the SBYO (some 60 players strong), with a special appearance by The Canadian Brass.  The concert took place in the fabulous new concert hall in the Royal Conservatory of Music building and both the concert and the hall were absolutely amazing.

Thursday concluded the four-day event in style with a performance by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra in the Rogers Centre.  Over 14,000 high school children from all over Ontario were bussed in to attend the performance.  Each piece on the program was led by a different young conductor from within the El Sistema.  Afterwards, our "kids" and film crew headed down to the stage area and had one last chance to meet with Dr. José Antonio Abreu and to receive some coaching.

One more meeting with Dr. Abreu after the performance at the Rogers Centre.

After their meeting with Dr. Abreu, our trio had a chance to receive some coaching from Valdemar Rodriguez.  Senior Rodriguez is the head clarinet pedagogue for El Sistema and developed their clarinet curriculum.

Tina, Pegleess & Daniela with Cristian Vasquez, one of the first violinists with the SBYO.  Cristian is also an upcoming conductor and had just finished conducting the SBYO in one of the pieces at the Rogers Centre.  As well, he will be a guest conductor with the National Arts Centre Orchestra right here in Ottawa in February 2010.		The crew leaving the hotel for the final time on Thursday afternoon.  They are sporting the Venezuelan jackets that were generously given to us by Rodrigo Guerrero.

Thus ends our incredible four days in Toronto with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, with our "kids" having had an experience that will be with them for the rest of their lives!

December 2009 - Christmas Concert

Stay tuned for pictures from our year-end Christmas concert.  In the meantime, please use the MP3 player below to listen to a CBC snippet that includes "Who Let the Elves Out" performed by the OrKidstra & KidSingers (kindly recorded by CBC producer Jill LaForty at the Christmas concert).

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