OrKidstra Fall Newsletter 2013

OrKidstra and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy

Building Community Through Music ... Together

Most of the 300+ OrKidstra students receive a scholarship that covers the cost of delivering the program, including instruments, music, lessons, rehearsals and performance opportunities; for their part, the students commit to attend - and be punctual for - weekly lessons and rehearsals, to practice daily and to demonstrate good citizenship and good musicianship.

In 2012, a new commitment level, the Dedication Level, was created because it had become evident that several OrKidstra students were not only very talented young musicians, but that they were also very dedicated to learning their instrument: 5 students were given weekly private lessons throughout the summer as they prepared for September auditions at the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy. All were successful: Ngoc Kim, Declan, Gareth and Daniela joined the strings section of the Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra and Peter became a member of the Senior Winds Ensemble.

This year, 2 more students have joined the group and once again, all had a successful OYOA audition: Peter (13) is now principal clarinet of the Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra with Patrick (16) rounding out the section on bass clarinet; Emily (11) has joined the Senior Strings Ensemble; Daniela (17), Declan (16), Gareth (15) and Ngoc Kim (17) garnered coveted positions in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and are looking forward to their first concert with this orchestra on November 24 at St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts.

OrKidstra's End of Year Concert

OrKidstra's end-of-year concert took place on June 13 at Dominion Chalmers United Church. This event brings together all the kids from the Centretown and Lowertown programs and is made extra special because of the beautiful performance venue. The KidSingers, under the direction of Jeannie Hunter, gave a lively rendition of some traditional and folk songs, Louise Paquette's Beginner Violins and Cendrine Despax' KiddlyWinks showed off what they had learned over the year and the KidPlayers OrKidstra, conducted by Margaret Tobolowska and by Jennifer Martinez, augmented by teachers, mentors and few musical Board members, gave stunning performances of O Fortuna from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and the Finale of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The event wrapped up with a short reception with nibblies provided by the parents. A great way to end another successful year and kick off the summer!
View a short video of the concert.

OrKidstra's Chamber Groups a great hit!

Put a bunch of musicians together and it's bound to happen: they want to play together as often as they can. So, due to popular demand, OrKidstra is offering the opportunity for our commitment students to participate in chamber groups. This initiative began in the spring of 2013 and was met with such enthusiasm that several groups now meet every Friday evening for year-round coaching sessions where they are learning to play music from the classical, popular and world music styles. Following the coaching sessions, everyone gets together for a fun evening of games (OrKidstra's own version of Jeopardy!), movies and of course, pizza!

OrKidstra's chamber groups performed at events throughout the city this summer, including a concert in the Byward Market in August.

Benefiting Jer's Vision, an Ottawa group that aims to eliminate bullying and AQANU, a Gatineau organization that supports youth and education issues in the developing world, Picnic in White is an outdoor pop-up picnic that is popular in other cities and will surely become an annual event in Ottawa. As guests, who must dress in white, enjoyed warm summer weather, food and friends, they were entertained by two very different musical groups: OrKidstra's chamber ensemble and local band The PepTides.

Empowering kids...

Exciting news! OrKidstra's Pilot Project with York Street Public School was such a success that the KiddlyWinks program will now also be offered at two Ottawa-Carleton District School Board schools in Centretown. Both Cambridge Street Public School and Centennial Public School have embraced this fun, high-energy program and are offering it in Grades 1 and 2 for the 2013-2014 school year. We will have more to report in the new year on the growing success of this initiative in the Ottawa community.

Building community...

Our staff...

OrKidstra would like to welcome our new Program Coordinator, Tegan Patmore, a fourth year music student at Carleton University. Tegan became involved with OrKidstra in the spring of 2013 with the Iqaluit Exchange and officially became part of the team on a part-time basis in May 2013.

We would also like to welcome Erin MacDonald, our new Artistic Administrator. A professional viola player and exceptional teacher, Erin joined the OrKidstra team in September 2013.

Our volunteers...

Sue Abbott, Martha Nabatian and Leslie Ram are very dedicated volunteers who, for many years, have been greeting OrKidstra children as they arrive for lessons and rehearsals.

Ensconced in the foyer of the Bronson Centre, surrounded by attendance sheets, name tags and snacks provided by the Food Bank they are always ready to answer questions with a warm smile as they make sure that the kids get to their classes ready and raring to go.

Our supporters...

The Women's Business Network has been providing Ottawa businesswomen with networking opportunities for over 30 years by offering a place for them to connect, share and inspire one another. We were proud to be invited to share our OrKidstra philosophy with them and the quintet performed beautifully at their annual "After Work Networking & Cocktail Party" at the Canal Ritz on a very hot evening in July.

OrKidstra was once again honoured to be invited to perform at the annual Friends for Peace event at City Hall on September 28th. Architect Douglas Cardinal and museum curator Amber Lloydlangten were honoured at this year's ceremony.

Down to business...

Developing a Strategic Plan

As demand for OrKidstra's programs grows, it is necessary to have a clear vision of how to develop and expand program delivery in keeping with our mandate to give children from under-served communities the opportunity to learn and make music together and the chance to benefit from the individual skills and community values that are inherent in music-making. Over the course of several months, The Leading Note Foundation has developed a Strategic Plan for 2013-18.

Our immediate priority is to intensify our current operations in Ottawa Centre and to test a new, more decentralized, program delivery model â€“ one which would engage elementary schools and local community organizations in the delivery of our introductory-level programs.

Our long-term goal is to see a suite of OrKidstra programs operating throughout the city of Ottawa, with priority given to those lower-income neighbourhoods identified as community development priorities by the City of Ottawa. The extent and pace of such expansion will depend on the availability of financial support and the forging of new partnerships.

In order to carry out these short- and long-term goals we will pay close attention to exploring and testing new and less costly program delivery options; expanding our financial support base through intensified fundraising efforts and strategies;
building administrative capacity and ensuring first-class management practices; and addressing our professional development needs.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information regarding our future plans.

Mark your calendar...

OrKidstra's Holiday Concert

Thursday December 19, 2013
The Bronson Centre
211 Bronson Avenue at Lisgar
5:30 - 6:30 pm

OrKidstra's heart-warming holiday concert featuring our KidPlayers, KidSingers and KiddlyWinks.

The program will showcase high energy, upbeat repertoire with 200 kids singing and playing together!

Everyone is invited to a reception after the concert.

Other events involving OrKidstra members

Ottawa Youth Orchestra concert
Sunday, November 24 @ 2:30pm
St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts
310 St. Patrick Street

NACO Fanfair
Sunday, December 15 @ 12:00pm
NAC foyer

Keep up to date with OrKidstra events. Visit our website at www.orkidstra.ca

Our heartfelt thanks to our faithful circle of OrKidstra friends

OrKidstra has experienced remarkable success,
but success brings its own challenges!
Though staff and volunteers work hard to stretch each and every dollar,
the demand for our programs is expanding and
we need your support more than ever.

Please play your part, and spread the word.

www.canadahelps.org
613-859-3559
www.orkidstra.ca