Songs from the Schools

It’s standing room only in a classroom at St. Teresa of Calcutta Elementary School. Twenty Grade 2 and 3 students stand in rows, bows in hand, ready to show off what they’ve been earning in the Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta (YONASistema) program at their school. The students chatter and play with their music stands as their teacher, Mr. Nathan Chan, sits at the front of the classroom behind an electric piano.

Joy is a word one hears over and over from parents, staff and teachers describing the YONA-Sistema program. The kids don’t use the word, but it’s clear they’ve found joy in their little violins. Jacquie McNulty, the YONA-Sistema Lead, says that learning to play in an ensemble not only teaches the students music, but it fosters their leadership abilities, builds emotional resilience and teaches a life lesson: it allows kids to learn that mistakes happen as they play music, and you can’t fix what’s already done. You move on and play the next passage as best as you can.

Founded in 2013, YONA-Sistema is a free music program operated by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Winspear Centre in partnership with the Edmonton Catholic School District, Edmonton Public School Board and Kipohtakâw Education Centre. It offers a lot more than after-school childcare. Students in the program learn an instrument, play outside, enjoy a healthy snack and get help with their school work. Modelled on the El Sistema program from Venezuela, YONA-Sistema uses music for social change, imbuing students with values like unity, compassion and harmony.

YONA-Sistema operates on five sites around Alberta – four in Edmonton and one on the Alexander First Nation. Programs are held at the Winspear Centre, St. Teresa of Calcutta Elementary School, St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary and Junior High School, St. Catherine Catholic School and Kipohtakâw Education Centre. Schools are selected based on community need, mostly in Edmonton’s core. Students from Grades 1-9 participate in the program, with older students and program alumni mentoring the younger ones. The program’s philosophy is holistic, caring for the student as a whole person with needs beyond music lessons. Learning notes and how to hold a bow is just the beginning.

“Everyone can be a leader. The program gives students an opportunity to lead in class and become mentors as they get older.”

In its first year, YONA-Sistema offered instruction in violin to just 20 students. Today, there are 240 students registered in YONA-Sistema, and it’s expanded its offerings to include viola, cello, bass, percussion, trombone, tuba, horn, flute, clarinet, recorder and trumpet.

In a world of everpresent screens, disembodiment and loneliness, students look forward to coming to YONA-Sistema to playmusic, learn skills, connect with peers and mentors and get some physical activity. “It’s very much about being present,” McNulty says. “Playing an instrument is a full body experience and it engages your whole brain. There’s a lot of research that shows the benefits [of playing an instrument] on brain development.” For kids who are struggling, music’s grounding effect is particularly helpful. Kids who come to YONA Sistema stressed say they leave feeling better.

“Especially for students who have a hard time socially, being a part of an ensemble helps them feel valued, they feel part of a community,”

With help from a $15,000 Edmonton Community Foundation grant, YONASistema hired PlanIt Sound to create a time capsule video to mark a decade of YONA-Sistema in 2023. I cried when I saw the video,” McNulty says. “It really helped us tell the YONASistema story, and show people how multifaceted the program is and how it’s impacting our students. We are so gratefulfor the support of Edmonton Community Foundation in this. We always say it takes a village, and you’re all part of that.”

This story comes from the Spring 2024 Edition of Legacy in Action. Read the full issue.