Sistema NB Kids are Set to “Play with the Pros” on April 29

Moncton, NB: For two hundred and forty Sistema NB students from across the province, it will be like lacing up their skates, putting on their gear and playing on the same line with Sidney Crosby!

On Saturday, April 29, students from Richibucto, Tobique First Nation, Saint John and Moncton centres will perform a once-in-a-lifetime concert with Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra.

“Our young artists are working, preparing and rehearsing – all incredibly motivated to elevate their performance,” says Ken MacLeod, CEO of Sistema NB. “Playing side-by-side with the best professional musicians in the province will do that, what an opportunity for our young people.”

 The concert takes place at 7 pm Saturday, April 29, at the Wesleyan Celebration Centre in Moncton. The concert is free and all are welcome.

Mentoring Young Talent

The New Brunswick stop is part of the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Canada 150 Tour. Seventy musicians are embarking on a year-long cross Canada tour in celebration of the nation’s birthday. They are taking time to engage and mentor young musicians in music programs.

“It is an enormous privilege so support Sistema NB and to share the joy and diversity of music with the local community. I want their young instrumentalists to have the opportunity to sit next to, work with, and be inspired by our fabulous NACO musicians in the hope that they will view them as friends and as mentors,” says Alexander Shelley, National Arts Centre Music Director.

On Friday, April 28, 12 of the NAC Orchestra’s musicians will spend the afternoon working with students at the Moncton Sistema NB Centre as they break into group sectionals. Students will learn tips and tricks from a NACO professional and finalizing details for their Saturday evening performance with Maestro Shelley.

Students will rub shoulders with some of Canada’s most respected classical musicians, including violinist Jeremy Mastrangelo, Oboist Chip Hamann and Trumpet player Karen Donnelly.

“To have Canada’s best musicians at our site to work with our kids means so much,” says Chelsey Hiebert, Director of the Moncton Sistema NB Centre. “Even just a word of encouragement, support and a show of respect can have a massive impact, especially coming from some of the best musicians in the country. Their impact results in inspiring our kids to live up to their potential. “

About the National Arts Centre Orchestra

The NAC Orchestra was formed at the creation of Canada’s National Arts Centre in 1969 and gives over 100 performances a year with world renowned artists. It is noted for the passion and clarity of its performances and recordings, its ground-breaking teaching and outreach programs, and nurturing of Canadian creativity. In 2015, Alexander Shelley began his tenure as NAC Orchestra Music Director, following Pinchas Zukerman’s 16 seasons at the helm. In addition to a full series of subscription concerts at the National Arts Centre each season, the Orchestra tours throughout Canada and around the world.

The NAC Orchestra has made over 40 commercial recordings, including Angela Hewitt’s 2015 JUNO Award-winning album of Mozart Piano Concertos.

Many more concerts are freely available through NACmusicbox.ca on the NAC’s performing arts education website ArtsAlive.ca. These include many of the 80+ new works commissioned by the NAC Orchestra since its inception, most from Canadian composers.

About Sistema NB

Through its eight centres in communities across the province, the Sistema NB program offers school-age children an opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument in an orchestral setting. Based on a highly successful program in Venezuela, Sistema NB provides transformative change through a five-day-a-week music program to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.  Launched in 2009, Sistema NB is fun, encourages excellence, builds teamwork and confidence. In 2015, the NBYO received the Prime Minister’s Award for Social Innovation for the work and leadership of Sistema NB in Canada.  For more information about Sistema NB, visit www.sistemanb.ca.