Youth orchestra plays with ESO.

Children have spent last school year learning to play the violin

Twenty children at Mother Teresa Elementary School in the Boyle Street neighbourhood have spent the past school year learning to play the violin through YONA-Sistema, an Edmonton Symphony Orchestra pilot program focusing on music education and after-school recreation for under-served youth.

The free outreach program is modelled on El Sistema, a long-standing program in Venezuela that uses music for social change. YONA stands for the Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta.

Funded by grants, donations and partner contributions, the YONA-Sistema program is targeted at two of Edmonton’s youngest and fastest-growing demographics: newcomers and aboriginal families. The student body at Mother Teresa, a Catholic school, is comprised of nationalities from all over the world; nearly three-quarters of the children speak English as a second language.

The ESO’s three-year pilot program plans to double the number of participants each year, add in children from an Edmonton public school, and teach the kids to play other string instruments, including viola, cello and bass.

Past the pilot stage, the goal is to create a larger YONA multi-instrument ensemble.

This year’s crop of YONA students are in Grades 2 and 3, plus a Grade 6 child who has taken on a student leadership position in the program.

The children spend three hours every weekday afternoon practising at their school.

The program culminated with a Thursday night concert featuring the YONA violinists performing with the ESO at the Winspear Centre.

Below are some of the young musicians’ thoughts on the YONA experience.

BRUCE EDWARDS/EDMONTON JOURNAL Students from the Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta-Sistema program join the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for The Road to Joy concert at the Winspear Centre Thursday night.

“Playing the violin is a big opportunity to connect with music better. I’ve always wanted to play classical music. My dad gets me to listen to rock music, like Bon Jovi and the Cars, but sometimes it gets a little old. I like classical: Beethoven,...

“I was so excited and nervous at the same time because we were going to play the violin. What happens if it drops and what happens if it breaks. The first note I played was E. It’s the highest note at the edge. There was tape (on the violin) and I was...

“The violin sounds really nice and my friends like to hear me play. I wanted to learn how to play an instrument. It makes me feel happy … It’s hard putting my pinky all the way there. There’s a fourth finger and I have to stretch it to get all the...

“It’s good because it helps make my legs balance better and helps me stay up longer and makes my fingers work better. I love the sound of the violin. I love reading music and making music.” William Pratt , Grad e 2, age 8

“I like playing fast. We get to dance. My parents said, ‘You should practise.’ ” Mai Nguyen , Grad e 3, age 8

“It feels like I’m holding a baby. I take care of my violin.” Silver Whiteh ead , Grad e 3, age 9