OrKidstra ‘family’ empowers children

Re: More than art’s sake, Nov. 18. With 42 linguistic and cultural groups in our 400 children, OrKidstra is the embodiment of Simon Brault’s hope that young people will find purpose and achieve their potential through the arts.

Recently, we asked our kids for a single word to describe OrKidstra, a social-development program which empowers children and builds community through music.

Harmony, family, friendship, inclusion, inspiration, hope, teamwork and fun all emerged.

Each of these speaks to community. Each is promoted by making music together.

Kafele, an OrKidstra grad, and now assistant teacher in the program, says, “OrKidstra is an incomparable source of compassion, diversity, and musicality. If OrKidstra were a picture, it wouldn’t mean 1,000 words. It would mean 1,000 pictures, each as unique as a single person’s individuality.”

Here, then, is one answer to the cultural divisions so tempting in the wake of radicalism and terror.

With programs like this, children and youth learn how to work across divides and share their pride in achievement.

They take these lessons with them into adulthood. In a nutshell, OrKidstra’s kids build brighter futures — for themselves and for us all.

Brault opened OrKidstra’s International Symposium on Instrumental Change (February 2015), challenging programs like ours to make their voices heard in the struggle against division, radicalization and urban pressures.

Come hear what OrKidstra children have to say at their Holiday Concert, Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., at the Bronson Centre.

They exude hope, joy and togetherness — perfect for the season; perfect for our times. Claire Marshall, Ottawa, Board Chair, The Leading Note Foundation — making OrKidstra happen