Miramichi youths hold first Sistema concert

Thirty Miramichi children are participating in the Sistema program, learning classical music, and held their first concert last night. A mother and son are loving the experience.

(Paydon Corbin, right, and Caden Buckley play viola)

Last fall it was announced that the Sistema program was coming to Miramichi, and that 30 children were going to be given the opportunity to learn classical music.  The program has been running in 6 locations in the province for 7 years, and about 700 children who participate every day.

A Miramichi mom and her son say they are loving the experience.

Sistema is a program of the NB Youth Orchestra, and inspires kids through learning and performing classical music.  The province contributed $110,000, while the city and Big Brothers Big Sisters each contributed $80,000 over the next four years.

The program runs every day from 2 - 5 pm, and children are bussed home and fed an after school lunch.  At the moment 30 children are participating, and will expand to 75 over the next few years.  The 30 children are learning learning to play the viola and violin.  The program has hired two teaching artists, McGill music  graduates Carlos Armao and Emily Fields, who have moved to Miramichi and have taken on the task of training our young musicians.

Last night the first concert was held featuring the 30 children.  Accompanying them were Sistema students from the Richibucto area who performed a rousing number that had the whole audience on their feet.

Making a Difference

Paydon Corbin is a grade two student at St. Andrew's Elementary and his mom, Samantha,  says the program is already yielding benefits for her son.

"The commitment is very big.  They come here 2-5 every day, and had an all day practice on Saturday to get ready for this concert.  not once did he ever say he didn't feel like going," Samantha said.

Samantha said the program has already achieved more than she anticipated, and says she can see a transformation in Paydon.

"He is learning respect, and has become very attentive.  It is wonderful how much respect he has for the instructors."  She even says his friends are jealous that they are not involved.

Paydon says he loves it.  "I like the instruments and all the music," he said. 

MO))) asked Paydon if he got to pick the "v-eye-ola", the instrument he is learning to play.  Paydon was one of the lead viola players at last night's concert.

"It's pronounced v-eee-ola," he corrected, and said it was the instrument he wanted to learn to play.

Paydon said they are going to learn finger patterns next, and some new songs.  The next concert is scheduled for June, and Paydon says plans to practice during the summer too.