A virtual orchestra online, while the musicians are not together in one place, has its challenges, but the children of Sistema NB have been giving it a try due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Brunswick Youth Orchestra president Ken MacLeod says many of the children don’t have their own music stands, so they are looking for donations.
“We’re just reaching out. We thought people might have these lonely music stands in a closet or under the bed, gathering dust. We could put those to use, if people have these stands and aren’t using it, we would benefit from it very much,” MacLeod says. “We need around 150 music stands or even more. We have already had a good response, we even had one person buy new stands and donate them.”
Up to this point, MacLeod says the children have been fairly creative with where they put their sheet music.
“We have many kids who are sticking their sheet music to the wall or a magnet on the fridge.”
Sistema NB is a program of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. It is a free, not-for-profit, intensive after school orchestral music program that offers hope for hundreds of young children who otherwise would not have the opportunity.
Working remotely to promote physical distancing, a team of 58 teaching artists in the 10 Sistema NB Centres throughout the province continue to work virtually with the students and their families to ensure they have the community connections, support, and educational opportunities they need.
MacLeod says running the program online has allowed the students to have contact with other students while continuing to develop their musical skills.
The music stand drive runs until May 31.
Music stands will be picked-up by the Sistema NB and NBYO teams in their respective communities. For a list of locations, visit Sistema NB.
For more information or to donate, email or call (506) 866-7920.
