Canada is a world-leader in Sistema-inspired activity. Canadian núcleos are some of the oldest in North America; Canadian universities have hosted the first academic conferences related to el Sistema; a national foundation presented the Símon Bolívar Orchestra in its largest venue to date and formally honoured Maestro Abreu’s achievements in 2008; and a Canadian youth orchestra has set the current gold standard internationally in advocating for and securing major government funding. The following list is not comprehensive, nor have the organizations therein been screened or ranked in any way: they are listed alphabetically by province. Amendments and additions are welcome and can be submitted via this form.
Updates December 2012
McConnell Foundation announces special grant programs for new social action through music programs sharing values or characteristics with el Sistema. Details available here.
The Canadian Music Educators’ Association has developed a position paper on el Sistema-style programs in Canada. It is an extremely balanced, intelligent document and worth reading.
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Ontario
Quebec
A L B E R T A
Calgary
International Avenue Arts & Culture Centre website
José Duque, Program Lead
Listing type: Organization – Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation
B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A
Vancouver
St. James Music Academy website
Kathryn Walker, Executive Director
Listing type: Organization – Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation since 2007
M A N I T O B A
Winnipeg
Sistema Winnipeg – partnership between the Winnipeg Symphony and Seven Oaks School Division website
Tanya Derksen, Director of Education, Winnipeg Symphony
Listing type: Symphony Orchestra – Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation since 2011
N E W B R U N S W I C K
Moncton (Provincial)
Sistema New Brunswick website
Don Matheson, Executive Director
Listing type: Youth Orchestra – Educational/núcleo
Current Status: in operation since 2009
Notes: In a brilliant piece of advocacy, in 2010 Sistema New Brunswick received an unprecedented $1.4 million grant from the Provincial Ministry of Regional Development – the first instance of a Sistema program in North America securing long term government support.
O N T A R I O
London
Brio Music London website
Gladis Beatriz Funes, Director
Listing type: Organization – Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation since 2011
El Sistema Aeolian website
Clark Bryant, Executive Director
Listing type: Organization – Presenter/Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation since 2011
Dr. Ruth Wright, Chair of Music Education contact
University of Western Ontario
Listing type: Individual
Notes: Dr. Wright is one of the leading educators and musical sociologists currently conducting research on el Sistema, and serves as an advisor to a number of programs
Mississauga
Esperanza Music Project website
Susan Naccache, President and Artistic Director
Listing type: Organization – Educational/núcleo
Current status: prelaunch, fundraising
Toronto
Sistema Toronto website
David Visentin, Executive and Artistic Director
Listing type: Organization -Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation since 2011
Glenn Gould Foundation website
Brian Levine, Executive Director
Listing type: Organization – Advocacy/Presenter
Notes: Maestro Abreu was the recipient of the 2008 Glenn Gould Prize. The Foundation invited the Símon Bolívar Orchestra and presented a performance at Toronto’s Skydome (home to the MLB Toronto Blue Jays) as part of the festivities.
Ottawa
Leading Note Foundation (Orkidstra) website
Tina Fedeski, Founder and Executive Director
Margaret Tobolowska, Artistic Director
Listing type: Organization – Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation since 2007
Q U É B E C
Montréal (and area)
Sistema Québec
Avelino Rubilar, Project lead contact
Listing type: Organization – Educational/núcleo
Current status: prelaunch, fundraising
Le Garage à musique website English overview
Hélène Sioui-Trudel, Director
Listing type: Organization – Educational/núcleo
Current status: in operation since 2009
Notes: A project of the Fondation du Dr Julien, Le Garage à musique focuses on popular music genres as part of a broader agenda of cultural mediation and social pediatrics.
Theodora Stathopolous
École FACE (Fine Arts Core Education) website french
Theodora Stathopoulos,Music Teacher
Listing type: Individual
Notes: Theodora Stathopoulos serves on the board of the International Society of Music Educators and leads the newly-formed Special Interest Group to examine Sistema at the ISME conference in Greece in July. She has also been instrumental within Canada in organizing and promoting academic conferences on the topic of social change through music.
Sistema Montreal Music Project website
Kerry Roebuck, Project lead
Current Status: Launch announcement October 2012
Notes: serves Kateri and Karonhianonhnha Schools in Kahnawake
