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“Everyone can be a leader.The program gives students an opportunity to lead in class and become mentors as they get older.”
— Jacquie McNulty, YONA-Sistema Lead
music, learn skills, connect with peers and mentors and get some physical activity. “It’s very much about being present,”
McNulty says. “Playing an instrument
is a full body experience and it engages your whole brain. There’s a lot of research that shows the benefits [of playing an instrument] on brain development.”
For kids who are struggling, music’s grounding effect is particularly helpful. Kids who come to YONA-Sistema stressed say they leave feeling better.
“Especially for students who have
a hard time socially, being a part of an ensemble helps them feel valued, they feel part of a community,” McNulty says.
With help from a $15,000 Edmonton Community Foundation grant, YONA- Sistema hired PlanIt Sound to create a time capsule video to mark a decade of YONA-Sistema in 2023.
“I cried when I saw the video,” McNulty says. “It really helped us tell the YONA- Sistema story, and show people how multifaceted the program is and how it’s impacting our students. We are so grateful for the support of Edmonton Community Foundation in this. We always say it takes a village, and you’re all part of that.”
It offers a lot more than after-school childcare. Students in the program learn an instrument, play outside, enjoy a healthy snack and get help with their school work. Modelled on the El Sistema program from Venezuela, YONA-Sistema uses music for social change, imbuing students with values like unity, compassion and harmony.
YONA-Sistema operates on five sites around Alberta – four in Edmonton and one on the Alexander First Nation. Programs are held at the Winspear Centre, St. Teresa of Calcutta Elementary School, St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary and Junior High School, St. Catherine Catholic School and Kipohtakâw Education Centre. Schools are selected based on community need, mostly in Edmonton’s core. Students from Grades 1-9 participate in the program, with older students and program alumni mentoring the younger ones.
The program’s philosophy is holistic,
caring for the student as a whole person with needs beyond music lessons. Learning notes and how to hold a bow is just the beginning.
“Everyone can be a leader.
The program gives students an opportunity to lead in class and become mentors as they get older,” McNulty says.
In its first year, YONA-Sistema offered instruction in violin to just
20 students. Today, there are 240 students registered in YONA-Sistema, and it’s expanded its offerings to include viola, cello, bass, percussion, trombone, tuba, horn, flute, clarinet, recorder and trumpet.
In a world of ever-present screens, disembodiment and loneliness, students look forward to coming to YONA-Sistema to play
Photo by Jayden Beaud
Photo by Levi Manchak
Photo by Jayden Beaudoi
12 LEGACY IN ACTION
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